Great topic:

Buy an extra camera battery and remember to pack the charger

Schedule a nail appt

Confirm reservations with Borghese, Ufizzi etc.

Talk to my cell phone company about using my phone internationaly

Print train schedules

Agatha,

Not sure about the book yet but these are in the running:

Donna Leon "Quietly in Their Sleep"

Cesare Pavese "The Moon and the Bonfires"

John Berendt "The City of Falling Angels"

Washcloths... check! :-)' (she's joking folks!)

Meds... check!

Reading and sun glasses... check!

The contents of the bathroom bag could be a whole different thread but this year we'll definitely be taking Emergen-C (vitamin C drink packets that fizz up with water) and No-Jet Lag, a product that's supposed to combat that dreaded affliction. We'll be buying shaving jel, toothpaste, shampoo, asprin, etc. in Rome.

Nice tips Shelle!

I'll add:

Take a trip to the barber for a trim.

Pay the bills.

Washcloths are no joke if you are accustomed to them, as I am. I had read too that they didn't use them in Rome and bought a dozen cheap ones at Target. I was very glad I did as there were none in our very nice hotel.

I also bought a one-cup coffeemaker called Brisk Brew as I really need coffee immediately upon awaking, sorry to confess.

Hearing aid batteries (sigh)

extra contact lenses

figure out how to get contact lens solution in 3 oz. bottle

hair appointment

international driver's license

stop newspaper

scan copies of passport, debit and credit cards and e-mail to self and daughter

e-mail full itinerary with hotel addresses and phone numbers to daughter

Thanks Alison...i am not kidding. there are no washcloths in Italian Hotels. Well, I guess you can cut up those paper pants after your tour of the St Peter's.

I am a big fan of Donna Leon. She writes a good yarn but they are all set in Venice. Also, City of the Falling Angles is a good read but that too is set in Venice.

Are you going to Venice, Mike?

I have always found wash cloths in the better class hotels but not in average hotels in Italy.

Here are a list of some of my favorite authors who write "yellows" (mysteries) set in italy.

Andrea Camilleri

Michael Dibdin

Magdalen Nabb

You can usually buy them in paper back and used. They are relaxing reads just before you fall asleep after a day sight seeing!

Ok , I've been lurking here for along time and I cant resist - Dont forget to have your Diamond Quilted Jacket cleaned and pressed before you go ! Will be leaving ourselves next Friday !

I always take 4 ratty paper thin washclothes from home -- save them for this purpose -- so we have them in Europe -- can discard them if they get gross along the way -- and definitely dump them before returning

don't plan on buying aspirin or similar meds in Europe -- they are sold in tiny quantities and are very expensive -- we paid as much for 10 ibuprofen as we would for a bottle of 100 at home -- so OTC meds that you are pretty sure to use should be one of the things you take -- we always have allergy meds, eye drops, ibuprofen and immodium -- and I usually take a few contac because it is no fun trying to find the Italian or French version if you come down with a raging sinus infection after a flight -- pills take up almost no space and are a hassle to hunt down --