wifey68

Quite a few UK retailers are seriously considering scrapping the availability of 5p single use carrier bags. Let’s face it there are plenty of alternative bags you could use these days. Good old fashioned cloth/ jute bags are a favourite here in the U.K. along with the nylon and polyester blend ones that fold into their own pouches, maybe secure your bags with a locking carabiner so they don’t get split up whilst walking around the shops. As long as you are not going for bold designer labels you should be fine with a foldaway bag (or a few)in your day bag. Probably best not to use the flashy bags with designer names on if you don’t want to draw attention from unknown watchers. I can imagine European retailers are also rethinking their carrier bags availability.

Perhaps go online and watch a street camera or two in the places you’ll be going to. That will give you a good indication of how the locals shop and what they use to get their goods home.

My wife was pick pocketed in London back in 1999. What a miserable experience. Passports and all. Now we travel with lanyards down inside of our shirts or blouse. Leaving all valuables including passports secured either onboard the ship or in a safe. Only carrying what might be needed for the day. We have not been pick pocketed since, but we are also much more aware than we were back then. It only has to happen once.

I’m hoping to avoid a lanyard since we both have to wear one each to work every day. Mine irritates my skin constantly and because I can’t adjust it in any way, also it can often bang around whilst walking about and leaning to look at things. It is something I’m not keen on wearing because of where it rubs. (You ladies with a larger than average chest know what I mean)Perhaps if it were less intrusive and adjustable with RFID blocking it could be a viable option.

I’m new to this but from what I’ve read there’s an upcharge of about $20 per person for the “special nights” meals these are different to the usual buffet offerings. The Asian night food offerings look so so good... we love sushi and oriental food ( just not curry ).

We must be lucky we were offered either onboard credit OR free transfers to the port. When you need to travel from our area it’s over £100 per person. At the moment I have no idea when we will board the bus on departure day as it’s too far out to schedule it. We don’t drive and train fares were over £600 return flights were not much different. So the free bus transfer was out best option. As long as I can use my kindle and watch preloaded films on a tablet we’ll be fine. There’s always plenty of adult colouring books and things you could do that don’t take up much room or weigh that much.

Washing your face between flights is a great idea. I don't trust the water in airplane bathrooms.

 

I have a routine I call "weekend make up" still full coverage but not as much on the eyes, except for mascara. I won't go without mascara.

I took sensitive moisturising face wipes. Bare Minerals (other brands available) primer, face powder foundation, blusher, eye shadows, mini mascaras and mini lip sticks with appropriate brushes that all fitted inside the necessary see through bag without being too cluttered. Easy to reapply when needed. This brand works well for me as it doesn’t irritate my skin or dry it out. The primer works beautifully as a moisturising treatment that also minimises the pores. Before landing I took it all into the toilet and swiftly cleansed and reapplied it took less than 10 minutes to do. Fresh and happy I looked my best when we got to the customs and immigration officers. Now I’m gonna need to restock it all soon as the mini ones from the range soon disappear.

I have had my Pacsafe bag for quite a few years. I looked at their website before answering this post, and the one closest to what I have is called the Crossbody Stylesafe. Also, I use an RFID protected wallet. It’s also by Pacsafe, and is the W200. I don’t use it on my wrist; I use the cord as an attachment to a tab inside the purse. If someone tries to get the wallet, I’m going to know it. Some people feel that some of these things ( like RFID protection) are unnecessary and simply things to sell merchandise. Personally, I’d rather err on the side of caution.

Sandy

 

 

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Thanks for the update, and so quickly too! I’m glad you told me about this bag. It looks about the right size for me to carry my essentials( we pack light and carry the minimum whenever we can ). DH doesn’t like to use a wallet ( he has one he’s never used since receiving it one Christmas) although over the years he has lost money from his pockets in the past. I’d rather carry cash somewhere more secure tbh. I also will need space for feminine necessaries ( yep I went there girls) and guide books and note pad and a couple of rain ponchos (a habit we picked up in Florida) as well as gum, water and usual OTC medicines. I don’t want to be a pack horse on holiday no matter where we go. My thinking is the less we carry then the less attention we would draw. I’m amazed how friendly folks are here and appreciate it a lot.

:cool:

I use a Pacsafe purse that I wear cross body, and an inner Pacsafe small purse that's made for cash/credit cards. This small purse has a chain that attaches to an inner zipper. This way my cash/ cards would be harder to steal without my knowledge if I'm making a purchase. I always carry my cards and passport in RFID proof folders.

 

 

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I’m looking into these bags as an option too! Which one do you use? I’ve been looking at the pacsafe metrosafe ls250 model since the larger one isn’t practical for me. Pacsafe seem to have better construction and security than the Travelon models I’ve looked in to and there seems to be little significant price difference between the two company products. DH has a Crumpler Nikon bag he’s considering using and a sling bag too. I’d rather not have him look like a target whilst walking around the locations we want to visit and experience problems. If you know of any other reputable bags please let me know about them since I’m still planning everything.

I have locking S Biner linking my zippers on my backpack. They are mini carabiners that have a twisting lock by Nite Ize. It would take a min for a thief to understand how it works but of course I'm always vigilante in who is close to me. If your going to be taking lots of photos, try and do so outside the crowd of people if you can. For my cash and CC, I use a small zippy pouch about the size of a CC. It has a key ring on one end and I use a large caribiner and attach to front belt loop and then flip the case inside between front pants and underwear. It's soft and comfortable. Easier than wearing a money belt.

 

Pickpockets are everywhere, not just the subway. If you want to see them work just head to trevi fountain and hang out on the side up above. Scan around and you'll notice the young people constantly moving around between the tourists who aren't paying any attn to what's going on.

What size S Biners do you use to secure your bag zips and such? I’m trying to decide if it’s better to buy a few of them or just get a new secure slashproof bag with locking zips etc. We don’t want to get targeted by pickpockets. Thank you👍

The Etruscan tombs in Tarquinia and the Etruscan museum are both closed on Mondays, if that's what you mean by Etruscan ruins.

 

Most of the sites I name in Rome in the post you quote are open on Monday.

 

The "Mouth of Truth" is located in the front portico of a church and open 9:30 to 5:30 every day.

 

The Baths of Caracalla are open 9:00 am to 6:15 pm on Mondays.

 

The Colosseum/Forum/Palatine Hill are open on Mondays, as are all sites at the Vatican (the Scavi under St. Peter's require special reservations, however).

 

The Castel Sant'Angelo is open on Monday from 9:00 am to 7:30 pm.

 

The Borghese Gallery is closed, but the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj is open on Mondays for a similar experience.

 

The two ancient Roman museums I mention are, unfortunately, closed on Mondays.

So much info thank you, we are first timers at this type of holiday as I’m sure you can tell. It’s exactly what we needed. :D

I'm not trying to influence those whose minds are made up, but I just wanted to post here -- for anyone who may be on the fence about returning to Rome -- that there are so many world-class things to see and do there, even for those returning multiple times, like myself.

 

It doesn't have to be difficult or expensive to to go on your own. The train costs 12 euros round-trip. And another 2 euro (I think) for the bus to the port entrance. A great deal, and the trains are not difficult when you aren't encumbered with luggage.

 

Whatever your interests are, Rome has something for you -- wonderful Renaissance and Baroque churches with great art, fascinating Roman ruins that go beyond the Forum and the Colosseum (as well as world-leading museums with Roman finds: the Capitoline Museum and the Museo Na*ionale near Termini), the Borghese Gallery and gardens or the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj if you want to see how the rich and famous lived. For foodies, there are a number of markets, including a huge one at Testaccio with some prepared local specialties. And of course, gelato.

 

Have you put your hand into the Mouth of Truth (a la Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn) and visited the photogenic church behind it?

 

Have you visited a pyramid in Rome or the famously beautiful cemetery beside it where John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley are buried? (Or the house where Keats died, near the Spanish Steps?)

 

Have you seen the ruins of the imperial Baths of Caracalla? Or the even bigger ones built by Domitian that Michelango turned into a church near Termini?

 

Have you walked the Bridge of Angels and visited Castel Sant'Angelo? Or the Via Appia, ancient Rome's most famous road (and home to famous Roman tombs and catacombs that can be visited)?

 

Have you visited the excavations under St. Peter's that reveal portions of a Roman necropolis and what may be the burial place of St. Peter?

 

Have you considered taking a tour of EUR, Mussolini's 'city of the future'?

 

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

These are just a few things many first or second-time visitors to Rome haven't considered; most all of them would rank above a day in Civitavecchia in my book!

:confused:How many of the above sites are open to the public on Mondays? Our only port day in Civitavecchia is a Monday. The Etruscan ruins really appeal to me but my hubby is more interested in the Roman buildings. I’m trying to decide what’s going to be the best plan of action whilst we are there. Many thanks.

Can’t say for certain if you need to change anything. I use cocoa butter and argan oil on my hands and spend time rubbing the oil into the cuticles on my fingers. I also take extra vitamin D supplements this has helped strengthen my nails some what. Working in a skilled job using hands all day I often get mine bumped around and caught in odd things which can snag them. Without that extra care my hands are a mess.

Have you looked in the Body Shop for things like bar shampoos? They are usually great for things like that. Or there are plenty of travel size bottles in supermarkets and shops like Bodycare and Superdrug or Savers.