Planning And Packing Tips For A Trip To Europe
The more prepared you are before you leave on your dream vacation to Europe, the better your experience will be once you have arrived. If you do your research, are flexible with dates and contact airlines and hotels directly, you can plan a very memorable holiday.
After many years of traveling to Europe with my husband, friends and family often ask if I have any planning or packing tips. I thought it might be helpful to share how I plan and pack for an upcoming three week trip to Europe.
First things first, make sure that your passport is up to date with at least 6 months remaining before it expires. In certain countries such as Italy and Austria, if you plan on driving a car you will need to obtain an international driving permit through AAA.
When planning a European holiday, I find Viamichelin.com and Michelin small scale maps to be very helpful. They help me decide where to go and how long it would reasonably take to explore the area we are interested in. You might discover a scenic road, a castle ruin or other hidden gem off the main tourist track.
Once I finalize our itinerary, I make reservations for plane tickets, car rentals or other transportation that needs to be booked ahead. Do your research and if your travel dates are flexible, you may be able to save money on your airfare. Flying from of a different airport or leaving on a different day of the month could save you thousands. This year, I booked business class round trip tickets for half of what we paid last year just by starting our trip a few days before we normally do.
As soon as our airline tickets are purchased, I start making hotel reservations because popular hotels can fill up months in advance. While the hotel’s website may show it fully booked or only available for a limited stay, I have found that by contacting them directly with my desired dates, room category and any special requests., they always try to accommodate our request.
Before you pack, check your particular airline’s luggage allowances as they can vary. Most allow one checked bag 27″ x 21″ x 14″ and weighing up to 50 lb. (23 kg) when flying economy. If you fly business or first class, you get an additional allowance. They usually allow one carry-on bag 22” x 14” x 9” (56 x 35 x 23 cm) that will fit in the overhead bin. However the weight restrictions can be incredibly limiting with only 15-22 lb. (7-10 kg). Some airlines are getting strict and if it doesn’t meet their rules, they will check it at the gate and charge you an extra fee for it. In addition to your bags, you are also allowed one small personal item such as a purse, laptop bag or backpack that can fit under the seat in front of you.
One thing to keep in mind is that while you are traveling, your bags will need to be lifted in and out of vehicles, carried up and down steps and into and out of hotels numerous times. Even with rolling bags, they can get heavy and most of the time you will be doing all “the heavy lifting” yourself. Remember that less is more when you are deciding to pack that extra something “just in case I need it”.
Even when we fly business class to Europe, we still limit ourselves to a 22” x 14” x 9” size bag each along with a folding garment bag and a small carry-on. Lots of people advise not to check luggage since the chance of your bag going missing increases every time it is handled. It makes perfect sense but we choose to check our luggage and only take a small carry-on aboard the plane. It holds medications, electronics, jewelry, important travel documents and a couple of books. We can comfortably walk around the airport without babysitting our luggage or worse yet, dragging it into the restrooms.
If you plan to check your luggage, you can put a change of underwear and a shirt in your carry-on. You can also put a change of clothes in your partner’s luggage in case one bags goes missing on arrival. Many things can easily go wrong when traveling abroad, so we always buy travel insurance. Hopefully we never will have to use it but it gives us peace of mind.
I believe I have our packing down to a science for the way we travel. First I consider where and when we are traveling. Paris in the spring requires different clothes than a week in the Alps at Christmas. This fall, we will be staying in 7 resorts and 1 night at the Airport Hilton in Munich before our flight home. The temperature during our trip should range between 50°F-70°F, not too hot and not too cold.
Guests at the hotels we stay at are mostly Europeans who tend to dress more conservative yet fashionable. With that in mind, I like to pack a neutral color palette, this year primarily black and grey. I pick pieces that don’t wrinkle easily, can be mixed and matched, and can be layered for different weather conditions.
My plan is to pack 4 daytime outfits consisting of long sleeve pullover tops, light sweaters and pants and 4 dressier tops and slacks for the evening. I’ll take a heavier sweater or light jacket for daytime excursions. During the course of our 22 days of travel, I will only need to re-wear items 4 or 5 times because we will be staying at a different hotel every 3 or 4 days. Only my husband will know that I’ve worn the same outfit more than once.
My travel purse is an incredibly light, nylon Kenneth Cole zippered tote bag that I have had for years. The outside has pockets for water bottles or umbrellas and a zippered pocket that can hold our tickets. Inside, it’s roomy enough to hold daily travel essentials as well as a folder with our itinerary and hotel contact information. I also pack a small black clutch that will be appropriate for both day and evening. For shoes, I wear comfortable walking shoes on the plane and pack a pair of dressy black flats and black wedge slip-on loafers in shoe bags and put them in the bottom of my suitcase.
About a month before our trip, I like to lay out all the items I think I want to wear and try everything on. I’ll then make a packing list of what I will be taking, adding any items that I may need to buy and eliminating what didn’t work. Once I have decided on clothes, I’ll gather everything into my suitcase to see how heavy it is going to be. That’s when I’ll make any needed changes.
A week or so before the trip I like to start my final packing, checking each item off my packing list as it goes into the bag . I use fiberboard to divide my folded daytime and evening clothes. The boards can be lifted out of the suitcase and placed directly onto selves in hotel closets. Pajamas and underwear go into sidepockets of the suitcase. My cosmetic bag fits into one of the corners.
Miscellaneous Travel Tips
Make a document folder with printed copies of all your confirmations, tickets for museums, etc..
Even though we drive a rental car with GPS in Europe, I always pack maps of the regions we visit. If there is a road closure, detour or an accident and traffic is backed up for miles, I’ve been able to use a map to locate a small road that will eventually lead to an alternate route.
Packing cubes and compression bags keep things organized or save space however many times Ziplock bags, from little pill pouch size to sturdy 2 gallon freezer bags are a good alternative. and cheap. A 2 gallon freezer bag can hold several of my sweaters. Zip almost closed, squeeze the air out and you have a nice flat bag.
If your appliances and electronics aren’t dual voltage, you will need a power converter. You also need several round European plug adapters. Both are usually sold as a kit.
Look on your hotels websites for amenities that are included in the room. You probably won’t need to pack a hairdryer, shampoo, body wash or lotion as the ones provided are often very nice.
It is easy to find comfortable, quick drying undies and socks, for both women and men, that you can wash quickly in a sink at night with some shampoo and that will be dry in the morning.
Make a first aid kit with basics such as a pain reliever, band-aids, cold remedies, etc. If you take prescription medication, contact your pharmacy so they can work with your insurance company to allow an early medication refill, if needed, for your trip.
Karen, an EXPERIENCED european traveler
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Planning and proper packing can lead to an enjoyable vacation no matter where you travel. Start early. have a packing list and you can avoid last minute problems. If you can, try to have your suitcases closed the night before you leave for the airport as travel days are stressful enough without worrying about what you forget.
I have a friend who vacuum packs all his clothes to fit more in …but they do all come out a bit wrinkled.
I’m looking forward to seeing your next adventure!
Hi Mad Dog, thank you for your comment, we are looking forward to our trip. You are right, people need to know that when you use any kind of compression to get more in your suitcase the end result will be some wrinkles. My advise, take out as many of those “just in case” outfits as you can out of your bag before you leave home. 😊 People in the U.S. are used to an iron and ironing board being in the hotel room here but that is not the case in most hotels in Europe.
I always enjoy your European trips
Thank you Larry, I hope you will enjoy following along on this upcoming trip as well.
Great tips!
Thank you Dorothy.
Timely! I’m packing to day. We’re taking the Rhine river cruise. Thanks for the tips.
Thank you Sandra, I’m glad you thought the tips were helpful, enjoy you Rhine river cruise. We have never done the Rhine or Mosel by boat but have traveled by car several times along the river and the towns and villages are wonderful.
Very useful tips, Karen. Happy holidays.
Thank you for your compliment Sylvia, I’m happy to know that you thought the tips were useful.
Some excellent tips. Now that I live in Spain and travel around Europe a lot, and often on my own, I only take a carry on bag and a large hand bag. I’ve got quite good at packing light. As you get older, you don’t need to be dragging everything including the kitchen sink with you.
Thank you for your compliment Darlene. No matter how hard you try to pack light, suitcases feel heavier and heavier as the years go buy. European airlines force you to travel light, especially if you don’t want to check luggage. 😀
Great tips. New to me is your idea of packing one outfit in your travel companion’s bag in case one checked bag goes missing. I’ve learned I can reduce what I pack if I know there is a laundry service at a place I will be staying two (or more) nights. The expense is worth it to carry less around. Guys: I’ve long since given up my leather shaving kit in favor of a couple of clear vinyl makeup bags, so I can see the clutter inside before I open it. i use an ordinary sandwich baggie for the junk I keep in my pockets — lip balm, hand sanitizer, glasses, mints — so I can toss that in the bin at security then slip it back in my pocket once through. Also, test your belt buckle with a magnet; if it is not magnetic, you can probably wear it through security without setting off alarms; if it is magnetic… choose a different belt. Bon voyage!
Hi Mark, I’m glad you liked my tips and thank you for contributing yours…especially for the guys. The idea of the sandwich baggie to hold what you carry in your pants pocket through security. My husband will definitely find that beneficial.
Some brilliant tips, Karen. Thank you.
Thank you Kay, as a traveler yourself, I appreciate the compliment.
Great travel tips, Karen. We have a river cruise this September. I am looking forward to it!
Thank you Pam, I’m happy that you liked the tips and I hope a couple will be of use for your upcoming river cruise. September is our favorite month to travel. The weather is nice and crowds diminish.
Thanks for the GREAT tips– planning a long road trip this summer so many of your organizational ideas are appreciated1
I appreciate your kind words Moira, I’m thrilled to know that the post will help with planning your summer road trip.
Your tips are great and very informative! Love the idea of keeping a map in the car rental for those “just -in-case situations. Looking forward to seeing your posts on your new adventure this year!
Thank you Anna, While I’ll never rent a car without GPS, I will never travel to Europe without a detailed map of the region we will be traveling in each day. I can’t tell you how many times that one has saved us. I’m sorry to learn you are having problems leaving comments, thanks for letting me know.
Solid advice for any big trip, and I especially appreciate all the detail and thought that went into this! Definitely bookmarking for the next time I head overseas.
I appreciate your compliment Hannah, thank you. I realized that I had never shared in detail how I plan and pack for our European trips and thought this post might be helpful. I’m happy to know that you found it useful.
Such great tips! So, I have to ask: Is traveling to Europe this summer/fall as crazy booked as everyone already says it is? We were thinking of going this year, but got apprehensive after hearing how booked up everything already was. Gulp!
Hi Carolyn, to give you some insight into travel to Europe this year I booked our round trip flight for the end of August in February and the seat map showed that most seats were still available. However, the first hotel I tried to book in Bavaria could not accommodate our request unless I booked one of their smallest rooms…I passed. In two other hotels, their websites showed the room category we wanted fully booked but when I contacted them directly, we got the rooms. If you really want to go, contact a couple of hotels and see is rooms are available, if so, look at the airlines. Let me know how it turns out.
Hi Karen, this is excellent advice. I do many of these things when planning travel.
Hi Gary, you are a pro when it comes to traveling so I really do appreciate your kind words, thank you.
Excellent tips Karen. Look forward to hearing about your next trip!
Thank you Cathy, we will be headed to the Bavarian Forest aga9n as the last stop on our trip before heading out of Munich.
So many great tips! Thanks for sharing them, Karen.
Thank you Angie, I appreciate the compliment.
I know you are excited to have a trip coming up! You are definitely a professional packer!
Jenna
Hi Jenna, we are indeed looking forward to this trip, I’ve found several new hotels that should be special. Yes, practice makes perfect when it comes to packing. 😊
Karen, we travel quite frequently and only recently have we committed to packing right. I am determined to do a small carry-on using packing cubes to get what I need. Longer tripe my husband and I used only one checked in suitcase. We still have a lot of room to improve. This last journey our plane was diverted and we had no luggage or toiletries ( lesson learned).
I appreciate your great traveling tips. Enjoy your travels this summer.
Velva
Hi Velva, Travel has gotten, what should I say…more complicated, over the years so you really need to put some thought into it. I’m glad you enjoyed my tips, thank you.
Airplane travel is not nearly as much fun as it used to be (sigh). Your tips were valuable. Thanks again for sharing them.
Karen, thank you for all these wonderful tips. I do most of them myself. I often travel solo on trains in Germany. I still find myself packing too much.
Thank you Gerlinde, I glad you like the tips. While you may pack too much, I’m sure you are a pro at getting it all in the suitcase. 😊
lots of sensible advice there karen. I don’t think we’ll be going anywhere overseas soon tho 🙁
Hi Sherry, glad you liked the advice.
Great tips! We went on a three-week European vacation, and I just had a carry-on! When you have to get off and on trains through different countries… you want it to be easy! Sweet man carried two as we need one for treasures and souvenirs.
I’m glad you liked the tips Nancy. Yes, you really do have to consider the weight of suitcases when they have to be lifted up onto a train. How nice to have an extra bag for little treasures to bring back, your husband is sweet indeed.
Really good information Karen. Forwarding this to a friend who is getting ready to travel abroad for the first time.
I hope your friend will find some of my tips helpful Lea Ann. Thanks for passing the post along, it is very much appreciated.
Karen, these are all good tips, and timely as we will leave in one week for a ten day trip to France. I am using your guide as a mental check-list to see if we have everything accounted for. Of course, I will pack too much, but keeping the palate neutral (black, navy, tan, white) helps. Shoes are always a problem, but I think I have that narrowed down to dressy (1), casual (2) and one flip flops. Zip lock baggies are a godsend. We never leave home without trip insurance and although we don’t carry paper maps, that is a very good suggestion. We purchased an international plan (about $10 per day when in use) from our phone carrier which is extremely helpful. Pinning this on my Karen board.
Have a wonderful trip and thanks for sharing your professional advice!
I appreciate the pin Suzanne. Have a great time on your holiday and I look forward to reading about it.
Mark and I both enjoyed your tips. Recently (May), we spent two weeks in Morocco followed by a week in DC – so we packed for warm weather. The average temps in these areas were predicted to be 90°F each day. So we eschewed long sleeve shirts and brought no jackets. My tip? Don’t trust the weather. We never had one day over 65°F the entire time. We were freezing! And sweatshirt shops are NOT a thing in Morocco. So, even though the weather is predicted to be one way or the other, plan for the opposite — even just a little.
We are very proud of the fact that we can take one small bag each (I think similar to your small black one) and one shoulder bag (for my camera) for a three week trip. As Mark said, we took advantage of laundry services this trip (our first trip using hotels/riads ever!). Normally we stay in apartments and make sure they have washing machines. It takes no time to run laundry in the morning and hang it before you go out for the day. It is important to note that dryers really don’t exist much outside the United States.
My favorite tip? We travel with our own unscented laundry products — the new sheets of soap instead of liquid soap can be easily tucked into an envelope.
Thank you David, I appreciate you sharing your tips. No matter what the weather is supposed to be, I always take a jacket…if for no other reason than the usually freezing cold temperature on the airplane. So true about the lack of dryers. I use the towel warming racks in the hotel bathrooms to dry hand laundry as they are usually on during the fall when we travel.
I look forward to hearing about your trip Karen. We got home from Switzerland and Italy on Saturday, and you have provided many great tips for your readers! Our two week trip was seamless… thankfully.
Hi Debbie, I looks like you picked a wonderful time for your trip. Your photos on Facebook brought back lots of memories of trips we took years ago to Switzerland and they northern lakes region of Italy.
Hi Karen, I’m glad the photos from our trip brought back lots of memories of trips you took to Switzerland and the northern lakes region of Italy. It was a lovely trip.
I can’t wait to hear about your next adventure! Have fun, take lots of photos and indulge in some exquisite cuisine! I know you will!
Hi Jan, We have just a little over two months to go before we leave. We will definitely be having some good food along the way.
I love all these great tips…thanks!
Thank you Donna, I appreciate your compliment.
This is incredibly helpful, thank you. I’m saving this in my travel folder.
Hi Liz, I’m happy to learn that you felt the travel tips were helpful. Thank you for letting me know.
Karen, I love reading how other women pack for trips! I am an amazingly light packer, but I can certainly pick up great ideas from a more experienced traveler like you. If I ever take an extended European trip again, I’ll definitely follow your tips.
Hi Jean, I’m like you and love getting tips from fellow travelers. Thank you for your compliment.
I have a packing list which I go through each and every time we travel, regardless of where we are going. I also write a list of the clothes I need for each particular trip. And I have a method of packing that uses less space and I ensure we are very underweight. Steps with a heavy suitcase are not fun to navigate. Luckily we don’t need an international driving permit. And I agree, travel insurance is vital. We have used it several times. Great tips Karen and enjoy your trip 🙂
We sound alike Tandy, I go over my packing lists from previous trip just to make sure I’m not forgetting anything. When we return, I try to make a note of anything that wasn’t needed. I hope that everyone that is planning a trip to Europe or elsewhere heeds our advice about travel insurance.
These are all great traveling tips and tricks, Karen! I am definitely the person who over packs for “just in case” scenarios and then I can barely lug my own suitcase around. I’m excited to implement these ideas. They’re going to be so helpful! Sending you hugs, CoCo
Thank you for your compliment CoCo, I hope you find the tips helpful on your next trip. I always try to remember how heavy a suitcase gets pulling it through a long concourse. It motivates me to try a pack lighter each time I travel. 😊😊
Lots of valuable insights and practical advice on this post, certainly I used a lot of them on every trips that I do.
Hi Raymund, knowing how often you travel, I’m glad you thought my tips will be valuable to others. Thank you.
I’m saving this one, Karen. I used to be a horrid packer and am much improved but it’s always good to review a list like this for things I might have missed! (And thanks for stopping by last week, too!)
Thank you Jeanie, I’m happy to know that you will be saving the post. It is always my pleasure to stop by and read what is happening in your life.
You are certainly an expert traveler and have great tips! Pinned for the future
Hi Carol, thank you for stopping by and leaving your nice compliment. Thanks for the pin as well, it is much appreciated.
Such wonderful tips, Karen! I’m on my 3rd trip since mid May—one overseas with my family, then a family wedding and now a girls’ trip with friends. I LOVE your tips and am going to make a laminated card with some of your info and mine. Thanks so much and enjoy your trip!! xo
You certainly have been a busy traveler Liz, I hope you had a great time on all your trips. I’m happy to know that you found some of the tips helpful. Thank you.
These are all excellent trips! I usually plan ahead about a week and make a detailed list, but that’s for domestic trips. International trips definitely require more forethought – like your note about an international driver’s license. I wouldn’t have thought about that!! Looking forward to living vicariously with you guys on that trip to the 7 resorts! 🙂
Thank you David for your nice compliment. Yes, an international drivers license is needed in certain countries. It costs $20 at AAA and is good for a year. I’m happy you will be following along on our travels. We will be returning to a couple of favorites but have also found some wonderful new resorts.
These are great tips! I’m so impressed at how organised you are! I tend to pack the day before and use a list 🙂
I’m glad you liked the tips Lorraine. You are certainly an experienced traveler but I can’t imagine packing the day before…I would be sitting at the airport wondering if I forgot something. 😊
We just had 9 weeks travelling around South Africa, my biggest problem was working out medication for that length of time for my husband. We had one brand new suitcase that got badly damaged flying BA. In London on our way back we found a complaints desk, with several emails afterwards, we finally got our money back. Definitely worth complaining if there is a problem. Have a fab holiday, cheers Diane
I know you must have had a fantastic trip returning to South Africa. You definitely have to plan ahead when it comes to medications. We contact our pharmacist well in advance so that he can work with the insurance company. Sorry about your luggage but happy to know that BA came through after your complaints.
Thank you, Karen, for taking time to share these tips. Love how you plan and pack luggage. Very helpful!
Hi Amy, I’m glad you found the packing tips helpful. Thank you.
Great tips Karen. We haven’t traveled to Europe for some time, but we do plan to. You are so organized! Thanks for your sweet visit. Happy travels.
Hi Linda, I find that the more organized I am before a trip, the least likely I’ll forget something. Thank you for your lovely comment.
Great tips from the traveling expert that you are, Karen! Have a great trip. I look forward to traveling along! 🙂
Hi Dana, I’ve been lucky to have traveled a lot and I think you learn something new every time you plan and go on a trip.
Thanks for all these tips! Once my suitcase was misplaced flying from Iceland to New York, but fortunately I had packed a toothbrush and spare undies in my carry on! Good advice!
I’m glad you liked my travel advice Fran. It does give you peace of mind to have a change of clothes in a second bag just in case. You just never know these days if your luggage will go along with you.