Packing for your European convention trip

No one size fits all when it comes to packing lists.  Every trip is different and every person is unique in what they feel they need while traveling.  There are numerous online travel lists you can find online.  Do a search on "packing lists" and download a few and see what each suggests and develop your own.  Of equal importance should be a "To-Do" list of things you absolutely need to do before you leave town.  Some of it comes naturally like stopping mail delivery, having neighbors water the lawn or stopping newspapers.  However, what some never do is plan for potential problems that will likely never occur but if they did it could ruin an otherwise great trip.  Things like making copies of your passport (just the picture page) , drivers license and credit cards and then pack it somewhere else besides your wallet or purse.  In the unlikely event you loose an important document you can more easily have the card canceled or the passport replaced.  One way is to scan these documents and then email it to yourself and possibly one of your family members.  Your vital documents then become available electronically should you need them.

Mentioned on an earlier blog is to have contacted the issuer of your credit card via their 800 number before you travel.  Let them know the dates you'll be traveling abroad and out of your normal routine.  Best go one step further and bring an extra card that you pack somewhere else besides your wallet.  I am not concerned with pick pockets but people do loose wallets or leave cards in restaurants.
Try and begin "packing" as much as 10 days before your trip.  You do so by starting a 'list" and then by the time you begin the actual packing it is a much easier process and you are less likely to forget something vital like a phone charger or swim suit.
As hard as I try and as long as I have traveled, I am still given to over-packing.  Try and think about multiple uses of outfits.  Can you manage with just one all purpose sports coat that dresses up with a tie and slacks and can also be used to dress down with a golf shirt and jeans? Anyway, you get the idea and you can always get clothes laundered along the way.
Something I also do is begin to stage items in some corner of the room beginning a week out in the actual suitcase I plan to use.  I find it to be a less impulsive way to pack and therefore more deliberate and  efficient.


Anyway, a packing list or some system is a must even if its just informal post it notes everywhere.