WHAT TO TAKE WHEN TRAVELING TO EUROPE ‣ Diverse Daily

Oh the irony! I just penned this post about my summer plans and don’t plan to travel to Europe until early September. That being said, I did receive quite a few questions and DMs about what to pack. I am going to do a little run down about the basics. Towards the end I highlight a few of the pieces I would love pack, but without knowing exactly where you are going and what activities you have planned, it is a bit tough!

THE BASICS

Okay, these are all the tried and true must-have pieces that I pack. Most aren’t sexy or fun to buy, but they make all the difference when traveling overseas. All I have found are needed as a pretty avid traveler, but you will notice I am not going too tourist. I want to be comfortable and safe, but not go overboard with travel backpack recommendations, neck wallets, money belts, hiking shoes, and various security devices. Whenever you are traveling overseas, please be alert and be aware of your surroundings!

Converters and charging cords for every device. This is a no brainer, but if you absentmindedly forget these key things, well, it sucks. I use this converter and I also love this organizer for all my cords while traveling. I also bring an external battery because you never know when you are going to get stranded somewhere without a plug/charger. There is no worse feeling than being in a foreign country with a dead phone!

While traveling, I clear out my wallet and only bring necessary cards and IDs that I need. I take pictures of all my IDs (back and front) and upload them to a secure location so I have proof if they are lost or stolen. I always have cash on me at all times. Some places in Europe either do not take cards or make it incredibly difficult (or more expensive) to pay with a card. Cash is king!

A versatile carry on bag and refillable water bottle. I like bringing a lightweight, yet durable carryon bag that is collapsable. I love this one for those exact reasons. In addition it has all the best storage, great pockets and organizers, and is super easy to clean. This is my water bottle of choice. It is a perfect size and has a loop handle that is ideal for travel when you need more free hands. I also throw in some of these when abroad.

All the meds you need right now and you think you might need in the future! Seems pretty straightforward, but you will want to pack all the meds you currently take and also some you may need. For example, I typically pack allergy medicine, ibuprofen, DayQuil, NyQuil, and stomach meds. Why? Because many are not sold over the counter in many European countries. A few years ago, while we were traveling in Stockholm, I was really coming down with something. I desperately wanted to take some DayQuil, but I couldn’t purchase it in country as one of the active ingredients required a prescription. Please first double check that all the meds you plan to bring in are legal to bring into the country! Also don’t forget sunscreen.

AirTag everything. I am a bit of a fanatic when it comes to AirTags, particularly with checked luggage. For checked luggage I place an AirTag somewhere secure inside the bag. I also have an external bag tag with all my info…but because I have lived through the horror of a lost bag for over 4 days in Milan I also have a large, visible note I store in the mesh pocket you can’t miss when you open my bag that has all my info on it as well. This is so if my bag tag gets ripped off there is still identifying info inside the bag. I also make sure my luggage tag is unique and to be honest really ugly. The second time I was in Paris my checked bag was a black Rimowa bag with a generic luggage tag and I had to CHASE a man down into the taxi pick up area because he mistakenly took my bag. He also had the same black luggage and the same luggage tag. Lesson learned.

A small, secure bag that can hold everything you need for a day around town. When I travel I am typically working. That means I am packing lots of bag options and outfits for events, client dinners etc. However, when it is just me on the go, I need a bag that can really work hard and earn its place on a Euro vacation. I just picked up this bag and it is the perfect size and so functional for walking around London or Paris (even more color options here). I also use a travel wallet while traveling, so I can access my passport easily. I also pack a smaller wallet like this one. Once I get to my destination I store my passport in a secure location (ideally a safe in the room) and then transfer everything to a smaller wallet with only what I need. This way, it allows me to carry a smaller bag, and even if my wallet is lost or stolen, I still have my passport.

Think about your feet. Make sure you pack blister blockers, bandaids, antibiotic ointment, and comfortable socks and shoes. This doesn’t mean you will need performance hiking shoes like you are climbing Mount Everest, but typically I will make sure to pack a variety of comfortable shoes like a pair of strappy sandals, ballet flats, and chic slip-on sneakers. This way, if my feet become irritated, I can easily switch it up!

When packing jewelry, use your own digression. I will only bring nicer jewelry if I commit to wearing it for the entire trip (never leaving it behind int he room). I usually prefer to pack costume jewelry and semi-fine jewels. When it comes to really nice or sentimental jewelry I typically leave these items at home!

Keeping things clean. Germs are obviously everywhere, and I become so much more aware of them while traveling. I love to pack wipes (especially for the plane) and spray hand sanitizer.

Weather elements! Remember that many places in Europe do not have air conditioning, so be sure to pack breathable fabrics. A small portable fan can come in handy as well. If rain is in the forecast, you may want to pack a small umbrella, although I have found that nearly every place we have stayed have umbrellas readily available, so I don’t waste the valuable space in my luggage.

I am a big fan of packing cubes. They make storage and packing easier and they are also great for keeping dirty shoes separate from the nice dress you plan to wear to dinner. I like these packing cubes because they are waterproof. Last year a trusted airline decided to leave all of my luggage outside and uncovered during a three hour torrential downpour. By the time my bag made it to the belt, everything inside (all my make-up, all my shoes, all my fun clothes) were totally destroyed. Not only was everything completely soaked, but a bright pink dress in my luggage had bled pink dye across nearly every item it the bag. So, I have learned the hard way that waterproof packing cubes are the way to go. I also pack a bag like this for dirty laundry and lots of ziplock bags of all sizes for toiletries that have the potential to leak!

THE OUFITS

The easiest way to efficiently pack for a European vacation is to first identify what activities you plan to do each day. Determine if you are going to be walking to and from the activities, what the dress codes are for each restaurant or location, and what the weather will be. Without knowing these things, you are packing in the dark! That is step one.

From there, create an outfit (or outfits) for each day of the trip. While it may seem silly, I would put on the entire outfit head to toe. This includes bag, shoes, jewelry, sunglasses, whatever. Then take a photo of yourself in the mirror. This proves that everything fits, everything looks good together, and everything (hopefully) ends up in your suitcase. The amount of times I have forgotten to pack something because I haven’t done this is astounding. I will make a mental note to ‘pack those red sandals’ and then guess what? I see an email I need to respond to and the red shoes are forgotten. I won’t remember until we are well arrived and leaving for the dinner where I planned to wear…the red sandals. I organize these outfit photos in a folder by day so I can also easily reference what I packed when I make it to my destination! Some people make an outfit packing checklist, but I find that a visual method works better for me.

To save space and avoid headaches I would focus on versatile pieces that can pair well together. Leave behind things you ‘think you might need’ or overly trendy or super specific pieces. You won’t wear them. I never pack anything that is fussy, uncomfortable, or doesn’t fit me well. And, even though it is summer, I would highly suggest to bring at least a wrap or versatile jacket or sweater. While you won’t need it all the time, I guarantee you will run into a few situations (plane, airport, etc.) where it is chilly.

Without knowing exactly where you are heading, I am going to put together a small round up of outfits that I would pack, and organize them by occasion. Hopefully this info was helpful for you and has answered your questions. Know that I will be living vicariously through all of your European adventures this summer. Safe travels, and may all your outfits be comfy and chic! A few items I would pack these sneakers, this dress that can be dressed up or down, and an oversized button down. I also ALWAYS regret when I don’t pack jeans and a tee so I would pack this pair and this tee.