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Before Travel Fashion Girl, I made a lot of packing mistakes, including an epic disaster on a two-week trip to Europe. Find out what went wrong and how to avoid it!
My Europe Packing Disaster
In February 2008, my friend and I went on a two-week whirlwind trip to Europe. I’m not sure why we thought going to five countries and eight cities in such a short amount of time was a good idea but needless to say, this was an exhausting endeavor.
Whether you’re traveling around Europe by coach, train, or metro, the one thing you may not expect as a first time visitor is the stairs. LOTS and lots of stairs.
Many buildings (such as your hotel or hostel) are centuries old, so they often have teeny tiny staircases with endless flights of stairs. Imagine walking up and down four-five flights of stairs every other day like we did. Please don’t do this.
Now imagine running up and down what seem like never-ending stairs in metros and train stations, especially when you’re short on time and trying to cram as much site-seeing as possible in a short time frame.
And finally, imagine doing these things while carrying (dragging) a MASSIVE suitcase filled to the brim and with a handle that breaks two days in your trip.
That happened to me. Well…kind of. It actually happened to my friend, but I ended up carrying her suitcase for her because she had back problems and I didn’t.
NEVER AGAIN. In fact, I knew not to pack that way because I had already done it on a previous vacation to Europe just the year before.
On the prior trip I’d packed a large 36” suitcase plus a 22” carryon and didn’t wear the majority of the clothing. I ended up leaving the large suitcase in the tour bus permanently after transferring the things I did want to use into my carryon.
However, it was my friend’s first time traveling to Europe so she overpacked and I ended up dealing with the aftermath.
Read the importance of having a healthy back when traveling!
I’d like to say that these things only happen to me. Bu unfortunately, a number of our readers shared similar stories from their own trips to London:
“Made it to London. One poor woman fell on the tube escalator and they had to stop it. Everyone had to carry their luggage up. Packing light saved me!”
“I nearly broke my arm on the stairs when my suitcase got away from me. Started bringing a carryon only after that!”
“Just got back from London. Watched a man wrestle with a full size bag…must have been 40 inches or so…onto the tube during rush hour. Almost delayed departure because it was hanging into the door. The station he got off at was one flight down with no elevator.”
NO. DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU.
I’m not sharing these things to scare you; rather, my intention is to help you be prepared. Overpacking can seriously ruin your trip and this is not the experience you want to remember from that special trip of a lifetime that you’ve been dreaming about all your life. This is your one chance. Don’t let overpacking overshadow Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and London the way it did for me.
Here are a few quick tips to help you pack light for your upcoming trip:
Delsey Traversee Lite 19″ $79.99
Lightweight Luggage
The very first step in lightening your suitcase is to choose one that doesn’t weight a ton, especially if you’re flying with an airline that offers a limited weight allowance. If you can find a carryon that’s under five pounds or a regular suitcase under eight, you’re golden.
To help you get started, take a look at our round up of the best lightweight luggage under 5lb.
Icebreaker Tech Lite Tank Dress
Choose the Right Clothing
It’s common for clothing to become too bulky to fit into a carryon when they’re made with materials that are not travel-friendly. Choose items made in fabrics like 100% cotton or rayon (for the heat) and merino wool or synthetic blends (for the cold).
See our full list of the best fabrics for travel. For environmentally-friendly fabrics, check out our list of the best eco-friendly fabric.
Planning ahead and being prepared helps you to avoid packing all the wrong things while being ready for anything. We have over a hundred packing lists for international destinations so can you know the exact type of clothing to take on your trip no matter what time of year you’re traveling.
Note: use the principles, not necessarily the clothing shown in our packing lists to adapt it to your own style and personal preferences.
If you’re traveling to Europe, take a look at our ultimate Europe packing guide rounding up the very best of the tips found on the blog.
Maypearl Tulsa Bootie| Slip-On Loafer
Minimize Shoes
It’s easy to add weight to your suitcase when you pack shoes for every day of the week. Instead, try to bring no more than three pairs of versatile shoes that you can mix and match with all your clothing. Read our step-by-step guide to packing the best shoes for travel.
For Europe, read this guide on how to choose the best shoes for Europe.
Packing Organizers
Once you’ve strategically chosen you luggage, clothing, and shoes it’s time to think about packing organizers for your trip. Not every trip requires the same type of organizer so take a look at our helpful guide about how to choose the best luggage organizer.
Personally, I’ve found these packing cubes (they’re ours) to be the most effective in organizing as well as compressing my belongings. They’ve allowed me to travel carryon only for years of full-time travel.
Watch my in-depth packing cubes video tutorial to learn how to use them, plus find out what brands are the best.
(Editable) Printable Checklist
Prepare a Checklist
As the date of your trip gets closer, create a checklist so you can tick items off your list. This helps you to avoid forgetting something and will help you stay stress-free. We’ve created a printable checklist you can save and edit, too. It’s free! Download the packing list here.
After almost a decade of full-time travel I’ve managed to get my packing routine down pretty well. Want a peak? This step-by-step packing routine provides a breakdown of exactly how I prepare before a trip.
It was because experiences such as these that I created Travel Fashion Girl and with it the ultimate guide to packing light, stylishly.It not only shows you the secret to choosing the right clothing for your trip but it also shows you how to travel carryon only!
If you’re a serious overpacker, we also have a packing e-course called STOP OVERPACKING, which takes you through the entire preparation process step-by-step so you know all your options before each and every trip. Get it here!
What are your tips to avoid a packing disaster? Please comment below!
If you’re traveling to Europe, read these articles to start packing for your trip:
- 10-Step Packing Guide for Europe
- Europe Packing Lists for Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring
- What to Wear in Europe: Packing List for Every Destination
Suggested travel resources:
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Every time I travel, I pack less and less. I’ve learned so much about not overpacking, especially when I’m carrying all of my own luggage!
Love Love your tips on travel. I started carrying on in 2018 for our Italy trip and was so thankful for a lighter suitcase on the train transfers. I decided to do it again for our 16 days in Israel this year and that is when I found your website and learned even more tips. 2 friends didn’t have their luggage for 11 of the 16 days. I am convinced that carrying is so freeing.
We leave tomorrow for France and hoping I have all that I need in my backpack and carry on suitcase. Packing Cubes is definitely the way to go.
Keep the suggestions coming!!
Your travel lists are fabulous. I bought Anatomie Skyler pants and love them. Thank you!
That is so amazing to hear, thank you for sharing your feedback with us!!!
I love your blog… I keep shopping with zero trips planned. I am working on it!
I’ve been the one lugging hug suitcases over cobblestones. Never again! Thanks for your helpful advice!
In 1979 I set off on inter-rail for 4 weeks round Europe. I wore a long skirt, T shirt, cardigan, sun hat, sandals and underwear. In my bag was a pair of jeans, 2 T shirts, rain jacket and spare underwear. I managed to wash and dry the tops and underwear en route and had sufficient clothes, but wish I had taken a smarter dress for when clothes were drying, and for when we had to stay in a hotel instead of camping.
Hi Lynn, thank you for your packing story with me, sounds like you did a match better job with your packing then I did!! ?
This article is absolutely on point. A few years ago I did a 5-weeks trip all over Europe. I (mistakenly) took a Travelpro 25-inch spinner suitcase. Don’t get me wrong, Travelpro is a great brand, but the 25-inch bag weighed about 40 pounds (18 kilos).
On my first train ride (Krakow to Warsaw) I made the mistake of trying to get off the train by lowering the bag first. The weight threw me off balance and I fell down 3 high steps and out of the train onto the platform. I was very fortunate that I didn’t break an arm or worse. This was in Poland, where helping others is NOT part of the culture.
No one, not even the female conductor who was standing right there, stopped or offered to help me. I was sprawled on the platform, I couldn’t move for about a half minute. Finally, after pleading with the conductor to help me to my feet, I was able to get up. For the entire rest of the trip I asked for help before alighting from trains or waited until last and got off bringing the suitcase down after I was on the platform.
I definitely learned my lesson. Next trip I took a Travelpro Maxlite 4 22-inch roller plus a Pacsafe 25L backpack as personal item. (Spinners are risky on European cobbled streets, I prefer domestic travel with a spinner but take a sturdy 2-wheeled roller to Europe. The Pacsafe backpack is impervious to pickpockets and bag slashers.) Carryon packing meant no more problems getting off trains.
I’m traveling again this spring and will take the same combo. I have 20+ train legs over 5 weeks and at age 72 am confident in my ability to handle subway stairs, trains, etc. I really like my Maxlite luggage, super light and sturdy enough for city travel anywhere.
Hi Dianne, thank you so much for sharing your travel story with us, experience is defiently the best teacher! Have an awesome time on your trip this spring!!
We will definitely keep this in mind on our trip to Europe this summer! Thanks for sharing great information.
Thanks Becky!
Just got back from my first trip to Italy (plus 36 hours in London on the way home) and I’m SO glad I read your blog first. Knew I had to try going “carry on only” — but it seemed so daunting. But it was pretty easy with your tips. Thanks! Packing cubes and capsule wardrobe 4 life.
On your recommendation I bought the Osprey Farpoint 40 & have been using it instead of the roller board for carryon only travel for work & play. It is by far the BEST bag ever!! I’ve been on many small planes lately with limited overhead bin space & this fits anywhere the roller board won’t – even filled up! I don’t even need a second carry on — it’s that efficient! Between this rec & Anatomie pants I am a forever fan on yours!! Thanks Alex!
Yay!!!! Thanks Jan, I’m glad you’ve enjoyed them as much as I have ?
Good thing that your trip was still great. Thanks for giving us this warning.
Thanks Rachel! Happy to help ?
For my first trip to Europe in 1988, my husband and I bought a set of luggage (4 pieces) that was beautiful but had no wheels and was heavy before we put anything in. Then we packed for every possible activity and weather. After a few days, we considering shipping two of the suitcases home! I’ve learned so much since then. On my last trip to Europe, I took a carry-on sized roll-aboard that converts to a backpack. In it was a capsule wardrobe that worked perfectly even though it was autumn, and we went from warm weather in Spain to freezing cold in Paris.
Howdy Alex, your tips have really helped!
I just returned from my second ‘packing light’ experimental road trip. 4D/3N, summer, city/suburbs, USA, with both casual and fancy events.
My husband said my ‘packing light experiment’ was a success! (I practiced packing light AND unpacking for 2+ months…)
I wore a small mesh backpack as my daypack/purse and my suitcase was a rolling carry-on by Rockland (Pasadena Expandable 19″). https://www.ebags.com/product/rockland-luggage/pasadena/273034?productid=10301153
For makeup for a fancy dinner celebrating my birthday, I packed and used: lipstick, under-eye concealer stick, liquid eyeliner brush/pencil, BB cream (decanted into a teeny eye drops bottle), 3 small travel brushes, mini-compact (eye shadow/lipstick combo), small travel dual-sided tabletop folding mirror. I don’t use mascara because my eyelashes are too long and thick. The only makeup I ever wear at home is lipstick.
For hair, I always wash and braid my hair into 2 pigtails the day before we leave home. On the trip I leave my hair in braids and touch-up the edges and fuzzies using pomade or gel and water spritzed from my little travel spray water bottle.
For fancy events, I unbraid my hair and spritz it with water, finger fluff (my hair is long and super curly). I wear a cloth headband or a fancy barrette at the crown to keep hair off my face.
I also did this following little trick just before we checked out of the hotel. I brought an empty small mesh drawstring bag, and segregated used from unused toiletries. I tossed every toiletry I did NOT use into the mesh bag. So that at home I can store unused toiletries and NOT pack them on next trip – to travel even lighter…..
On this trip what I missed not having/wished I had packed:
beige rayon skort,
white spandex/rayon blend tank tunic,
metallic fancy f-flops.
Otherwise I had exactly enough mix-and-match outfits from the no-iron pieces I packed. It was hard to pack for this trip because there were casual events and one super/fancy event planned.
Also, the day before departure from home, my husband decided to change our itinerary – not the fanciest restaurant in town for my birthday, so I had to re-pack at the last minute. I removed fancy high high-heeled pumps and pantyhose and replaced with fancy wedge thongs/sandals. That freed up a little space in my suitcase…
From this trip I learned that the most important tip for packing light is to check, double-check and triple-check the weather forecasts. And pack for that weather…