Expert: Annette - 7/20/2009

Question
We will be going to Europe in fall, winter or spring. We'd like to take the least luggage possible, but I'm concerned. We are both in our 60's, and have meds to take, so need to make room somewhere. No one has ever mentioned cosmetics. Which are really needed? What can be done without? And what are considered 'heavy' shoes, as Rick Steves suggests? Please help. Thank you.

Answer
Since you are probably flying to Europe, you need to keep medications either in your carry-on bag or your purse.  Keep medications in their original bottles so you don't have any problems at security checkpoints.  (You do not want to be accused of having illegal drugs in your possession.) Checked-in luggage is occasionally lost, so you don't want to risk losing your medications.

I can not tell you which cosmetics you need to take.  Only you know how many cosmetics you (or your companion) minimally need in order to feel confident with yourself (or herself).

I can't tell you what Rick Steves considers to be "heavy shoes", but when I go on vacation, I always take sneakers.  You are going to be doing a lot of walking, and you need to be as comfortable as possible.  Since you will be outside a lot, you need to bring sunscreen with an spf of at least 30.  However, near the eyes, I always use an spf of 15 since I have found it does not sting if it gets in my eyes.  People of all skin tones can develop skin cancer, so everyone needs sunscreen.  If you are going to the beach, then flip flops are nice to have.

Take large plastic garbage bags with you to separate the laundry from your regular clothes.  Take smaller zip loc bags with you to separate things that may leak such as shampoo bottles.

I do not know how long you are going to be going away for and which activities you expect to do, so it has hard for me to predict how much clothing to bring.  You can rewash clothes, but that gets to be tedious.  Hotel laundry charges are usually astronomical, so unless you are very wealthy, you are going to frown on using these hotel services.