The last time I was planning and packing for Europe was the spring of 2018 when I traveled through the south of France and Spain. At that time, I was 27 and had recently started dating my now-husband Harrison. This time, we are flying over together for several weeks spent in London, Versailles, Paris, the Champagne region, and Amsterdam. We have been working on our itinerary and are so excited for this new adventure! I have some new packing preferences for this trip to share.
I had been using the same AWAY suitcase for every trip since Europe in 2018 and was happy with it – until I discovered a new favorite. It started when I needed a new backpack (I had been using the same Fjällräven Kånken one since that trip, too!) and a friend recommended CALPAK. I ordered their Luka Laptop Backpack, and it is incredibly lightweight with so many helpful pockets. I love it and bring it with me daily to school and on every trip. What happened next is I needed a good bag for shorter, weekend trips; my AWAY was just too much, and I got the Luka Mini Carry-On. This is when I realized just how much I could fit in this little suitcase; I was amazed! It could even fit a bulky coat along with other items. I knew I needed the bigger carry-on for Europe. I haven’t used it yet and will practice pack before our trip, but I’m feeling good about it.
From CALPAK, I also got the Water Bottle Holder (so squishy and lightweight, too) if it’s a hot day or we are doing an active activity (we have a bike tour booked, for instance) as well as the Small Clear Cosmetics Case which is TSA-friendly; since I never check my luggage, I wanted a sturdier, more longterm solution instead of always using a quart-sized bag.
Another brand I recently discovered and love is Quince. I ordered their compression packing cubes, which are a must travel accessory for me; I was using cheap, flimsy ones before, and hope these keep me even better organized. I also got their Revive Nylon Camera Crossbody, which will be my daily bag on the trip – it fits all of my essentials including my phone, camera, wallet, sunglasses, and other small necessities.
As for clothes, my goal has been to pack simple, comfortable, versatile, and lightweight items – plus pieces that will dry more quickly after being washed in the sink (a likely necessary task since we’ll be there for so long). I shared some of these clothes in a previous blog post. Additionally, here are other clothes I’ve ordered for this trip:
- Sleeveless dress – I’m wearing it in the first photo.
- Linen cotton shorts in white (not transparent) & navy – a more polished look
- Linen-blend pull-on shorts – more casual
- Vintage t-shirt – very on sale
- V-neck t-shirt – very on sale
- European linen pants – I first ordered the white, and they were completely transparent. I returned and got the black instead.
- Skort – I’ve never been a skirt/skort person, until now. Not sure why they’re suddenly so appealing! I first ordered an XS, my usual size, and it was way too tight. I returned and got a S.
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I am so excited for this trip! Do you have any summer vacations planned? What are you packing?
P.S. More traveling abroad inspiration, and U.S. travel, too.
