PACKING LIST

This is Cathy’s own personal checklist.  Of course everyone is different but her list may give you ideas.  Turkey is quite hot this time of year so natural, breathable fabrics are recommended. 

_____Sundresses

_____Walking shorts

_____Short sleeve and sleeveless tops

_____Lightweight pants

_____Sandals (broken in and comfortable for all day walking but must look good with dresses)

_____Flip flops

_____Sexy shoes for evenings

_____Swimsuit and wrap

_____Underwear and bras—5 to 7—fast drying

_____Lightweight robe

_____Scarf for religious sites (WalMart has cheap solid colored ones in the hair section for black women)

_____Money belt (I don’t really use it except in Istanbul)

_____Lightweight jacket or sweater (just for the air-conditionedplane ride)

_____Money (2 credit cards, 1 ATM cash card, 30 $1 bills and 20 $5 bills, 10 $20 bills,  $100 worth of Turkish lira already in hand)  You will need $26 (American) for your entrance Visa into Turkey. Remember to notify each company that I will be out of the country so they won’t freeze my cards due to “unusual activity”!

_____Documents: Passport, airline ticket and itinerary, driver’s license and photocopies of all of the above plus your credit card and ATM numbers. Keep the photocopies separate from the originals.  Have all emergency numbers, e-mail addresses and mailing addresses written on a 3X5 card. I like to keep all the important information in a plastic envelope and then as the trip proceeds I throw in all receipts and paperwork into this plastic envelope. 

_____Guidebook—one or two

_____Camera and lots of batteries!!!!  Extra memory cards.   Do not pack in luggage—carry on only.

_____Travel purse with lots of zip pockets or small daypack

_____Empty water bottle—fill as soon as through security

_____Travel alarm

_____Drip-dry hangers, plastic drain stopper and small travel packets of Tide

_____Journal and pen

_____Tiny flashlight for hotel room

_____Books

_____Family/pet photos and postcards of Bainbridge in Ziploc bag (great way to start talking to new friends…..!)

_____Inexpensive small children’s toys (I like to have a few on hand to give away when a parent is having a hard time with a child who has been traveling a few too many hours…….)

_____Nylon dirty clothes bag

_____ Collapsible suitcase for souvenir purchases

_____Jewelry—earrings, bracelets,watch—nothing valuable

_____Toiletries: Comb, brush, dental floss, mouthwash, international hairdryer and special plug, face cream, sunscreen, Jergens cream, wide and narrow hair bands, Olay face washing cloths, hair scrunchie, antibacterial ointment, razor, shower cap, bobby pins, mole skin/corn cushions, cotton swabs, rounded scissors, nail file, nail polish/remover, bandaids, shampoo/conditioner, hair spray/gel, makeup/sponge, lipstick, mascara, blush, eye shadow, eye liner, tweezers ---(put in purse)panty liners, contact solution/cleaner/case, glasses, Purell, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant

_____Carry-on bag: book(s), magazine, travel pillow, empty water bottle which I fill right after going through security, passport and airline ticket/itinerary in special document holder, children’s toys (see above), journal, small notebook, pen, 2 decks of cards, camera, cozy socks, protein granola bars for middle-of-the-night jet lag hunger.

_____Purse: panty liners, contact solution/cleaner/case, glasses, Purell, travel wallet, money and credit/ATM cards(see above for the amounts), driver’s license, ferry schedule, cell phone, prescription medicines, jet lag pills,  Tylenol, Kleenex packet, sunglasses, reading glasses, breath spray, 3X5 card with emergency numbers.  Imodium and prescription for Cipro just in case of diarrhea.

***Note, although I don’t use one, most people will want a sun hat or baseball cap. 

 

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