KASTEEL Well Suggested Packing List
Use this packing list to help you pack. Choose those things that are essential to you.
| Adapter | An adapter adapts the American flat-pronged plug to the European round-pin plug. |
| Alarm Clock | Buy a small, battery-operated travel alarm clock. |
| Backpack | If possible bring a big backpack! You'll be living out of it on the road, so it has to hold lots of stuff. |
| Bathing Suit | There is a sports facility and thermal bath near Well where you will be able to go swimming. |
| Bathrobe | Not essential. Leave it at home! |
| Batteries | Bring extra, just in case. If possible we recommend bringing rechargeable batteries. |
| Blanket | Unnecessary. Two will be provided for you. |
| Calling Card | To place calls to the U.S. a calling card. You may want to check to see if you can use your card to charge calls from the Netherlands to other European countries. Or, you can buy local, prepaid calling cards in the countries you visit. |
| Cards, playing | Easy to forget, but a wonderful way to while away the hours on planes and trains. |
| Coats | Bring one only, water-repellent if possible. |
| Converter | A converter which converts American 110V to European 220V can be purchased individually for your particular appliance, or in a travel set. |
| Credit Cards | Increasingly helpful, with many travel advantages. |
| Decongestant | Prone to earaches on planes? Take a decongestant before flying. |
| Dress | Take one at most. It should be wrinkle-resistant, easy to wash, and easy to dress up or down. Dresses of double-knit cotton T-shirt material are excellent. If the dress gets clingy on the trip, hang it in the bathroom while you take a shower or bath. The steam will be absorbed to prevent static electricity. |
| Dress Shirt | Rarely needed and easily replaced with a nice white shirt. |
| Ear Plugs | If you’re sensitive to noise, these are just great on planes and in noisy hotels. Get the easy-to-mold kind, like Flents. All travelers should carry ear plugs, just in case. |
| Electric Razor | No, don't take one. It's nothing but a hassle. If you have to, try the battery-operated models. Small, light travel kits consisting of a compact safety razor and blades make a lot more sense. |
| Emerson ID Card | Not required, but not a bad idea to bring it along. |
| Film | Expensive in Europe. If you still use film, bring a few rolls. |
| Fishnet Shopping Bag | Very smart to have. Light, compact, useful. Highly recommended. |
| Glasses | One spare pair of both sunglasses and prescription glasses. |
| Gloves | One pair essential. |
| Hair Conditioner | If you use it you might bring it with you, because it's expensive in Europe. |
| Hair Dryer | Try to do without. If not possible, you might consider purchasing one in the Netherlands, or buying a travel hair dryer with a built-in converter. |
| Hair Spray | Get by without it, if possible. Take a small plastic container with pump, if not. |
| Hosteling International Card | If you intend to take advantage of youth hostels you may wish to purchase a Hosteling International membership card here in the U.S. The cost is currently $28. |
| International Student Identification Card | Required, and provided as part of travel package. For a relatively low price you receive reductions on inter-European charter flights; on all forms of transportation; in hotels and hostels; at museums, movies, galleries, and special events; and in many shops. This card can save you hundreds of dollars. You will also receive some sickness and accident insurance, and access to a toll-free 24-hour traveler's assistance hotline. Form more information go to http://www.isicus.com/MyISIC/. |
| Jeans | Accepted almost everywhere, even in sophisticated places. Europe has gone casual, imitating the millions of youthful American vagabonds. Simple is best and jeans typify the trend. |
| Jewelry | Leave it at home. Or wear simple, all-purpose jewelry that you'll never take off. |
| Laces | Change the laces on your shoes or boots before going to Europe. This way you won’t have to take along a spare set. |
| Laundry Soap | Don’t bring it. Can be purchased at the castle. |
| Linens | Bring two long flat sheets, preferably size extra long, two pillowcases and two or three (thin) towels. |
| Mirror | One tiny pocket mirror is enough. |
| Money | Bring with you on the plane at least €200. While you are in Europe use ATM machines to get access to cash. |
| Nail Polish and Remover | Can you get by without it? If not, put polish in a plastic bag. It's simply disastrous when polish leaks on your clothes. Note that remover comes in tiny travel packets - easy to use and carry. |
| Nasal Spray | Great for hay fever victims. Also good if you're prone to earaches on planes. |
| Needle and Thread | Bring one needle and a little thread (off the spool). |
| Nightgown | Almost all experienced women travelers replace a nightgown with a T-shirt. |
| Overcoat | If you take an overcoat, get one made of tightly woven material that doesn't pick up lint, doesn't stain easily, and doesn't wrinkle. Take one coat that best matches your style of travel. Spray the coat with water repellent so that it can double as a raincoat; it can also be used as a bathrobe when you trip down the hall to take a bath. It makes a good blanket in freezing train compartments: wrap it loosely around yourself like a straitjacket to trap your body heat and keep you warm. |
| Pajamas | Totally unnecessary. It's this kind of thing that’s got to go if you're going to travel light. |
| Pants | Don't carry more than two or three pairs, one of which should be jeans. The others should be easy to wash and dark-colored to hide stains. |
| Passport | If you forget this, forget the trip. Carry your passport with you at all times and guard it with everything but your life! You'll need it when exchanging currency, cashing traveler's checks, picking up mail at poste restante (general delivery) or at American Express, signing in at the hotel, and whenever the police ask to see it. |
| Passport Photos | Passport photos can be used in a number of ways - for an international driver's license, for study abroad (identification papers), ski-lift passes, etc. It's a good idea to carry a few extras. |
| Passport Wallet / Money Belt | A good way to carry a passport, currency, credit cards, papers, etc. |
| Pens | Bring a couple with you. |
| Pillow | Unnecessary. One will be provided. |
| Plastic Bags | Bring along the size and number appropriate to your style of travel. Possible uses: to hold bottles containing liquids, to carry soiled or damp clothes (such as a swimsuit), to protect clothes from the rain (as in backpacking), to sit on at picnics or spectator sports, to hold food while on the train. |
| Plastic Flask | A gem, to be filled with water, fruit juice, or whatever. Great for long plane rides when you don't want to rely on the whim of a flight attendant, and especially good for train travel. You may prefer metal to plastic. Metal stands up to abuse and doesn't absorb odors. |
| Prescription Drugs | Take as many prescription drugs as you'll need for the entire length of the semester, plus enough for a week or two to spare. Carry prescriptions with you if you remove drugs from the original containers. And be sure to learn their generic names, in case you lose them. |
| Rubber or Nylon Braided Clothesline | Inexpensive, light, and useful. Great for hanging up wet clothes in limited spaces. |
| Saline Solution | If you wear contact lenses, bring enough saline solution to last the term. It costs about 4 times more in Europe. |
| School Supplies | Do not bring paper, notebooks and other school supplies. There is a local store called Alles Onder Een Dak (All Under One Roof) where you may purchase anything you need. |
| Shoes | Don’t bring more than two pair. Don’t bring shoes that need polishing. You don’t want to worry constantly about how they look. You can replace shoes with boots, but don’t take both. Make sure they’re comfortable and waterproof. Women’s shoes should be comfortable and durable. Do not worry about how they look. When you travel, you can overlook style. If you need an elegant pair of shoes for a special occasion, buy a pair in Europe. Do not wear high heels. Much of the enjoyment of travel comes from walking ancient streets and visiting hard-to-reach sights. High, thin heels are forbidden in many museums and castles, because they damage the floors! This also includes the gym where participants have their sports night. |
| Slicker | A waterproof slicker is invaluable. |
| Slippers | Good for use in public showers, etc. Bring the fabric kind that fold into a tiny package. |
| Sports Coat | Only necessary if you plan to dress up occasionally - that is, if you'll be staying in nicer hotels and going to fancier restaurants. Take one that's lightweight, but not a wash-and-wear jacket, which will end up looking like a used handkerchief after two days. Tweed is one of the better materials, because it's tough and rarely looks like it needs cleaning, even if it really does. Corduroys are OK. So are some double knits. Choose a dark color. It's going to be stained at some time during the trip, so let the stains disappear in a dark brown or blue sea color. Spray the coat with water repellent. You'll get rained on for sure, and the repellent will fend off dirt as well. |
| Sport Outfit and Running Shoes | Well offers an excellent environment for running as well for sportsnight. |
| Suit | Unnecessary. An attractive sports coat can replace a suit almost everywhere. |
| Sweater | Warm sweaters a must! Wear one to save precious packing space. |
| Tennis Racket | Nearby there are artifical grass courts. |
| Tie | One at most. Spray it with water repellent. This will make it easy to remove any stains! |
| Toilet Paper | Tuck a small wad into your purse or wallet. Refill as necessary. This may seem comical - it isn't, as you will find out. |
| Toothbrush and Paste | Bring a small tube and replenish as needed. |
| Trench Coat | Take either one trench coat or one overcoat - but don't take both. Trench coats should have removable linings. These linings make good pillows. Be sure to spray the coat with water repellent, which will protect it from stains and rain. |
| Towels | Bring two or three (thin) towels. |
| Umbrella | Bring one that folds down to less than 14 inches long. If you shop around, you'll find one for a steal. Put the umbrella in one of the outside pockets of your carry-on bag. |
| Woolite | Bring a few travel packets, if you have any woolen items along. Can also be purchased in larger containers in Holland. |
