I'm soon going on my first bus trip/shop hop. Has anyone gone on one of these? And what should I expect? Any really good suggestions to make the trip enjoyable? I am normally a over packer. I'm guessing on a bus with lots of other quilters I might need to cut back some. It's not like I can toss it in the trunk and forget about it. I'm so excited!!

How long are you going for? Are any close friends going? We took the bus to Nashville TN & I took my ipod to listen to music, I took some hand work to work on on the way there & back, took a few snacks & even a sandwich if there's no lunch planned. Make a list of things you want to look for. If the shops are on line, check each one out. I hated going into the quilt stores with this many women because everyone was just grabbing fabric like they were starving! So I am sure I missed a lot of good buys. Where do you get to go? Don't stress. it's suppose to be fun!

http://www.quiltedparadise.com/n/221-uio.jsp
This weeks newsletter had some good tips on shop hops

On a long bus trip I usually take a soft sided, insulated bag with drinks and snacks. A heavy shawl, even in summer because the buses I took were always chilly inside. And a large purse/bag, but with my money and important papers (driver's lic, etc) in an inside pocket in my jacket or vest.
Any medicines necessary, pain killers, etc. Glass wipes. Tissues.
(I SAID large purse or bag, you'll need it.)
Some tour groups handed out large plastic bags with ties and felt tips to put names on them when time came to go home. The storage under the seats, accessed from outside, was where they put all our purchases. Names on them really did help when we were tired and wanting to go to our cars with the correct items we had bought.

What fun! Enjoy!

Thanks! I learned a lot from this.

It is a three day trip. 11 shops. No close friends going. I'm sure some friendly nieghbors will be partof it. We get to go through Tennesse and Kentucky. It has been a long time since I traveled through either state. And never to visit quilt shops before.
Thanks you for the great ideas.