Bottom Line
- Packing cubes optimize space and are used by our family regularly
- Save space in luggage by taking advantage of laundry facilities at your destination
- Be mindful of local customs and pack accordindly
Tips to Build Your Europe Packing List
As more of you get out and explore Europe post-COVID, you may be daunted at the prospect of dusting off that luggage, packing that money belt, and getting the perfect packing list together. We just went through this exercise and did our best to pack for long days exploring Europe, but of course, there were lessons learned. This post will go through our experience packing for our trips abroad to make your travel smooth and stress-free!
In part one of this two part series, we’ll address packing tips for your checked bag. In the second part, we’ll focus on carry your carry on bags.
Suitcases and Packing Cubes
When Chris and I were planning our summer vacation to Italy (where he proposed!) my parents were observant enough to realize that my bright magenta study abroad suitcases had seen better days, and bought me an adult luggage set for Christmas. If you don’t already have a spinner suitcase on four wheels, I recommend starting there. We have a hard-sided expandable two-piece set, similar to this Ricardo set. Additionally, we have a second carry-on similar to this one by Delsey. Your suitcase should be relatively lightweight to begin with so you can comfortably carry it once it is full. Keep in mind, even though it is on wheels, you will still need to lift it onto the luggage scale at the check in counter, or into the overhead bin, on and off curbs, in and out of cars or public transit, etc. That can really add up if the suitcase is too heavy, so it is worth it to choose something lightweight as your starting point. Keeping it light will be easier in the summer months but these tips can keep your winter travel light as well. Beyond the suitcase, I have two words for you, friends:
Packing. Cubes.
As a nifty add-on to the luggage, my mom also got a Flight 001 Spacepak clothes packing cube and tossed that in for good measure. Let me tell you – I considered myself a pretty efficient packer before (hello rolled clothing!) but packing cubes were a game-changer. These Flight 001 packing cubes have two sides, one for clean clothes, and one for dirty laundry, so you can keep your clean clothes fresh throughout your trip. They have grommets on the sides that allow for air compression so you can fit more clothes into your suitcase. Best of all, they keep things contained, so when you open your suitcase, it doesn’t matter how much jostling occurred on the plane, you know exactly where everything is. Keeping everything separated is especially beneficial when you are sharing a suitcase with a significant other, which we do regularly!
After I used the inaugural packing cube for a weekend trip, I knew I wanted to buy more before our big trip to Italy. My next two purchases were a second clothing size Spacepak, and a lingerie Spacepak. The lingerie Spacepak is neat because the laundry side has a mesh bag that you can detach to throw your delicates straight in the washing machine when you get home. It also came with an outer carrying case, which I assume is to compress the Spacepak further after you zip it up, but instead I use it as an undergarment case for Chris (two in one!)
Even though the Spacepak packing cubes are designed for clothes to be packed flat, I have to admit I’ve never used them that way – I continue to roll our clothes, since I like to be able to see more things at once and assess what outfit combinations I still have available. Which leads me to tip #2…
Clothing
If you are packing for two weeks, do you need 14 different outfits? Absolutely NOT. Pack separates that you can mix and match throughout your trip. Choose items you can re-wear, or wear with multiple things. A lot of people will advise that you pack clothing with neutral colors … I don’t feel that neutrals are necessary, but versatility is. For example, I have one brightly patterned skirt that I love. It’s lightweight and comfortable in hot weather, and it comes to my knees so it’s great for visiting religious sites like temples or cathedrals. I have a couple of solid shirts that go with it, and those shirts can also mix and match with other pairs of shorts / pairs of jeans. The skirt is not neutral in the slightest, but I can make multiple outfits out of it. Versatile > Neutral
Plan to take advantage of laundry facilities once during your stay, around the halfway mark. This depends on a few things, such as how long your trip is, the climate where you are traveling, your comfort level when it comes to re-wearing clothes, and how much money you are willing to spend on laundry. Many Airbnbs have washer/dryers available, or the host can point you to a laundromat nearby. Many hotels offer same-day or next-day laundry services, often a great way to clean clothes at reasonable prices. When we are booking accommodations, we keep in mind the availability of laundry services, so we can adjust our packing accordingly (i.e. make sure you have enough clothes to get you to the day you plan to do laundry, PLUS a buffer day).
For us, it is always worth the cost to have our clothes washed rather than to bring more clothing that makes our wheeled suitcase heavier than what we want to lug around. During our two-week Italy trip, we actually did laundry twice – once in our Airbnb at the halfway mark, and once on our last full day at a hotel so we could bring home a suitcase full of clean clothes. Smartest $50 we ever spent.
Accessories and Shoes
As you could probably guess, I recommend keeping accessories to a minimum and making sure they can coordinate with multiple outfits. One year, we planned a Europe trip that we had to cancel last minute (we were literally completely packed!) Even though we ended up unpacking, I had chosen a lot of solid t-shirts and sweaters, and a few very bright, patterned scarves to liven up my outfits. That was a great example of versatile being different from neutral!
A couple of my go-tos on almost every trip, regardless of season, are a gray cardigan and a pink pashmina. Even if you are going somewhere warm, evenings might be cooler than expected, or air conditioning inside public spaces might be on blast. If you are anything like me, having an extra layer is crucial for comfort and a cardigan or pashmina can serve this purpose. I like to pack both and have flexibility depending on the outfit and the outing. Pashminas are great as shawls for warmth, to cover your shoulders in places of worship, or even to wrap around your waist to cover your knees. When we were in Thailand, I tried to coordinate my outfits so either my knees or my shoulders were covered by my clothes, and carried my pashmina in my day bag to cover the rest as needed. This allowed us to embrace spontaneous visits to places we otherwise wouldn’t have been allowed to enter due to wardrobe restrictions.
A lot of minimalist packing gurus will say that you only need a single pair of comfortable shoes, but I disagree. I think you need to bring an extra pair switch it up to prevent blisters and sore feet. We also have a tendency to go to nicer “date night” restaurants while traveling, and I prefer to have dressier options than whatever we wore to walk around all day due to potential strict dress codes. I typically bring 3-4 pairs of shoes, depending on the expected weather and our planned activities. I usually choose a combination like sneakers/Sperrys/flats, adding in flip flops for resort vacations. For Chris, it’s usually sneakers/Sperrys/loafers, plus flip flops as needed. Wear your sneakers on the plane since they would take up the most room in your luggage, and also to make sure your feet are supported while trekking through train stations and airports.
Toiletries
Generally, I recommend relying on the toiletries provided in the hotel room as much as possible. Most of your travel toiletries should be able to follow TSA 3-1-1 guidelines (3 ounce containers, in a 1-quart bag, 1 per person), but there are always exceptions. When we traveled to Thailand, we knew we wanted to take plenty of sunscreen and bug spray, because we had read that both are difficult to find (or expensive if you did find it). Especially with me being so fair-skinned, going without sunscreen even temporarily was not an option, so we planned to check a bag with our large toiletries.
Even if you decide to check a bag, it’s still a good idea to be conscious of how much you are packing so that your toiletries don’t weigh down your suitcase more than necessary. Refillable travel containers in a variety of TSA-compliant sizes are great for items that you want to bring from home that you don’t need a full container of, like facial moisturizer or Vaseline. Using small containers gives you flexibility to bring more of the must-have items that you want to bring from home, without weighing down your bag.
