You peer at a small carry-on suitcase—or whatever luggage you plan to bring—and are stumped when it comes to planning your clothing for the trip.
What do you put in your suitcase, carry-on, backpack, or bag and what do you leave at home?
Here are five items you should have—or not have—in your luggage.
1. Pack a small umbrella or water-repellent jacket with a hood.
Walking will likely be one of your methods of touring in cities and towns. Being drenched is no fun! If your luggage is filled to the brim, remember that you can wear a coat onto the plane in addition to your permitted carry-ons, and then place it on top of your luggage in the overhead bin. Some people use this technique to bring a sport coat or blazer, if they need one.
2. Depending on the season and the geographic location of your destination(s), bring compressible layering garments for warmth.
3. Pack a money belt that can be worn underneath your clothing to hold money, credit or debit cards, passport, and train passes. In large cities, train and bus terminals, and near major tourist attractions pickpockets may target foreigners.
4. Unless you plan to frequent places or have business or social events with an understood dress code, don’t pack fancy clothing. Most of the restaurants I’ve encountered in Europe permit their customers to be attired in casual or dressy casual clothing, by which I mean a shirt and slacks or skirt, or a dress.
5. Bring shoes in which you can comfortably walk long distances over hard cobblestone streets.
Buon Viaggio!