Hellobee Boards

It may be a good idea to get a prescription for cipro or something similar for any stomach bugs that may come up. There is nothing worse than being super sick in a foreign country--trying to figure out what you need at the pharmacy while you are battling cramps and diarrhea is no fun. Your doc should be able to write you a prescription that you can fill before you leave. Hopefully you won't even need to touch it, but you will be grateful if you do need it!!

@Bao: a friend gave me the tip of taking probiotics daily before you travel and during your trip to build up your gut so you don't get sick. I took them for 3-4 weeks in advance of our last trip to Asia and also gave them to my LOs. We didn't get sick (and I always end up getting sick!).

@Bao: I just picked up whatever they had at the grocery store. I hadn't taken them before either.

If you haven't flown in several years, FYI that you can only bring 1 quart sized bag for all liquids/gels/toothpaste/creams/etc. and all those items must be under 3.4 oz. each. This is in your carry-on. You can bring whatever in your checked luggage. Just FYI in case you don't already know.

I always bring a small ziplock with bandaids and a tube of neosporin for any foot blisters, scrapes, etc. a water bottle might be handy too, especially if you'll be out in the sun lots you don't want to get dehydrated and always be looking for water.

I always check on the outlet situation and make sure that I either have a converter/adaptor so we can charge all of our electronics. If it's a standard american outlet, I bring a surge protector so we have enough outlets and I don't have to fight with my husband for space.

I also always make a copy of all of our travel documents. I leave one at home and take one with us. I bring a lock for our suitcase so that when we're in the hotel, i can keep a copy in the suitcase and when we leave the room, lock the suitcase. I also take a picture of my passport and keep it in the camera roll of my phone.

I like to "unpack" as much as I can when I am in a hotel, so i like to use packing cubes for my clothes. All I have to do is take the cubes out and I can put the suitcase in the closet. Makes me feel a little more relaxed and not living out of a suitcase. I usually also bring some kind of drawstring bag for laundry so that it's not all over the place (this is more for my husband, lol).

In the bathroom, my husband and I get two separate hanging toiletry kits. I prefer not to keep stuff all over the vanity counter and this keeps it out of the way so the cleaning staff doesn't have to touch it. I usually hang them on one of the towel bars.

I also bring a lot of "stuff" for us to do. I get sooo bored when I go to the pool, so I need magazines, books, logic puzzle things, a small notbook and pen, etc. I also typically bring some kind of small craft to do. All this goes in a pouch into the beach bag I bring. I have a very simple cotton bag that I have used for years, it holds a ton but I find I need to use smaller bags inside it to keep it organized. I love gallon ziplock bags for this purpose. I can see everything without having to take it out. I typically have one bag with sunscreen, lip balm, wide tooth comb, my googles, wipes and a burp cloth. Another bag contains snacks, always snacks, even when it is just my husband and I. Then I put my activity stuff in another bag. I usually bring a wet bag and a second bathing suit, sometimes I just want to get out of my wet suit, you know, and not go all the way back to the hotel room.

Now I want to go on vacation!!!!!!