The Art of Packing
I had always heard the term “backpacking through Europe”, but I never thought people meant they only had a backpack. Surely you couldn’t fit all your clothes, all your toiletries, AND all your shoes in a small bag?!?! There was no way. The very first time I went to Europe, I went to stay for 5 months for study abroad. I knew I would be traveling on the weekends, and I knew my best friends and I were making a 3 week trek through several countries before eventually heading home to the States. Before I left, it didn’t dawn on me that I would have to take my 5 months worth of luggage along during that final trip with my friends— and wow. I paid for that mistake. I had a 50lb bag (60lb by the end) and duffel bag AND a backpack. When I tell you I didn’t use HALF of the things I brought, I’m not lying. I would wear the same 5 things in alternating outfits. All this to say, you never need that much! Packing is truly a strategic activity, and you have to be smart about the items you decide to bring in order to minimize the pain of lugging those big suitcases on cobblestone streets, subways, tiny trains, or up stairs.
Basics are your friend!
Less is always more! The biggest lesson I learned while traveling is that basics—let’s call them essentials—are the cornerstone of any smart packing list. You want to focus on versatile, mix-and-match pieces that will help you create a variety of outfits with the least amount of items possible.
Start with solid color tops—neutral shades like black, white, gray, or beige are perfect since they pair easily with almost anything. You should also pack 2-3 pairs of jeans or pants, depending on your preference. Dark jeans are especially great because they’re easy to dress up or down and won’t show dirt as easily. Cargo pants are a great pant to have to switch things up from jeans as well! For shoes— you don’t need more than 3 pairs MAX. A good sneaker, open-toed shoe (if youre going somewhere warm), and boot is what I always rolled with. I wore my Doc Martens to death!
Depending on the season and where you’re traveling, you’ll want to add a few layers. I studied abroad in Barcelona from January to May— and believe it or not it was pretty cold! I knew I had to plan for that. For colder climates, opt for sweaters or lightweight, jackets that can keep you warm without taking up too much space. A scarf can also double as an accessory or an extra layer of warmth. These basics will become the building blocks of your travel wardrobe, allowing you to re-wear outfits in different combinations without feeling repetitive. It is also a good idea to wear bulky items on your person when traveling. I had a winter coat that I had on during all my traveling, which came in handy!
Packing Smart
The picture to the right shows me with my THREE bags. I’m smiling in the picture but I’m really dying inside. We’ve all been in the situation where you have to sit on your suitcase to get it to close. It can be frustrating, and difficult to do that! Good news is that there are so many method to packing smart! Packing cubes are a great way to maximize space in your bag. You can organize your items by type or day, saving so much time and effort when you unpack!
It is also a game changer to have little pouches for miscellaneous things. Get a pouch for all things tech– chargers, converters, batteries, etc. Toiletry bags are also a great way to keep all of those essentials in one place, so they don’t rummage around your suitcase and possibly spill. These are all items that can go in your main bag.
For the more important things, your personal item should be the one you use. Important documents like your passport, medication lists, visas, etc. should always be with you to prevent losing them if your luggage gets lost. Always have copies of everything in a folder or pouch or even electronically! It is also a good idea to have a small, easily concealable cross-body bag to have important things on hand when exploring.
Leave room for everything you’ll buy!
I bought SO many clothes in Europe, and don’t regret a single purchase. The stores had so many things I wanted— from the stores on Passieg de Gracia in Barcelona to the Champs-Élysées Avenue in Paris—I would have bought it all if I could. That’s why it’s crucial to plan for this when you pack. You don’t want to stuff your suitcase to the brim at the start of your trip, leaving no room for items you’ll inevitably collect along the way. Make sure you leave some space—whether it’s for clothes, keepsakes, or gifts for friends and family. The picture shown to the left features a sweater I bought from in Barcelona! It is one of my favorite purchases to this day.
Horrors of a 50LB Bag
To the right is a picture of me lugging my 50-60LB bag + my duffel + my backpack up 6 flights of stairs in Barcelona. Keep in mind that we went to several cities, thus several airbnbs, and all of them were on upper levels with no elevators in the buildings. I still remember the pain in my arms of bringing it up the stairs to this day. DON’T BE LIKE ME! You never need this much!!
Another packing-related horror story happened in Sorrento, Italy. If you’ve been, you know that the cobblestone streets are NOT even at all. Although there’s no picture, the event is ingrained in my brain. I was fed up at this point, after weeks of carrying all my things to different cities and trains. (plus its expensive! paying for bags was incredibly costly!). I was anxious to get to my hotel to lay down after 3 hours asleep, mad because my friend lost my favorite leather jacket (we got it back, love you Eleonor), and tired from carrying my luggage. Because of my careless, rushed walking, I fell in the middle of the street. Looking back, I can laugh about it now, but in the moment, I was honestly ready to leave all my bags right then and there! It was a learning experience, and honestly makes for a good, funny story to tell, but now I know to pack smarter! You learn things in life the hard way. 🙂
Thanks for reading! I hope you all learned something from my experiences, or just had a laugh at my horror stories!
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Happy packing,
Cristy ❤️
