European Travel Checklist
- Jun 28, 2023
- 5 min read
If you're traveling to Europe for the first time, you may have a lot of questions about what to bring. After all, utilizing every ounce of your available baggage space is crucial in getting the most out of your packing.
I want to share the most useful items that we have used and loved during our trips. As a serial overpacker, I understand the value of giving an item or clothing a "YES" to coming along. I learned some things along the way that I wish I knew prior - I want to share those, too.
Packing
If you haven't formed your list yet, start working on it. This is the trip to have outfits planned out and hopefully certain items that can be reworn to make a whole new one! Make sure you have all of those items that you'd be annoyed if you didn't have when needed - extra contacts.. maybe cuticle clippers? Tweezers?
From that list, these are my thoughts on some items that may be on it:
Maybe not's
Most likely, forget the blow dryer. All of our hotels and Air BnBs had one. But, check first. We didn't and we never used it...wasted space.
Heels are impractical. I'm not saying don't do it (I am also just not very girly) but Europe is filled with cobblestone, narrow streets. Every woman I saw in heels looked like they were struggling. I brought a pair and they were never touched. Try to pick outfits that go with other shoes.
Don't pack a ton of shampoo/conditioner. Everywhere we stayed provided some and they were all exceptional. We continued to stock up as we went along.
Maybe more
Euros. Get them from your bank before you go and get more than you think. You'll never be upset about having them to use.
Make some room in one of your bags for some snacks you love. Nothing is worse than being hungry and restaurants don't open for another few hours. Meanwhile, the nearest convenient store might be a 20 min walk. Sometimes it's nice to have something tucked away.
Bring your battery packs. It's nice to be able to stay away from the room all day and not worry about your phone dying. And no, not to be on Instagram...it's a pretty important gps tool in another country.
Purchased, used, and loved
From previous experience, as well as lots of research, we knew to expect some things in Europe during our stay. Rather than be upset about it, be prepared.
Power outlets
Your electrical plugs will not work in Europe. You'll need the adapter. Rather than buying multiple adapters, buy a slim multi plug. The one we bought has 3 regular outlets and 3 usb plugs, so we packed our cords accordingly. We had one additional adapter for my flat iron.
Slightly warm
Depending on where you'll be, air conditioning may or may not be something that is offered in your room. In the south, we didn't have a hotel without it. As we traveled north, that went away. Opening a window only helps so much, and if you sleep hot, you may struggle. Although this is just something to consider, we found a compact personal fan that lasted all night and has great air flow. This was a lifesaver to help keep us cool in bed.
Loud cities
Depending on where you're staying, you may find that the nightlife is louder than you'd like. Whether it's voices, music, or cars.. sometimes it's just too much. Surprisingly, this little sound machine saved us most from belligerent hotel guests neighboring our rooms. With multiple sound options and timer lengths, this is small enough to pack so that you can save your phone battery through the night.
Compress it
If you want the effects of vacuum sealing without the need to pack a pump, look no further. These zip up compression bags are phenomenal to eliminate the bulk of thicker clothes. They're easy to use and if you label them, it helps organize your clothes.
Check out my travel essentials Amazon list and see what else you may want to have with you.
Offline and Downloaded
Aside from the tangible items that you will be packing in your luggage and bags, there are a few things that I recommend having set up on your phone. If you are staying in unique areas, Wi-Fi may not be the strongest. And if you aren't willing to use your international data, you'll want as many offline options as possible.
Google Maps
If you don't already use Google Maps, I recommend to download it for this trip. Aside from the gps functionality, there are a lot of features that make organizing your trip easier. To start, download offline maps for all of the areas that you will be traveling through and staying in. This will allow you to use gps even when your data is turned off.
Additionally, use the "saved" tab and create lists. Prior to leaving, save every address you need - hotels, parking garages, restaurants, air bnbs, etc. Organize these lists (I did a list per city we went to).
Put the maps on "satellite" - Europe is home to the most beautiful scenery and sometimes it's not just the places you read about online or see pictures of. If you are browsing your travel route on satellite mode, you may discover a random crystal blue lake to stop at.
When you have data or wi-fi and want to browse surrounding food options or activities, open the Google Maps app while there and use the "explore" page to see the latest reviews in the area. We found a few food choices this way and were not disappointed. Take a picture and leave a review as well if you found somewhere that you love - you'll be paying it forward in such an easy way.
Parclick
If you have a car and are spending time in some busier cities, you will want to ensure that you park in a garage outside of the ZTL zone. Parclick will allow you to search available parking all over Europe and even reserve a spot ahead of time. You can pay via the app and read reviews to make sure you are choosing a secure and safe place to leave your vehicle.
Confirmations
Download all of your confirmations and emails. If you run into a situation where you need to give someone that information, you don't want to struggle finding it if you don't have great service. We put all of our important documentation into a Google Doc spreadsheet and saved it for offline reading.
Google Translate
By now, I probably seem like I am a Google employee, but nope...just a big fan I guess. You can go to the settings and set the language you need to "Offline Translation". Fortunately for us, most Europeans speak decent English, but they sincerely appreciate when you do your best to speak their language.
What came in handy the most is the option to translate using your camera. I was able to take a picture of my restaurant menu and it would translate the entire page quickly. It kept me from having to type every description individually and taking forever to choose what to eat. You can also use it to scan local transportation signs when wanting to understand a bus or train schedule.
Moovit
This app will show you live bus and train times and once you input your to and from destination, it will recommend the best route to take. The app will direct you to the nearest station and allow you to see real time updates on where the bus is.
If you are going to be renting a car, there are additional requirements I would recommend to look into. I have only driven in Italy, so far, but I have a separate post dedicated to that if that is where you are going.
I will update this blog as I discover additional recommendations in my future endeavors.
Comments