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What to pack and how much to pack is a typical question travelers ask when preparing for a trip. It might go without saying, but the general answer to this dilemma depends on where you are traveling to and for how long. For the purposes of this post, the focus will be traveling to European countries for a two week or longer trip.
In general, European cities and towns will have items that you might need during a trip. The cities and towns will also have public coin operated laundry facilities to use. With that in mind, it is not 100% necessary to pack all possible items that you might need. So, let’s focus on the essentials.
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Backpack or Luggage?
The answer is more of a personal preference than a absolute, because both have advantages and disadvantages. European citizens are likely used to seeing travelers with backpacks and with luggage/suitcases and as a result, you will not stand out too much regardless of which you choose to use during your travels.
A recommendation though, is to limit the size of luggage to a carry-on or small to medium size suitcase. This is primarily for your own ease of getting around the cities and towns. If using a relatively large suitcase it may become difficult to lift and carry up and down flights of stairs in hotels, along city streets, or onto and off of trains or busses. Plus, the larger the suitcase, the easier it is to add items ‘just because it fits’.
Backpacks come in various sizes and for a two week or long trip, a 30 to 40 liter backpack would likely be sufficient. Smaller day packs and smaller travel/hiking backpacks may include waist straps. These help to distribute the pack’s weight from your back to your hips and makes walking long distances a bit less uncomfortable.
Similarly, suitcases come in different sizes and styles, so a carry on size to medium size suitcase will likely have enough room to hold your travel essentials. Now days, few suitcases do not have wheels. Most have at least two and some have four ‘spinner’ wheels. Either type will reduce the need to carry the bag 100% of the time. Although a two wheel case requires pulling the bag the entire time. A four wheel ‘spinner’ suit case is likely easier because you can kind of push the bag along and maybe even set a second smaller bag on top as it rolls along. either way, though suitcases will need to be lifted and carried up and down stairs… so keep the overall weight to a minimum if possible.
Clothing and Other Essentials
Keeping in mind that most cities and towns will likely have public laundry facilities, you can reduce the overall amount of clothing by planning to visit the laundry every three or four days. With that in mind, below are some recommendations for essential clothing items and quantities. However if you do not plan to visit laundry facilities that often, you will likely want to take a few more of the below items:
Pants: 2 or 3 pairs (wear one, pack one or two extra) Bonus idea- if the pants have zip off legs, they can double as shorts or maybe as a swimsuit and specific shorts / swimsuit would not be needed.
Shorts: 1 pair — unless one pair of pants has zip off legs
T-Shirts: 2 or 3 (wear one, pack one, pack the extras)
Casual / dress shirts: 2 or 3
Underwear: 2 to 4 (wear one, pack the extras)
Socks: 3 to 4 pair (wear one, pack the extras)
Light jacket: wear onto plane and pack later in bag as desired
Shoes: 2 pair – wear one pair, pack the other
Flip-flops / sandals / shower shoes: 1 pair
Hat and gloves: 1 hat, 1 pair gloves – wear or pack as weather planning indicates.
Small collapsable umbrella
Electronics:
Cell phone
Cell phone charger
Tablet (i-pad, android, kindle, etc) or Laptop as desired
Charger for tablet or laptop
Headphones or earbuds with charger as applicable
Camera if desired (cell phone camera may be sufficient for most travelers)
Medicine and Toiletries:
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Deodorant
Contacts/ contact case /contact solution (as applicable)
Prescription medicines and vitamin supplements (as applicable)
Small soap / shampoo (or just plan use hotel supplied)
Package of flat laundry soap sheets to use a public laundry facilities
In addition to the above items, you may desire to pack additional specific items to meet your particular travel needs. What ever those items might be, consider and then reconsider if you will actually use the items. If you think you might not use an item, it is probably best to leave it behind so you are not packing around extra weight.
