What Everyday Items Should I Bring on My Vacation in an Italian Apartment?

You’re looking at your packing list, and then over at your suitcase, and wondering if you should just plan to buy some of your everyday items when you get there. That plan certainly makes the Italian vacation experience more authentic, as long as you’re comfortable reading labels in Italian. Imagine pointing to what you need in an Italian phrase book while you look pleadingly at the grocery clerk in the store around the corner from your apartment. It’s a dicey plan, but it can be done.

Here are a few nuggets of advice about what you’ll want to make room for in that suitcase:

OTC medicine and vitamin supplements
You’ll find aspirin over there, but not Tylenol or Advil or any of the other popular pain reliever types that we can so easily find in the US. If you rely on Tylenol or Advil – this goes for the baby versions, too – pack enough for the trip, just in case. Cold medicines can also be rare, so if you catch colds easily when you travel, pack your favorite American kind.
If you suffer from allergies, you can get Claritin, but the Claritin with decongestant hasn’t made it over there yet.
If you want to take your chances and make do with whatever OTC medicine and supplements you can find over there, also be aware that you’ll pay a significant percentage more for those items in Italy.

Cosmetics and Toiletries
Of course you can find a vast world of cosmetics and toiletries in Italy – and the prestige of buying them in Europe is fabulous. However, you can expect to pay 20% or more above the price you would pay for the exact same items in the US. I understand why this would be confusing – why is Italian make-up more expensive in Italy than in the US? I don’t have an answer for that one. I also cannot confirm that the formulas used in the US vs. Italian versions of the same products are identical. But, if you already like using a European product that you can buy in the US, you should probably just bring that product with you to Italy, unless you really want the packaging in Italian. That is kind of cool, actually.

Children’s Clothes, Toys, Diapers, and Formula
The advice here is to bring what you need. What you find in the stores will not be the same type of products you’re used to and they will be more expensive overall. Sure, that can of formula and mega-pack of diapers take up a lot of space in the suitcase, but they make great placeholders for souvenirs on the way home.

If Taller Than 5’6”, or wear Larger Than Men’s Size M or Misses Size 10, Bring All of the Clothes You’ll Need for the Trip
The clothing sizes available in Italy are not as broad a range as in the US. “Tall” is about 5’8”, and the highest Plus Size will go in the stores is roughly misses size 14. If you fall outside of those measurements, it will be difficult to find clothing to supplement your wardrobe. As a tall (over 6 feet), plus-sized woman, I have actually found some pieces in outdoor markets, coming in from Asia but with distinctly European style. You never know what surprises you’ll find while you’re there, but don’t count on being able to find longer and larger sizes in clothes.

Bring Appliances that Can Handle Dual-voltage
If your everyday appliances were manufactured to switch between the world’s most common voltages, then all you’ll need to bring is an adapter. The converter that works with an adapter to power your single voltage American appliances can be really heavy. Bring the curling iron that can switch from 110 to 220, and just use the adapter (make sure you switch the voltage before you plug it in, though!).
If you think you’ll need computer or printer power, though, bring the power converter. You might even want to invest in a laptop power cord when you arrive in Italy, if you’ll be staying long enough or if you think you’ll return.

Between the Euro exchange rate that is not in our favor and the cultural differences in products that are available to buy, travelers to Italy might find themselves packing more that they thought they’d have to just to be comfortable on vacation. But, spending your hard-earned money on fun things instead of necessities, and a little comfort from home go a long way toward being able to relax and fully enjoy your time in Italy.