Have you booked an ABD for 2017?
- Thread starter AquamarineSteph
- Start date
Overseas airlines are very strict with luggage size and weight. We try to take the minimum what we need. We try to wear items a couple of times such as pants. We take those small ponchos they sell in Walmart rather than a full size raincoat. We usually take one extra pair of shoes. On our first trip we really packed a lot but having traveled multiple times now we have even downsized our luggage size and can fir in a mid size suitcase. Rick Steves has a pretty good list of what you really need to travel to Europe. If you need special items in the toiletries dept. ( contact solution, over the counter meds, etc.) that make sure you do take enough of those items for sometimes they are not available overseas. I would lay everything out before I pack and really go over my real needs and how to pair down. After all people in your group will be looking at all the historic tourist sites rather than what you are wearing any specific day.
What I tell people is stack everything you think you will need as far as clothing goes and then put half of it away and pack the other half
sayhello
Have Camera, Will Travel
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2006
Way too much!
Actually, I only check a medium-sized suitcase, but that gets stuffed full (I have a hand-held scale to make sure it's not over 50 pounds). Plus I have a very light International sized carry-on, and a large "personal item". I definitely pack less than I used to, but more than I might need.
Sayhello
AquamarineSteph
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 1, 2013
I have always read that you should put all the clothing you plan to take out so that you can see it. Then take half the clothes, and twice the money you'd planned... ;-)
Seriously, I do overpack, but I'm getting better at it. Think about what you'll be doing on the trip and what it might need. Lots of walking? Definitely take good walking shoes. I usually wear my tennis shoes on the plane b/c they're heavier than the dressy flats I pack in my luggage. The flats look nice but are also decent walking shoes, so I can get double duty out of those.
For a trip like that, I'd definitely pack either a lightweight rain jacket or an umbrella. And a sweater, not only for a chilly evening but also to dress up another outfit. And if there will be something nice in the evenings, then maybe a skirt that can be paired with a couple of different tops to extend your number of looks?
BluesTraveler
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2015
We swore we were going to wait until we returned from Alaska to book our next trip, but I'm concerned about things filling up. So today I booked a Rhine riverboat cruise - July 29 sailing, and we'll plan to spend a few days in Switzerland ahead of time. Exciting! As of today they already had 16 kids on the trip (with ours, that makes 18). Am hoping there will be a good strong group of kids.
Awesome! This is one trip I would love to do! Well, that and a long list of others, but it is high on the list
BluesTraveler
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2015
Well, we had booked the Rhine river cruise for 2017, but in talking to a friend who has done 3 ABDs and is planning her 4th, she talked us out of it. Not because she doesn't think it will be great, but because she thinks our kids are the type that will really love being with same group every day & bonding as one group. (I can see how the dynamic could be different on a river cruise.) She thought we should get through our Alaska trip first and see if her guess is right, and if it is she thinks we're prefer another land trip.
Since we were still in the 14 day window of no-penalty cancellation I went ahead and did it. We leave for Alaska this week, and then I guess we'll start from square 1 upon our return. Will try to do a trip report.
Since we were still in the 14 day window of no-penalty cancellation I went ahead and did it. We leave for Alaska this week, and then I guess we'll start from square 1 upon our return. Will try to do a trip report.
I don't think you'll be disappointed! The Italy/Switzerland trip looks amazing and the England/France trip also looks fun. I'm doing London and Paris on my own next summer or else I would consider that ABD as well.
Dreamer Kevin
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2002
Ireland in the spring.
My daughter and I did this trip the first summer that it was offered. It was fabulous!Awesome! This is one trip I would love to do! Well, that and a long list of others, but it is high on the list
Whoops, this was supposed to be on the SE Asia post.
Everyone who has done it seems to love it! It looks fabulous
OrangeBirdGirl
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2014
We are doing our first ABD in 2017, the BSM in February. This is also our first time traveling with a tour group. We have pretty much been against organized tours in the past. We always felt that we wanted to be on our own schedule and make sure we saw what we wanted to see. But the appeal of the BSM places that we can't see on our own is what drew us into this tour. We'll see how this one goes and then if we love it, we'll look into more. Part of the fun in a trip for me is the planning, so it is going to be very strange to show up at the airport and have everything taken care of. I guess we will still look into some options for any downtime in Hollywood. Ironically we are doing a tour for CA yet we are doing China on our own in 2017.
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