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A day in the city: suggestions of what to bring, etc.Jul 06 '05 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line This is a list of extra things I like to bring on a trip to the city...adjust accordingly & have a great trip!!!
I was just thinking of the extra things that I like to bring in my bag on a trip to any big city (this would be for a 1 to 2 day trip) in addition to my cell phone, wallet & the usual. This also comes in handy when you're going to a convention or other day-long trip. There's nothing like saying, "I have something for that" when someone gets a blister, has sticky hands or a headache...I always feel like such a heroine (or, such a mom)!!! 1) Toilet seat covers: I buy these in little travel-packs of 5 or so and put them in my bag. Although I usually duck into a hotel to use their lobby bathroom, sometimes I have to use a fast food restaurant toilet or go elsewhere...the worst are unisex bathrooms -talk about sprinkling while tinkling (or other...YUCK)!!! Hint: put your camera away and cover up that "I love [name of city]" t-shirt, act incognito, like you know where you're going and you're in -some hotels closely guard their restrooms from public use, although they really don't know who's a guest and who's not. In regards to bathrooms, don't be shy about informing someone that the toilet paper, paper towels, soap is out, toilet is clogged, or that it's just a total mess...I do that out of plain old consideration for the next gal, if not to vent. 2) Antiseptic wet wipes in individual packets: I can find these at supermarkets. If they're on sale, I buy a few boxes (I love Wet Ones), because they really come in handy when you can't find running water fast enough. They're also great for wiping off the keys on ATM's and public phones. I'm not a big fan of that gel hand sanitizer stuff, by the way...I like to wipe stuff off of my hands & don't like the slightly sticky residue after using it. 3) Asprin: I bring those little 2-packs that are sold in vending machines, drug stores and airports. Every now and then I just get too stressed out and I need a little help with the pain! 4) Ozium air sanitizer spray: Yes -sadly, sometimes when you use questionable bathrooms, you're either forced to not breathe the entire time or bring the collar of your shirt up over your nose in a feeble attempt to block foul odors. I buy a little can that's 5" high (product #: 500C) at auto supply stores, discount/drug, or online (you can also find them on auction sites, but don't pay more than a couple of bucks per can). These REALLY help, and the product is proven to reduce airborne bacteria. Just a little discreet spritz in the air & your nose will thank you. 5) Swiss Card or Swiss Army knife: Just be aware if you're visiting museums or popular tourist attractions, that they will search your bag or you'll have to walk through the metal detector and your knife will be confiscated in big cities. The Swiss Card will fit into a credit card slot in your wallet. These come in handy when you need a pair of scissors, tweezers or a wine bottle opener-heh heh. I always have one in my bag & it's the big, heavy deluxe model with a zillion functions & a handy ballpoint pen, too...I just love it and use it all the time. They make GREAT gifts, too. 6) Small sewing kit: Make sure you have safety pins in it. 7) Band-Aids/antiseptic towelettes: At least 5 of differing sizes and antiseptic wipes for little cuts, scrapes, and blisters. I bring the standard sizes and those little circular Band-Aids for blisters. 8) Kleenex pocket packs/napkins: Tissues, of course....for anything from blowing your nose to using when you just realized you went to the bathroom in a rest room with no toilet paper. And those "Sniff" napkins REALLY come in handy...they're fancy little 10-packs of disposable handkerchiefs made in Germany with the cutest designs on them...they cost about $1.19 each and the off-season designs are often on sale. They're 4-ply and are thick & durable, like napkins. 9) Sunglasses and/or a hat: To shield your eyes from the sun. 10) Antacid/Alka Selter: Especially if you decide you just can't pass up on the food the vendors are selling! Smile now, cry later I always say!!! 11) Maps: Some kind of map, either printed out depending on the location you're visiting or of the entire city. When I go to NYC, I have a set of business-card size maps of the subway system in my wallet. Don't ever be shy about asking a uniformed staffperson or cop how to get somewhere (they're used to it)...just stay away from people who willingly and too eagerly try to help you...they're either pickpockets or they're people who want to be paid for telling you and will harass you if you don't. Say, "No thanks" like you mean it and walk away. 12) Face-refreshing kit (Ladies): Ladies, you might want to bring a face-refreshing kit, especially if you're having dinner later...wet wipes to remove makeup, lipstick, a compact foundation/powder, blush, mascara, the works...those little cans of hairspray also come in handy. 13) Extra bag: Bring an extra bag in your bag...I love those Handi Saks bag packets...they're little packets of like 10 plastic bags with handles on them. Do they ever come in handy...I've used them as garbage bags, to carry my stuff, even used one as a barf bag (I'm pregnant & have morning sickness) LOL 14) SPF wipes or a trial-size bottle of lotion: If it's going to be hot & sunny, bring SPF wipes in your bag...it's amazing that everything is so handy now & you can get these in little compact individual packets. They're great for exposed faces, shoulders and men with thinning hair. 15) A pen and a small pad of paper: For jotting down directions, addresses, locations and telephone #'s. 16) A lightweight but sturdy tote-style bag: I like quilted fabric tote-style bags that fully zip shut at the top...reason being is that they're light, yet sturdy and will conform to just about anything you put inside, as they're soft-sided (see my review of my favorite at: http://www.epinions.com/content_147137007236). Bring something a little larger to hold extras, plus, hubby & the kids will always hand you something "to hold". Perhaps the best thing about them is that they can be thrown in the wash after you get home to get those city germs off. Just don't carry these if it's going to rain...they don't do very well. Also, don't put them on a dirty floor or wet counter. I used to carry backpacks, but they've got a stigma attached and are sometimes not allowed into certain attractions like totes are. Plus, backpack openings are in the back & therefore, out of your view. 17) Bring a watch. If you don't like wristwatches, there are a lot of clip-on and necklace watches out there. An alarm or timer comes in handy if the group splits up and you're going to meet somewhere later. 18) Keep everything small & handy and it won't weigh you down!!! I love those little travel-sized areas in drug stores...everything from aspirin to hairspray costs around $1 or so, plus they're just so darned cute!!! Miscellaneous: 1) Make sure you have lots of change in the car if you're going to park in a metered spot. My husband keeps a small zipper-top bag underneath the floor mat on the passenger side (remove if going through a car wash or valet where someone else is driving your car). 2) Don't flash your expensive jewelry, especially if you take the subway!!! Better yet, leave it to the bare minimum if you can and turn your ring inwards (so the stone is facing the palm of your hand) if you feel the need to, but do it discreetly, with the same hand if you can. 3) We've found some of the best restaurants in the city just by asking someone who's in a business suit or a policeman. Just approach them in a friendly way (preferably before you're starving to death) and say, "Hi, we're new here...know of any good breakfast/lunch/dinner spots around here that we can go to?", or something to that effect...just make sure you hint at how much you want to spend or what kind of food you're looking for if you want something specific! Most people seem almost pleased to be approached and asked for their suggestion. 4) Ladies: Don't EVER leave your purse unattended, not even for a second. You're in a big city & your chances of recovering a stolen purse are like, none. Bring a purse that zips shut at the top and keep the start of the zipper in front of you. Also, make sure your bag is close to your body and has sturdy double straps (purse snatchers). If you're eating or using both hands, make sure that the straps are looped around an arm or a leg. Guys, move your wallet from your back pocket to your front pocket...I'm always reminding my husband to do this. 5) I usually don't bring bottled water...it's just way too heavy to lug around. Besides, one bottle of water isn't going to last me all day! If I want water, I'll buy it from a store (drug, supermarket, etc.) if there's one around...the vending machines and the vendors are just too overpriced. 6) Charge up your batteries the night before if you plan to shoot digital pictures. Invest in an extra battery (keep it well-charged) and an extra memory card or two (go for the biggest one you can...you won't regret it, especially if you spot a celebrity or two -hello Enquirer)! 7) Regarding cameras...make sure you have a neck strap for it...I dropped my $500 camera and really damaged it when I was in the city during a moment of distraction (it was on a wrist strap). A good, padded camera bag is also great...just make sure it has enough room for accessories. 8) Make sure to check the day's forecast, either online at www.intellicast.com or www.weather.com, or look at the local news the night before and the morning of. You want to make sure you dress appropriately so you aren't forced to buy one of those crazy tourist outfits just to keep warm or to cover your head!!! 9) If you're sensitive to greasy foods, try to steer clear of junk. You'll have more energy and you'll also have a better appetite for lunch or dinner. One thing my husband and I do is buy from fruit stands when we want a quick snack. We share an apple, grapes, banana or an orange. 10) Watch out for parking garages. One time we drove into NYC and ended up paying $75 for the day's parking because we didn't read the fine print (forgot our magnifying glass that day). Better yet, if you can go in on a Sunday or Holiday, metered parking may be free -just make sure you absolutely know it's free before you leave your car there!!! 11) Speaking of parking, if you want to leave the stress of driving to someone else (always preferable), consider taking an express bus or train service to the city. We almost always go to NYC on an express bus that we catch at a nearby mall (we park our car for free). It takes 20 minutes to get to the city, and the bus drops us off at the Port Authority, so we just take the subway to wherever we want to go from there...it's fast, easy & cheap, plus we don't have to worry about parking or deal with the hassle of city traffic. The ride home is a breeze as well & you can spend your ride home talking, reading or sleeping -it's a great way to end a busy day! 12) If you're a student, make sure you bring your student ID...it can get you considerable discounts at museums and like attractions. On a on the admission price table or on the website info...it means the admission price is negotiable, or you can pay as much as you want...for example, at the Metropolitan Museum of NY, one can pay as much as they want to get in (I've paid as little as 10 cents...just hand your money over and politely ask for your ticket...they don't blink an eye or ask questions) instead of the standard admission of $15 (don't feel bad about it, either...visiting a museum should practically be a right)!!! 13) Instead of buying pricey souvenirs, I keep take-out menus and matchbooks of restaurants we've gone to as well as brochures and ticket stubs from attractions. My Mother-In-Law loves to buy postcards as souvenirs. And of course, take LOTS of pictures!!! 14) I find that by making a list of places to go to, we use just about every minute of the day constructively and things go a LOT smoother because we can visit places in the same area according to the map as we go along. 15) Make sure that you can bring backpacks or large bags into the attractions you are visiting, because some destinations do not allow bags of ANY kind. 16) On the same note, make sure that it is "OK" to bring a camera into those same places, or you may not be allowed entry. 17) Make sure everyone stays together, or better yet, invest in those inexpensive 2-way family radios. If you have small children, check out this article...it could save you a LOT of heartache when touristing with your family: http://www.newyorkmag.com/urban/guides/family/leisure/features/feature_lostchild.htm 18) Know which areas to avoid and don't go there, especially after dark!!! Believe me, it can be SCARY!!! Most libraries have tourist books which will tell you about particular areas. 19) Have a good time, but play it safe...just be smart & don't make it easy for small-time crooks to have access to your goods. I know I'll be updating as I remember more...hope this comes in handy for you!  |
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