Travel Checklist (What the hell am I forgetting??)

Ask neighbor to pick up mail and water plants.

Leave photocopy of passport and credit/bank cards with friend/relative.

Cellphone charger, unlock phone. I usually unplug my appliances when I leave, my gf thinks I'm crazy for doing that.

In addition to the contact lens stuff, just enough toothpaste or other toiletries for 1-2 days. If you land late on a Saturday, or on a Sunday, you'll likely find that most (if not all) drug/pharmacy/chemists are closed.

Check with your bank and credit card company and confirm that you'll be able to use your ATM and credit cards overseas. I've never had a problem, but a friend once said that with a PIN code longer than 4-digits you might have troubles at some ATMs. Better safe than sorry. As for credit cards, I've gone through the trouble of giving the company my itinerary before traveling and still being hit with a fraud-check when paying for my hotel (having to call their international # and confirm the transaction); and I've gone off to Europe w/o telling my CC company ahead of time and had no problem. Go figure.

SIM cards are easy to get in Europe, but they are usually (always?) tied to the country, i.e. T-Mobile Germany, T-Mobile France, etc. So, if you go from country to country, you'll need a new SIM card. Only a problem if you want to give people a number to call you.

And flying between EU countries is a snap, check the Schengen Area info if you want to know exactly which countries. As easy as flying between states in the US. Passport is all you need. Outside that, you probably need a visa, some are easy to get at the point of entry, others might be a PITA.

Enjoy your trip!

camera, notebook (always good for remembering things and good if you want to give someone your number or take theirs).

Any prescriptions that you need.

I scanned my entire wallet and passport to a locked PDF and emailed it to myself and my assistant. told her that if I ever needed it , I would give her the password.