You’ve made your choice and decided on a 2 week whirlwind tour of Europe. Traveling by train will be great and you know what cities and sights you want to see. The itinerary is solid, the hotels look nice, fit the budget, and you even remembered to replace the batteries in your camera. All too many times you ruin all that travel planning and preparation by making a fatal decision, packing too much!
Here’s a test for you to try. Get that suitcase you’ve been using for years out of the garage, pack what you think you will take on your holiday in Europe, then go to the mall and walk around for 2 hours. If it’s too heavy, imagine being attached to it for two weeks!
If you travel light with one carry-on size bag, you don’t need to check in your luggage. You can comfortably walk with ALL your belongings off the plane, through customs and on to your train. You are NOT an overburdened target for pickpockets or thieves. To travel light with all your valuables in a secure money-belt gives you the freedom to enjoy your holiday.
Deciding what to take determines what you take it in.
Here is the one carry-on bag Packing List:
Pants: Wear one pair, bring two more. Wrinkle resistant, washable. Forget jeans.
Shirts: Wear one, bring four more. Combine long and short sleeves for season. Washable, blended material.
Underwear: Wear one, bring three more. Quick drying.
Socks: Wear one pair, bring four more.
Sweater: Bring or wear one dark cardigan. Dressy and good for layering.
Shoes: Wear one pair. Broken-in, not new please! Color for all occasions.
Coat: Wear or bring one lightweight, water-resistent coat or jacket with hood. Plenty of pockets (inside pockets too).
Toiletries: Small quantities in lightweight bag. Liquid soap (multi use), shampoo, bandages, razor, shave cream, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss (you can sew with it too), brush, comb, medications in original containers, pain reliever, extra eye glasses, eye glass prescription.
Also Include: Swiss army knife or utility tool, flashlight, nail clippers, extra eye glasses, eye glass prescription, sun glasses, sewing kit, safety pins, small umbrella, sun screen, corkscrew, small lock, list of addresses, journal, paper, pen, a good book, travel guide, (essential info only), photocopy of all important documents.
Moneybelt: Around your waist or neck. Includes credit card, ATM card, traveler’s checks, passport, airline ticket, train pass, driver’s license, cash. (You could lose everything else and still enjoy your holiday…use a money belt)
Women: Wear one pair underwear (bra and panties) bring three more, quick drying. Shorts or skort, two pairs hose, one all occasion dress, extra shoes or sandals, small supply of personal products, cosmetics, hair accessories.
Let’s examine that suitcase. Hard sides, awkward, big, one little handle, and bigit cries out, “check me in at the airport … get a porter to carry me to a taxi … have the bellboy take me up to the room!” Remember that luggage gets lost, your hotel is near the train station, and many “European” hotels don’t have bellboys! Suitcases, garment bags and most travel accessories have come a long way. Light weight and durable are the keywords.
[...] next important thing you have to plan is your luggage. With this, you will definitely have to consider a lot of factors: length of stay, where you will [...]
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