Packing for a European Vacation

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Packing for a European Vacation

Complete Listing of Ed and Julie's
Travel Tips and Planning Tools

y now we've become experts at packing ... you'd think! Not so. We continue to struggle with what to leave out. (What we'd like to take is never a problem!)

We do leave the kitchen sink at home, but frequently that's about all. We're still working at this, although Ed commonly took one-to-three- day business trips to Europe with little more than a 6-inch 'salesman's case' and a lightweight garment bag ... sometimes without the garment bag.

Much as we'd like to travel entirely with airline carry-ons, we never manage to do it that way for a vacation trip to Europe.

ou'll read that traveling solely with carry-ons is the smart way to travel. For many, that's so.

But don't get so wrapped up in that objective that you lose sight of other things that may be important to you. And don't pack to please others: listen to yourself. What works for others may not for you.

s an example of a 'need' for more than 'basic' items, Julie hates wrinkles. Really hates. So we travel with a dual-voltage steam iron usually, sometimes a steamer instead, sometimes both. Jeans, sweaters, jackets, skirts, slacks ... all pressed daily.

ulie's also fastidious about her hair. So we take along a dual-voltage hairdryer and a curling iron. (You'll find inexpensive ones in your nearest Target, K-Mart or Wal-Mart.)

Julie would be miserable with wrinkles and less than perfect hair. Extra weight and space for these? Sure. But if they make the vacation more enjoyable, so what? If you can comfortably cut your belongings down to fit in carry-ons, do so. But don't leave home without things that are really important to you ... their absence could mar your vacation.

ome other things you might omit, but which we wouldn't travel without:

the largest Swiss Army knife you own (many times a salvation in a snafu) (Ed's is the largest made);
a tiny alarm clock (hotels are notoriously unreliable in Ed's experience);
the smallest flashlight you can find;
European voltage nightlight;
a compass. A $4.95 one will do just fine. (Whether in the mountains or city, it's easier to follow those directions that say, "Turn north" if you know which way is north.)

f you check bags, make sure what you carry on the airplane includes medicine, an extra day's clothes, toiletries, hotel confirmation, itinerary and important notes/plans, and your most important guidebook and map.

Space Savers

	Keep the color coordination simple. Keep all your clothes in the blue/gray/black category, or tan/brown, etc., to save the number of belts, shoes, sweaters, ties, handbags and other accessories you have to tote.
	Planning on going to the opera in the evening and hiking in the morning? Almost certainly a need for more shoes than you'll want to carry. You'll save weight and space if you can keep the elements of the trip either fairly formal or fairly informal rather than mixing them. For example most of the year a good mountain parka shell (with sweater) is adequate outerwear if you're not planning on the theater in the evening. A raincoat or topcoat is superfluous. A good pair of walking shoes, perhaps ankle height, will take you through city sightseeing and most light mountain walking, though they certainly wouldn't do for a concert or glacier excursions.
	Wear things more than once. You'll not often be seeing the same people day in and day out. Anyway, they'll be watching the scenery, not you. You may not wear the same sweater or skirt two days in a row at home, but it's sensible on vacation.
	Stuff shoes and boots with socks.
	Roll your clothes. Fewer wrinkles if done well and uses less space.
	Buy travel size (sample) cosmetic and toiletry products. You can live without 'your' brand for a week or two.
	Layers. Avoid heavy jackets. Temperatures go up and down throughout the day and evening. Light and heavy sweaters are more flexible than heavy coats. Lightweight long underwear is excellent in cooler and damp weather.
	Wear heavy or bulky things on the airplane on the way over and back. Heavy sweater, thick jacket, sports coat, raincoat ... much more easily worn than packed.

And Just in Case ...

ne item you'll find missing from most packing lists ... an itinerary. In all our travels we've been separated from our bags only once, due to the air traffic controllers strike. But bags do get misrouted or delayed occasionally.

Prepare a copy of your itinerary for each piece of luggage, checked or unchecked. It should include your name, home address, phone and e-mail, cities, dates and hotels, along with hotel address, phone number and e-mail. Make sure the itinerary is easy to find ... you'll be glad you did when they open your bag to figure out where to send it. Your name and home address should be on the outside of bags as well, though not visible to thieves.

We have some other tips on avoiding lost luggage you may want to read as well.

How Many Bags?

n oft-asked question. For which there is no right answer. Here's a sound set of guidelines though. Whatever bags you take, you should be able to carry them, all at once, and

climb at least one flight of stairs at normal speed with no stops;
rapidly walk one block, with no stops.

In addition, you should be able to lift the largest bag directly over your head, arms fully raised, simulating what you'll need to do if you travel on a train.

While you may be able to pass those tests with one bag, you'll be better off with two because neither arm is likely to be overstressed, your balance will be at least a bit better, and you'll have, if you want, one bag to check and one to carry on.

And if you haven't noted the implication here, we suggest each traveler tote their own bags. You'll find there are fewer 'discussions' about what to pack if 'you pack it ... you carry it'.

Developing Your Packing List

our list will look different than ours. Beyond our tips, the two sources below will start your creative juices flowing, and you'll have your own list in short order.

The thorniest packing issue is wardrobe. We really think this is an area where you know best. Our general guidelines (summed as "wear what you're comfortable with") are found in A Dress Code for Visitors to Europe. If you're concerned about 'looking like a tourist', clothes aren't the problem you may think they are. See Worried About Looking Like a Tourist?

n a nutshell, cut your list down to the bare, acceptable minimum. If you need help with a packing list, more ideas on how to slim down your luggage, or ideas on the best luggage to buy, take a look at
The Compleat Carry-On Traveler. Doug Dyment has a highly articulate, opinionated, detailed and entertaining website that we think is invaluable in planning what you should take along, and what you wshould take it in.

Finally, there may be some incentive for light packers in the future, as the Times of London reports.

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