My Tried & True Packing Advice

Last week I shared Five Packing Tips for Europe.  Today I’d like to share some other tips that will help you prepare for your European vacation.

These are tips I have learned along the way and have actually put into use during my own travels.

Tech and Electronic Tips

1.  Purchase a European hair dryer.  Not a dual-voltage hair dryer, but a European 220-Volt hair dryer.  You need it to work in Europe, not the USA and the dual voltage ones defeat the purpose of buying one specifically for Europe.

In all of my overseas traveling, I have never been able to get a U.S. hair dryer to work with the adapter.  It just doesn’t!  I bought a small hair dryer in Germany years ago after I burned up my good hair dryer and I have been a happy overseas traveler ever since. (I’m not alone on this as you will see in reviews on Trip Advisor or other travel sites.)

Panasonic makes one for under $40, available on Amazon.  If you are like me, a good hair day makes your trip more enjoyable.  I have never had the luxury of putting it in a pony tail and getting on with my day!  No air drying for this gal . . . a “working” hair dryer is a must.

2.    I bought a foreign adapter kit for our iPads and iPhones at the Apple Store for $39.  It was well worth the purchase as our mobile devices are expensive and I do not want to risk burning up my devices using the wrong voltage when recharging them.

3.  Another tip is to pack your chargers and adapters in your carry on, not your suitcase!  Layovers are usually long and you will have an opportunity to recharge your devices while you wait for your next flight.

4.  Contact the service provider for your mobile devices and purchase an international plan for the time you will be traveling.  In my case, our provider was AT&T and we had to purchase an international plan for a month even though we were only going to be gone for two weeks.  The kicker is you have to remember to cancel the plan when you get back before it automatically renews for the next month.  Thank God for my reminders on my iPhone calendar!

5.  Empty your camera roll on your mobile phone or camera to make space for new pictures.  Don’t underestimate how many pictures you will take.  You truly can get caught up in the moment with all of the beautiful scenery you will come across.

6.  If you want some reading material on your mobile phone or tablet when wi-fi isn’t available, check out the Pocket App.  It allows you to save all those great articles and webpages that you find on-line but don’t have time to read!  Here’s a great video with a quick overview on how to use the Pocket App.

Introducing Pocket from Pocket on Vimeo.

7.  I like to download a currency converter app for my mobile phone.  When I’m with my CPA husband, he can convert any potential purchase to American dollars for me in a flash.  But if he is not by my side, then I need an app for that!  I use the Oanda Currency Converter available on iTunes.

8.  When I went to France, my two girlfriends took the time to learn some French before our trip.  When I went to Germany, my sisters-in-law polished up on their German.  I just don’t have the knack for speaking any language other than English!

Thankfully, there are several interpreter apps that you can download to your mobile phone in case you find yourself in need of communicating with the locals.  You can go to iTunes and search for the language of the country you are visiting.  You will find in the bigger cities that most people speak some English but if you travel through the countryside and smaller villages, the locals, especially the older people, won’t be speaking English.

9.  Take an external battery charger for your mobile devices.  They can give you up to two hours of battery time and will come in handy if your iPad runs out of juice just as you are nearing the end of your movie!

10.  If you plan on renting or purchasing some movies on your iPad or tablet and have a traveling partner, purchase a dual headphone adapter so that you both can watch the movie together.

Be prepared and download your movies in advance.  Sometimes it can take quite a bit of time and it’s best to not wait till the last-minute.

Misc. Items to Pack in Your Carry On

11.  Pack a shawl that can double as a light blanket.

12.  Tuck a small purse inside your carry on that contains your passport, money and any jewelry (although I highly recommend you leave the expensive jewelry at home!).  When you take a bathroom break, you can just take the small purse and leave your carry on under your seat.

These overseas planes are huge and when so many people are sleeping during the flight, it’s quite easy for some unscrupulous passenger to slip something out of your bag.  As you know, large totes don’t fit in those small bathrooms!

13.  Pack some healthy snacks such as almonds and dried apricots, protein bars, etc.  Stay hydrated and drink lots of water.  You will feel so much more refreshed by eating healthy and staying hydrated when you reach your destination.

14.  Take a supply of disinfecting wipes in your carry on.  I’m a bit O.C. when it comes to wiping down my space on the plane.  After all, it will be your home for the next 8 hours or more.  I wipe down my tray, seatbelt clasp, etc.  I don’t want someone else’s cold hitching a ride on my vacation.

15.  If you wear contacts, keep in mind that on a long flight you will want to take a nap and that the cabin is very dry.  I wear my glasses and put my contacts in once I arrive at my destination.

Medicinal Items to Pack

16.  When we travel overseas, we get a prescription from our doctor just in case we get some intestinal bug.  It came in handy once when my husband got sick from something he ate.

17.  I take a probiotic capsule every day of my trip.

18.  I pack Imodium in case of travelers diarrhea and Miralax in case the opposite occurs.

19.  Pack a small supply of Tums, Advil or Tylenol, Gum, Benadryl for an allergic reaction.   Always take your prescriptions in your carry on.

20.  You may want to also take some band-aids and Neosporin for blisters.

Be Prepared for the Heat!

22.  If you are traveling to Europe in the summer, it can get very hot there (last summer while I was in Vienna it was 102 degrees!).  Although you will find air conditioning, it’s not the a/c you are used to in the states and there are many older buildings that do not have a/c.

Choose your clothes accordingly and don’t make the mistake that I did a few years ago.  On a trip to Lebanon I packed a lot of black clothes.  Now mind you, it was “fashionable black wardrobe” but none the less, it was black and when temperatures rose above 100 degrees, I was regretting that fashion choice.

And while I was sweating in my cute black dress and sandals, I would spot a Saudi or other Middle Eastern woman visiting Beirut and I could barely breathe seeing them in their head to toe black abayas, complete with face covering.

Travel Papers and Other Boring Necessities

23.  Since traveling abroad is so expensive, I recommend buying travel insurance. You can shop for the best rates online.

24.  Leave copies of your itinerary, passport, driver’s license, travel insurance policy and your credit card information with a family member or friend back in the states.

25.  Exchange at least $100 worth of money to the currency where you are traveling.  It will come in handy for that first taxi ride.  Note:  Not all European countries use the Euro.

26.  Empty your wallet and only take your necessary credit cards, medical insurance card, etc.

27.  Call your credit card company prior to leaving the states and let them know about your travel plans.

In Case of Emergency

28.  If you are traveling to any place that is questionable as far as safety is concerned, you can let the U. S. Department of State know in advance.  In case of an emergency, the U. S. Embassy will know you are in the country and can help you evacuate.

29.  If there is an emergency such as a lost or stolen passport, take essential contact information with you from our U. S. Government so that you will know who to contact.

Do Your Research

30.  Do your research on your destinations so you will know what you want to do in each city. I have been disappointed to arrive in a city only to find out that the one place I wanted to see or tour was closed on that particular day.  (Note:  You will find that Sundays are not like it is in the States and many places are closed.)

Most importantly, be safe and have fun!  Europe is an amazing place to visit and once you go, you will want to go back!

If you have any great tips for overseas travel, please share in the comments below.

Safe travels!