The concept of visiting Europe lives in our collective consciousness as a huge and romantic mosaic, threads of the timeless past, genius, and cafes. It is the image of strolling in the paved stoned streets of Rome, the sound of the gladiators in the Colosseum; it is the sensation of being in a cafe in Paris, holding a perfect croissant in the hand, observing the world pass by; it is the spectacular view of the mountain peak in Switzerland, the air is fresh and clean. It is one of the most irresistible things one looks forward to when traveling through famous cities, through various cultures, hopping one to the other. Between the ideal and the reality however stands something quite daunting and quite often very formidable a practical obstacle: what to pack. How would one care to prepare a drizzly London morning, a sun saturated afternoon on the Spanish coast followed by a refined dinner in Florence which might happen all within the same trip. Anyone who has ever considered going to Europe, just by reading an article or being simply beside someone with a flight booked has experienced a condition of packing paralysis, where the variety of climates, cultures, and activities on offer in Europe is so great that it becomes tempting to pack everything, in anticipation of every eventuality, ending up with bags that are absurd and back-breaking and end up holding them rather than working to their advantage.
The advice of this book starts with a basic, emancipating fact: You donot need as much as you believe you need. What is important to know with packing to Europe is it is a game of strategy, not sacrifice. It is all in the benefit of versatility instead of volume, of quality instead of quantity, and of mobility instead of the plethora of the choice. The trick to a more elegant, fun and stress-free European adventure is to pack well in advance. It is the ability to smoothly go through crowded train stations, to accept an offer to take a walk up a tall flight of stairs to an amazing vantage point, and the ability to pack your luggage in the little elevators and be comfortable in small hotel rooms that are typical on the continent. It is not just a checklist, it is a philosophy, a whole attitude to packing the bag which will enable you to feel comfortable, look stylish and move through the most fascinating continent of the world with the feeling of being free and unhurried.
A paradigm changing twist of thought initiation is the starting point to packing enlightenment. You need to have a carry-on attitude, even though you might finally choose to take a check bag. This implies planning in a box with the smaller, more comfortable piece of luggage. This kind of mentality makes you merciless in your decision making, you also have to doubt everything you pick up, all you can ask is only that which is needed and the one that you can use versatilely. The rewards of literally traveling with a carry only are huge. You also end up saving considerable money on checking baggage costs especially in Europe where there are a lot of low cost carriers. You avoid the chances of misplacing or delays to your luggage, a situation that can ruin the initial happy days of the journey. You become absolutely mobile and you can hit the ground running when you arrive rather than waiting nervously at the baggage carousel. And you get the great lesson that freedom is frequently the result of having less, and not more.
Reducing one big wardrobe to a small and minuscule capsule wardrobe is the main idea of the philosophy. It is an art of picking a few and limited things that can be remodeled in order to have a lot of things to wear with. The core of successful European capsule wardrobe lies in a basic non-flashy array of colors. Consider black, navy, grey, beige and olive green as your foundation items, such as your trousers, skirt, and jackets. Not only these colors are stylish and fit onto European cities as sophisticated areas, but they also offer a versatile background. You can then channel your personality and flair into less expensive, small and lighter accessories such as colored scarves, statement jewelry or bright t-shirt. One dark pair of slacks in the correct size will suit an afternoon of museum-going accompanied by a casual striped t-shirt and comfortable sneakers, and can in a minute be changed to a lovely evening with a silk top, a few sneakers, and a blazer. This is the opposite to packing single wear outfits, it is the one fool-proof way of cutting down the amount of clothing you take.
The second and maybe the best tip on how to pack to Europe is to learn how to layer. The weather of Europe is well known to be very changeable and an early morning that is cold might very well become a warm sunny day with a cool windy afternoon. Rather than carrying heavy and single purpose clothes such as a heavy sweater or a thick coat you should carry layers of thin clothes that you can add and remove according to the temperature. There are three components of a good layering system. The ones that should be near your shirt are the base layer and that should be comfortable material that is breathable. Your mid-layer will be the insulating layer, and this could be a merino wool sweater or a cashmere cardigan or a down vest that is thin, packable. This layer is to lock your body heat. The out shell is the thing shielding you against elements, all drying lightweight, windproof as well as waterproof, jacket. The combination of three layers will help to make a warm, weatherproof system. You can adjust by wearing one or two when the conditions were milder. This tactical solution will not be as space-consuming and diverse as packing based on all the potential temperatures.
The second strategic yet highly influential choice to make concerns the type of fabric you want your bag to be made of, as it will massively contribute to your own comfort and the weight of your bag. You have to become a textile student. The king of the travel fabrics is Merino wool. It is an almost magical material, a natural fiber, ultra-soft and it wicks moisture off your skin; it controls your body temperature to make you comfortable in the cooler and in the warmer weather, and what is most important it is naturally antimicrobial, that is, it resists foul smell and can be worn repeatedly without washing. Purchase two or three t-shirts made out of merino wool, a sweater and socks, and the number of clothes you should bring with you will decrease significantly. Even good quality synthetics, such as those used in contemporary travel and sports wear, will be a perfect option since it is light, durable, and dries within seconds, which is a great bonus in case you want to wash your clothes in a hotel sink. There is one type of fabric that you will want to avoid and this is cotton, particularly jeans and sweat shirts. Although comfortable, it is heavy, moisture alike, and exceptionally slow on the drying process, which renders it exceedingly unpracticable in a touring trip through Europe.
Lastly, the last issue can be the literal foot problem which every traveler may face. Europe also requires a lot of walking, usually over lumpy cobblestoned streets, which do not forgive flimsy shoes. Comfort is not optional, it is something so fundamental, a need. The quickest step to a ruined trip is by bringing the wrong shoes. The best pricing approach is a strict three shoe policy, having a limitation of three pairs. Your idea of becoming a primary all-day walking shoe should be the first one. This might be an elegant, soft-padding leather athletic shoe or supportive walk-in shoe of a well-known brand. As your second pair, you should have an all-purpose flat or boot. The regular ballet flat or a practical yet lovely ankle boot, in case of women, may be appropriate. In case of men, a desert boot or a leather loafer is good. The third set is situational to you. This would be a comfortable sandal in the summer. Your hiking shoes or boots would be the thing to wear in a hiking trip. You should really ensure that you break-in all these shoes well before your trip. In no case, carry new shoes to Europe. Wear your heaviest shoes on the plane in order to save space.
With these guiding principles in mind we are now in a position to consider how to modify your packing strategy to best fit the unique nature of each of the 4 seasons of Europe. The weather on the continent all over the year is drastically different, and a packing list in case of a summer visit to Greece will be much different as compared to a visiting Germany in winter.
Traveling in Europe during the spring of the year (March to May) is a drill of facing uncertainty. It is a transitional period, as you may have the beautiful sunshine, a strong shower, and snow-chilling winds in one day. The clothes you own should be an icon of versatility and layering master class. An outerwear classic trench coat must be or a contemporary-modern rain jacket which offers protection against the wind, rainfall, but not too heavy. Below, the layers are important. Bring a number of long-sleeved tops, colour variation of light sweaters that are made of merino wool or cashmere, and some t-shirts during hotter days. The fashionable scarf is a both decoration and utility item which can bring you extra heat when it is necessary. Waterproof footwear is a prerequisite to your feet. A pair of waterproofed leather boots or a pair of waterproof stylish sneakers will become your good friend in those wet city roads. Never forget to bring along a travel umbrella that is small and foldable. European spring is all about being ready all the time so that you can take advantage of the blooming flowers and increasing daylight regardless of what the weather will choose to do.
June-August offers different set of problems: a European summer, with its heat and great sun, and massive surge crowds. You should pack lightly by going for easily breathable lightweight fabric such as linen, cotton blends, and rayon that will make you cool and comfortable during the day. Women can use dresses and skirts as such dressing opportunities are airy and can be either dressed up or dressed down. We can recommend lighter weight chinos or linen pants, to the guys rather than all that heavy denim. Although it is essential to wear sandals, make them comfortable enough to walk all day long; choose the pairs with firm support bottoms, as well as straps that are not easy to loosen. Evenings may be cool, however the days are hot, in northern/coastal areas. But you should always take a light cover-up; a denim jacket, a linen blazer, a plain cardigan, in case to go out at night, or to visit some museum that is aggressively air-conditioned. Moreover, numerous churches and cathedrals in Europe are the most known ones but the dress code there is modest: shoulders are to be covered as well as knees. The same multi-purpose scarf that you brought with you now comes in handy when prepping to go into these spiritual premises as you can use it to cover up your shoulders before heading in and keep cool in the sweltering heat, and show local respect at the same time.
In Europe, fall, September-November, is magic, the season of fresh air and bright sunshine, dry cozyness. The packing strategy is like spring, but more warmer and cozier. It is high time of rich textures and warm, autumnal palette. The outer wear may be an old fashioned wool coat or a cool jacket that is made of leather. High-quality spoiled by 100 percent merino or cashmere sweaters should be your layers and are sure to go along with dark jeans or trousers. You get to love using a big and comfortable scarf. And now you can get out your favorite, comfortable and fashionable ankle boots, which will perfectly cope with the city passages, but will be able to survive some rain as well. Summer crowds have moved on, and life takes its time, and loading up with a full bag of warm, comfortable and stylish layers will enable you to take advantage of the romantic, melancholy beauty of the season.
European winter, the period between December and February, is probably the greatest nightmare of packing even to the light traveler because it offers such a challenge, but with a proper strategy, it is perfectly doable. Quantity does not count, science does. Warmth in high-performance thermal base layers will come about because of your warmth. The first unseen layer of warmth will be a pair of long underpants in merino wool or a high-quality synthetic material, that traps a blanket of air close to your skin. The middle layer should comprise of a warm fleece or better still a highly compressible down jacket. This will make up your major insulation. An outer shell made of waterproof and windproof material should cover you because of the snow, sleet, and biting wind. Putting these three thin layers together allows you to be warmer than when you could wear one thick coat. On lower body, you can wear thermal leggings beneath your trousers or jeans. Good, warm waterproof traction boots must be a primary non-concession. Finish up the winter armour by wearing a warm hat that has an ear cover, a nice pair of gloves and thick scarves. In this strategic method layering, you will be as toasty reactionary as you proceed through Christmas markets or even in walking through the snow-blizzarded urban areas with only a carry on baggage.
Although what you wear will vary depending on the season you are in, there will be a group of common things that will define your packing list whether you go at any time or place. This consists of some basic, neutral tops, a dark fitting pair of pants or jeans and one or more so-called, nice outfit to go to a concert, out on a date or a special dinner. This does not have to be formal; in the case of a woman, it may simply be a black dress with various options of dressing it up, and in the case of a man, a well ironed buttoned down shirt. A good supply: You will require a supply of at least a week worth of underwear and socks so you can wash them every now and then on extended journeys. And the power of accessories should not be underrated by you. Item like a beautiful scarf and something as simple as a simple accessory like a watch can help you put an outfit together regardless of how basic the rest of the travel outfit is, making you feel less like a tourist. A safe crossbody bag is best to use in your everyday excursions because you can freely have your hands doing what they need to be doing and classified items.
In addition to what you wear, your pack should have your essential equipment, papers and medical material. You must have minimalism in mind as far as your toiletry arrangement in Europe is concerned. You should remember that to have good toiletries, you should buy it in any European city, and you do not need to have huge amounts. Apply solid toiletries to conserve room and prevent the liquids restriction problem at airport checkpoints. Toothpaste tablets, solid soap, solid shampoo with conditioner bars, and other items are amazing, space-saving products. You will need to carry in small reusable bottles that are leak-proof any liquids that you have to carry. Your personalised first aid kit must be lightweight and must have pain aspirin and stomach remedy, antihistamines and best of all a high- quality blister treatment products. Some of the other pieces of equipment necessary are a reusable water bottle, as most of Europe offers tap water that is clean and wonderful tasting; a small size travel umbrella that can fold away in your bag; a power bank that can charge your phone; and a universal travel adapter.
Whereof at last a word some word of style. Although comfort is your main aspiration, it is also a fulfilling feeling of being dressed in a manner that you feel is polite and will enable you to integrate in the crowd. Dressing to a smart-casual minimum is the base-line of dress adopted by the Europeans particularly in big cities. It is highly likely that no one will wear athletic shorts to the city going around, sporty sweatshirts with logos on the front where the logo is bigger than the picture, old and worn-out t-shirts, and so on. Unless of a certain, trendy type, the white, bulky athletic sneakers could easily be a cry of tourist. You can go around the cities confidently in relative silence by selecting the right clothes that are characterized by classic, well fitted clothes with neutral colors. This does not mean you are losing your personal style, but rather much more being able to represent yourself to be a careful, aware traveler as opposed to an obvious foreigner. This is a minor change, which can transform how other people see you and improve the nature of your interactions.
After all, what is the initial essential step in getting an adventure in Europe than the process of packing itself. It is a game of willfulness, the art of critically thinking about what you really need to feel good, ready, and satisfied. It becomes a reflection on the distinction between a need and surplus. The effort you put into planning and editing towards a clever, light and multi-perosseous wardrobe, would be repaid to you a thousandfold in the currency of liberation. The problem of heavy luggages will be washed away, the worry of misplaced luggages will be removed and you will even have the freedom to keep saying yes to all impromptu opportunities you get. You will learn the ultimate reality that the lighter you are the more you can travel and the more you can feel the incredible richness and beauty of the European continent.
