Photo credit Lisa Gault

6 Vital Things You Always Forget to Pack while Travelling Overseas

Ciao My Belli Peeps!

I am currently packing and enjoying that feeling of exhiliration and dread that always accompanies a trip overseas.

The exhilaration part is obvious but why dread? I will tell you! Believe it or not, I am the world’s WORST packer! I am not sure how it is even possible to be a seasoned traveler and still pack so poorly.

In an attempt to remedy this sad situation, I made a list of the things I ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY cannot do without.

Print this article out and use it as a checklist!

1) Your passport

I know! It’s a no brainer right? And yet, I can’t count how many times I checked my carry-on on the way to the airport and realized my passport was still in my drawer at home.

Fear not though Belli peeps! I am headed over to Florence to line up handbags for sale on the Bella Boutique. One of the things I am looking for is beautiful over the shoulder pouches to carry passports and boarding passes as well as cash and credit cards so you have everything you need, secure and right at your fingertips as you travel.

Keep your eyes on the Bella Boutique!

In the meantime, put  all your travel documents together and put them someplace conspicuous so you don’t forget to pack them.

2) Your prescription medication

I have a dead thyroid and when I stop the meds even for a day, I turn all grey and go to bed forever until I get my hands on some thyroid meds.

I have no idea what happens in Italy when you forget your meds. I have actually taken the step of leaving some in my house over there in case of emergency. Your meds are something you want to keep close to you in a carry-on bag, in case the airline loses your luggage.

3) Your phone charger

And your computer charger, in short, all your chargers.(Don’t forget your camera charger!) Put them all together and review them before you go!

4) An electrical outlet transformer thingy

I have no idea what the correct name of this is but I do know that it transforms your electricty in Europe so that you can use your American devices.

Italy has several different configurations of electric plug so get a universal one. (Click here to find one.)

Be aware though that even though the current is now correct, it can still be a lot stronger than you expect. I only ever use the low setting on my blowdryer over there because if you go higher, it turns into a nuclear powered flame thrower and torches everything in the near vicinity.

5) Your phone

And make sure you call your provider and get your phone set up to work where you are going. ALSO BE AWARE! Internet use on your phone can be ruinously expensive. I once read the newspaper for about twenty minutes and received a bill for several hundred dollars. Make sure you don’t accidentaly incur any unwanted charges and that your phone will work.

Then make sure that everyone in your party has done the same.

6) Money in your new currency

Change your money here! Money changers where tourists go are ridiculously expensive.  Make sure you have enough for your cab, food and other necessities so that you can at least get situated in your hotel and get comfortable. Your hotel (No, not the building silly, the people in it!) can give you advice on where to go to get the best rate.

Also realize that there are areas in Europe where credit cards are not accepted.

Two years ago in Southern Italy, credit cards were accepted everywhere. Then the economy tanked and suddenly you needed cash.

Another tip when travelling in Italy in particular, you have to have a pin code for your ATM card that is not more than four numbers long. I am not sure if this is true in other European countries but it is worth checking out.

When using the ATM in Italy, when it tells you to remove your card, get it right away. There is a tiny delay and then it gets sucked back into the ATM and ends up somewhere in the bowels of the bank. You then have to go inside, sing, dance and tell jokes until you get them to release it. This happened to me in Diamante, Italy. It ended well and now the bank manager and I are friends on Facebook but, it can be a hassle.

Just before I went to Italy that time, I had been listening to Italian for Dummies (Great program, by the way). Happily, I memorized every last dialogue sentence including the one that handles this situation.

If your ATM card disappears into the recesses of the Italian bank, simply walk in and tell the person behind the counter “Signore! Il Bankomat ha mangiato la mia carta!” (Sir! The ATM has eaten my card!) You will be met with an avalanche of Italian questions, raised eyebrows and looks of concern. Don’t panic, go with the flow and In the end, you will be fine.

Also let your bank know you are travelling and where. If they see charges coming from somewhere you normally are not, they will suspect fraud and suspend your card until you contact them. Contact them in advance and avoid that problem.

Ok!  So you have everything you need! Now pack about a week’s worth of underwear and you will be all set!

Just about everything else can be purchased where you are going and if you go off the beaten path and find out where locals go to buy necessities, you can get them without paying premium tourist dollars (or Euros).

All right, I have to get back to packing here. I am heading over to Florence on Monday. I have lined up a stunning B and B apartment overlooking the Arno. Believe it or not I am spending half the price of moderate hotel over there. This apartment has a kitchen so I don’t have to eat out at every meal and can purchase spectacular Italian snack cheeses, bread, yogurts and fruit for my daytime meals which I will enjoy on my balcony.

I will blog about this while I am there and even line up a list of recommended B and B’s and places to eat in the coming weeks.

Another little secret, keep your eyes on Chasing La Bella Vita, I am soon to be working with a fantastic travel company and will be setting up and hosting over the top ridiculous tours including the October 2015 Coffins, Crypts and Cadavers tour through Italy. I will also be available to create custom tours for you. Whatever you want to do, whether it be boat tours through France, Castle tours through Ireland or opera tours through wherever opera happens to be at its best, email me! (chrisellis24@hotmail.com)

Ciao Bellis! I only wish I could pack you along too!

XO Chris

The post 6 Vital Things you ALWAYS Forget to Pack While Travelling Overseas appeared first on Chasing La Bella Vita.