Packing List for Europe

Hi Travelers!
Today I thought I would share with you my packing list for a summer trip to Europe. I suggest you copy this list into Word and save it on your desktop. You will find that you can adapt it for different trips. A camping, cruise or winter packing list would be very different from this one. Each time you make a new list by altering this basic list - save it with a name that identifies it, such as "Cruise Packing List." This method will make your life a LOT easier each time you travel, as you will use these lists over and over.

When it is time to pack, print this list for EVERY person that is going on the trip - and hand each person a copy. It is their responsibility to pack everything on the list, and to fit it all into one suitcase (or you can highlight just the items they are to pack if certain things don't apply to them). Ask each person to check off each item as they pack it. That way, your kids can pack for themselves, and you can just check the list, instead of the suitcase.

Ok, here we go. Items highlighted on the list will be explained further below.

Carry On Bag:

Euros

American dollars

Accordion folder with all reservations

Passports

Medical insurance cards

ATM & credit cards (notify both of your whereabouts ahead of time)

Pens

Highlighters

Chewing gum

Books/Magazines

Airplane pillow

Sunglasses

Extra pair of contacts

iPhone

iPhone charger

iPad (pre-loaded with movies to watch)

iPad charger

Laptop

Laptop charger

DSLR Camera + bag

Prescription medications

Snacks

Any jewelry that has value

Clothing:

Light rain jacket

Panties – one for each day + 2

Bras – 2-3 per week

Socks

Swimsuits

Shorts

Tops

One light cardigan

Jeans

Day dresses

Pajamas – wear each 3 times

Belt

Shoes:

Tennis shoes

Walking sandals

One pair of ballet flats

Accessories:

Money belt

Light scarf

Eyeglasses

Extra sunglasses

Cross body purse

Ponytail holders

Electronics:

Extra memory cards

DSLR camera charger

Car charger for iPhone (only if you are renting a car)

Cable to listen to iPhone in car  (only if you are renting a car)

Toiletries:

Tissue packets

Mini curling iron

Band aids

Advil

Hanging toiletry bag

Sunscreen

Hair brush

Shampoo

Conditioner

Deodorant

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Floss

Nail clippers

Tweezers

Makeup

Face soap

Face moisturizer

Body moisturizer

Razors

Feminine hygiene products

Qtips

Lip balm

Misc:

Collapsible water bottles

Backpacks

Plug adaptor

Turkish towels

Ziploc bags – various sizes

Easy, right? Now, A bit more detail on the highlighted items:

Folder with all reservations: The easiest way to stay organized is to print EVERYTHING -- all flight, car, hotel, dinner reservations, directions, maps, etc. and put it into an accordion folder, with each day being assigned its own pocket. Label each pocket: Day one/Paris, Day Two/Normandy, etc. Tear out each section of a guidebook and put it in the right folder. So if you have a guidebook about France -- you aren't going to need the entire book. Just tear out the 15 pages on Paris and the 5 pages on Normandy -- staple them, and put them in their folder in your accordion binder. Then pop this folder into your carry on suitcase and everything will be at your finger tips for the entire trip. 

Highlighters:  I like to re-read my travel guidebook each night before I visit a new place, and highlight things I hadn't noticed before, and want to see the next day. Highlighters also come in handy for maps.

Day dresses:  In Europe, women must have shoulders and knees covered to enter a church. To make life much easier on us, I pre-select dresses that have short sleeves (instead of no-sleeves) and hit below the knee.  I also find it is easier to pack casual dresses instead of shorts outfits -- one item instead of 2!  They take up more space, are more comfortable, and look better!

Light scarf:  Picture those big square pashminas they sell for $10 in the mall. This scarf will be your savior in Europe. If you don't have covered knees, you can wrap it around your waist to enter a church. You can lay it down for an impromptu picnic. You can use it as a blanket on the plane. The uses are endless!

Hanging toiletry bag:  Bathrooms are TINY in Europe. Without counter space, you will want a bag with a hanger that you can easily hang on a hook or towel rack. 

Turkish towels:  You can buy these on eBay for about $20. They are very light and thin, but super absorbent and dry quickly. So if you want to hit the beach and don't have hotel towels, these are a life saver, and hardly take up any valuable suitcase space. 

Ziploc bags: Again -- endless uses! Use them to store all the treasures your kids pick up along the way (sea glass, if you are like us!), hold your receipts, transport wet bathing suits, wrap up unfinished snacks, etc. You will wish you had brought more!

I hope that helped!  Enjoy!

xoxo,

J & M