How do you pack for...

[WickerBill]

... a three-week business trip to Europe?

I don't own three weeks worth of business casual clothes. Laundry/dry cleaning at hotels (France, Spain, Italy, England)? Any hints on power adapter kits? I'd like to have a 220-120 converter and plug a power strip into it, or something similar, to power several things. Is there a better option?

I've been out of the US before but never to more than one place and never for more than a week. All suggestions welcome, including how easy/hard communication will be for a lifelong gomer.

[TravelGal]

Money: Is the company going to pay for laundry/dry cleaning? If so and if you'll be at any one hotel 2 or preferably 3 nights, you can handle those chores that way. If you have free time, as opposed to those trips where you're booked every minute, sometimes it's fun to go find the local laundry. Many of my clients do this but they are not on business trips, they are out adventuring.

Clothes: I'm assuming you're going about now so you'll need warmish clothes. Unless you spill something colorful, you can wear slacks and coats a few times each if you're desperate. Shirts, see above unless you'd like to wash them yourself, which can be done by taking along a packet of Tide or whatever. If it's a light enough shirt, it will dry overnight or can be encouraged with the hairdryer from the room. Though those are not always as full strength as we'd like them to be. All this leads to, where are you going to be seen the maximum number of times by the same people? That's the guide for how many different looks you need. Main thing is to go with one color scheme. Generally, blue and black or brown and tan.

Electronics: Easy to get a multiple plug set. They usually come in a bag and are quite light to carry. These are adapters for the sockets. Different from converters for the voltage. Not your best 'gal for that because when I travel I'm either on vacation or fact finding, not keeping in touch. I googled Universal Adapter and it brought up both adapters and converters. REI, Amazon, Target, any local travel store or TravelSmith.

PM me with a few details, like the cities and even names of the hotels (I promise I'm not stalking) and I can give you a much better idea of the ease of communication.

[SteveH]

Wear at least two scarves at a time so you don't look like you're a foreigner. :gomer:

[Indy]

Don't forget your frozen tennerloinz.

[Methanolandbrats]

condoms and viagra.

[G.]

Identify what you want to power. Make a list.

Look to see what the input voltage range is. You should be surprised to find anything that must use 120V and cannot handle 220V. Laptops, cellphone, even hair dryers (flip that little switch that you never noticed before), most everything should tolerate 220V. Then you can buy the much cheaper gozinta units. This goes-in-to the wall, then my laptop gozinta the plug converter. Just remember that this will be 220V, but accepts a 2 or 3 prong US style plug. Get several.

If you have something that needs 120V, then you need the transformer, but they WILL NOT have very high wattage ratings! (at least the ones I've seen) Using it to energize a power strip may not be a good idea at all. Check your wattages!!

In my VAST experience with international traveling (not!), I have found that the hotels have one US type outlet in the bathroom, for the electric razor. I sometimes use that for a nightlight.

Recap: Get plug converters (3) and maybe one transformer. But check everything that you want to power up first.

[Insomniac]

Heavily?

[Don Quixote]

The men wear capri pants. Hopefully you have a couple pairs.

[indyfan31]

Make sure you have adapters for the countries you'll be visiting, the AC outlets in Italy have a different configuration than those in Greece. And, what G. said: MOST chargers and small appliances today are already double-voltage capable. For our recent trip to Italy I was able to return the "travel kit" with inverter and buy only a couple of adapters.
With regards to laundry, we rented an apartment with a washer. If you're staying strictly in hotels you may have to use their services or find a laundromat.

[dando]

Make sure you have adapters for the countries you'll be visiting, the AC outlets in Italy have a different configuration than those in Greece. And, what G. said: MOST chargers and small appliances today are already double-voltage capable. For our recent trip to Italy I was able to return the "travel kit" with inverter and buy only a couple of adapters.
With regards to laundry, we rented an apartment with a washer. If you're staying strictly in hotels you may have to use their services or find a laundromat.

I ended up using this for my trip to Bangalore and various other locations a few years ago, and it worked reasonably well.

http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-33117-International-Travel-Adapter/dp/B0002H4YUI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1327333956&sr=8-2

Note that I did not use it with three-prong plugs devices.

-Kevin

[WickerBill]

I survived. My trip ended up being Indy to Chicago to Frankfurt, drove autobahn to Strasbourg, back to Frankfurt, fly to Florence, to Munich, to Madrid, to London.

I only blew up one electrical thing: my clippers. For future reference (mostly for me -- I will look this thread up again next time I have to go): borrow electrical adapters from each hotel if possible. France and Italy have the same two-prong plugs but ground is different. A Mercedes C200D can go 159mph in ideal conditions. Everyone speaks English in Florence. "No gas" translates everywhere in reference to still water (vs sparkling). Visit I Latini in Florence -- best food I have ever eaten, anywhere. Haggle at outdoor shops, do not haggle at indoor shops (Italy and France). Minus 14 plus 35mph winds is super cold regardless of F or C. Michelangelo's "David" is HUGE. If you take a picture of him, be prepared to run for your life and/or get thrown out of the museum. It is not a good idea to joke about FC Barcelona being Jose Mourinho's daddy when inside the Bernabeu gift shop. Taxis in Madrid take credit, but that's fairly uncommon in the other locations.

And most of all, three weeks is a long time and I am extraordinarily tired.

[WickerBill]

I must mention TravelGal, who was my incredibly valuable advice giver and mental health professional (breathe dude, you'll be fine). Thank you!!

[indyfan31]

Great trip WB. that did give us pause when we ordered a bottle of water: "gas, or no gas?". :)

[Michaelhatesfans]

Sorry I missed this thread, but it sounds like it worked out ok. With that in mind, I'll save my story about how US blow dryers in British plugs sound like F-16s getting ready for take off just before they start smoking and the plastic goes soft. Good times.

[Napoleon]

Visit I Latini in Florence -- best food I have ever eaten, anywhere.

For work my brother spent 3 - 2 week stints near Modeno in Italy and I recall him saying the worst meal he ate was better then the best he has had here.

[WickerBill]

Nap, I feel the same way. I've never had pork, cappuccino, steak, buffalo mozzarella, lamb, salami, (fill in the blank) anywhere else that tasted as good as the stuff I had in Florence.

I had this pork chop that gave me literal goose bumps when I took the first bite. Sounds like an exaggeration; isn't.

[Ed_Severson]

It is not a good idea to joke about FC Barcelona being Jose Mourinho's daddy when inside the Bernabeu gift shop.

Ballsy! A tip o' the cap, good sir ...

[Napoleon]

WB

Just compare mortadella made in Italy (usually in the Bologna region) with the pale shadow of a rip off made and sold in the US as bologna.

[chop456]

I had this pork chop that gave me literal goose bumps when I took the first bite. Sounds like an exaggeration; isn't.

You might say the secret ingredient...is salt! :thumbup:

[Methanolandbrats]

You might say the secret ingredient...is salt! :thumbup:

So what is your secret for applying the secret ingredient, or is it a secret?

[nrc]

You might say the secret ingredient...is salt! :thumbup:

Salt is the engine of flavor.

[dando]

Salt is the engine of flavor.

Well that and pork fat rules. :)

-Kevin

[indyfan31]

Nap, I feel the same way. I've never had pork, cappuccino, steak, buffalo mozzarella, lamb, salami, (fill in the blank) anywhere else that tasted as good as the stuff I had in Florence.

I had this pork chop that gave me literal goose bumps when I took the first bite. Sounds like an exaggeration; isn't.

I don't care what it says on the window of your favorite Italian restaurant here in the States: genuine, home-made, authentic, etc. You have NOT eaten Italian food until you've had a meal in Florence.

[Ankf00]

WB

Just compare mortadella made in Italy (usually in the Bologna region) with the pale shadow of a rip off made and sold in the US as bologna.

next time you're in SF go to the Ferry building to Boccalone, legit salumeria

[cameraman]

WB

Just compare mortadella made in Italy (usually in the Bologna region) with the pale shadow of a rip off made and sold in the US as bologna.

Real salamis & other deli meats including mortadella: http://www.creminelli.com/

Their distribution is getting better, they have a search engine on their web site to find a local store.

[Methanolandbrats]

Any of you food snobs ever go to Olive Garden? :D

[cameraman]

Any of you food snobs ever go to Olive Garden? :D

Oh yes. I've got relations who consider it fine dining and I have to admit that it is far better than the University of Utah Hospital cafeteria which is where I've been doing much of my dining out lately:saywhat::cry::yuck:

[TravelGal]

I must mention TravelGal, who was my incredibly valuable advice giver and mental health professional (breathe dude, you'll be fine). Thank you!!

Blush! I just got back to this thread. You're welcome. :o Any time anyone from OC needs a consult, I try to pitch in. Glad I helped.


Sorry I missed this thread, but it sounds like it worked out ok. With that in mind, I'll save my story about how US blow dryers in British plugs sound like F-16s getting ready for take off just before they start smoking and the plastic goes soft. Good times.

LOL LOL. In Italy they just die a quick death with a thin wisp of smoke as they give up the ghost. Or at least mine did on my first trip. Dual voltage? What's that?? Pre-TravelGal days, of course.


I don't care what it says on the window of your favorite Italian restaurant here in the States: genuine, home-made, authentic, etc. You have NOT eaten Italian food until you've had a meal in Florence.

:thumbup::thumbup:

[Methanolandbrats]

Oh yes. I've got relations who consider it fine dining and I have to admit that it is far better than the University of Utah Hospital cafeteria which is where I've been doing much of my dining out lately:saywhat::cry::yuck:

I have people like that too and I gotta admit I do like the bottomless salad and the breadsticks.

[RaceGrrl]

Salt is the engine of flavor.


:D

[Andrew Longman]

Any of you food snobs ever go to Olive Garden? :DNo. Why would I?

I'm from Jersey where there actually is actual Italian food. Let me know when you visit for the NJGP :D

There are Olive Gardens and Pizza Huts in Jersey, but I never met anyone who goes there. Indiana transplants I figure. In fact the Pizza Hut up the road in Flemington just closed.

My wife says she used to go to Pizza Hut... but she grew up in San Juan.

That all said, the best Italian meal I ever had was probably in Salt Lake City. Cameraman knows the joint.

BTW Best Indian food on the planet is IMO in London.

[WickerBill]

Longman, you just reminded me of something. Italian MTV: basically non-stop Jersey Shore... translated from NJ guido to Italian. Voiceovers and everything. It was almost surreal.

[Methanolandbrats]

No. Why would I?

I'm from Jersey where there actually is actual Italian food. Let me know when you visit for the NJGP :D



Of course you have actual Italian food, the mob would not settle for anything less. :D Funny story, probably twenty years ago there was a chain of small pizza shops in southern wisconsin. They were all in small towns. Real Sicilian doods ran them. It was weird as hell that they all popped up and the food was great. Unfortunatly they are gone now because they were selling food out the front door and heroin and coke out the back door. Feds ended the business. :( Are you still doing that Woodstock thing in your yard, or have you sobered up. :D

[Ankf00]

BTW Best British food on the planet is IMO in London.

let's just clear that up. minced meat curry is not indian food.

[Andrew Longman]

Are you still doing that Woodstock thing in your yard, or have you sobered up. :DIf you believe the race is really going to happen I believe there is room in the yard for who/whatever shows up.

WTF. :D

[G.]

Longman, you just reminded me of something. Italian MTV: basically non-stop Jersey Shore... translated from NJ guido to Italian. Voiceovers and everything. It was almost surreal.

Snooki is pregnant with a due date of December 21, 2012.

****ing Mayans! :flame:

[Gnam]

How do you pack for the apocalypse? :yuck:

[Methanolandbrats]

Snooki? I cannot imagine nailing that thing. :yuck:

[Ankf00]

http://cdn-ak.f.st-hatena.com/images/fotolife/w/wadachi37/20110420/20110420015522.jpg

[Elmo T]

http://cdn-ak.f.st-hatena.com/images/fotolife/w/wadachi37/20110420/20110420015522.jpg

Is that Snookie's immaculate conception or an artist's rendering of the camping at the Longman property for the NJGP?

[Methanolandbrats]

Nver mind

[Methanolandbrats]

No, NJGP camping will look lilke this :D
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FB-fqh_cpd8/Twt2IT2ytpI/AAAAAAAAARI/vcY6j1f5uZQ/s1600/aftermath+modern+woodstock.jpg

[TravelGal]

I see you captured Longman in the lower right. :)

[SurfaceUnits]

Back on topic

Rosewill 2 Amp 4 Port USB International Traveling Wall Charger RUC-6181 for iPhone/iPod/iPad/MP3

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16855992031