Updated: October 2025 – by David & Charlotte McGuffin, Dawnielle Jacobson, Audra Dupuis and Natalie Kelly
Packing can sometimes be the worst part of a trip: spending too much time deciding what to take and then regretting bringing too much. Here are some packing tips, travel “hacks” and a few suggested packing lists to help you pack quickly and efficiently and get on with enjoying your trip.
My number one tip
Pack light! I usually travel with one carry-on suitcase (9x14x20) and a small backpack (This may seem impossible, but all you have to do is follow the tips in this blog). On my group tours, everyone has to lug their bag around, over uneven cobblestone streets, and up several flights of stairs. Don’t make yourself miserable by bringing an oversized bag. As a bonus, bringing a carry-on means you can be sure that your bag will show up at your final destination. If your checked bag doesn’t make it on the plane, it may take several days for your bag to catch up with you, especially if you are on tour. Check with your airline for carry-on size restrictions and measure the bag yourself (wheels included).
If you’re worried about having room for souvenirs, consider packing a duffle or foldable bag in your suitcase to check on the way home.
What type of clothing to pack for Europe
Bring comfortable clothing. There is no need to buy a new travel wardrobe. Make sure you have comfortable walking shoes that are travel tested.
Pack items that can be layered for the varied climates. Sweaters or a light jacket should suffice, except for winter travel. Jeans, pants, and skirts are fine. In recent years, Europeans living south of the Alps and in hot climates wear shorts much more often.
Years ago, I’d suggest no shorts, but that has changed. I wear shorts in Greece, Spain, Italy, and at the seaside. In the summer, I pack one pair of shorts that can do double duty for jogging/exercise and swimming and one pair of very lightweight cargo shorts. I also bring a pair of jeans and a two pair pair of lightweight slacks.
Bring shirts and blouses that can be mixed and matched so you can make multiple outfits out of a few staple items. For an extended stay, you can also wash items in your bathroom sink or go to a laundromat if needed.
Most European churches require respectful dress; knees and shoulders must be covered. Make sure you plan for those days or bring a scarf or shawl to cover your arms.
Making it fit
Pick out your clothes, shoes, and accessories for the trip. Then put a third of it back. Most people are over-packers. Put back the shoes that look nice but are not warm or comfy. Put back that “just in case” outfit. All makeup should fit in one little sandwich baggie. Pick your favorite makeup look and only pack the stuff for that.
Most hotels have a hair dryer, but they usually are less powerful than what we are accustomed to at home, so you might consider bringing a small travel-sized blow dryer. Do yourself a favor and go out and purchase an inexpensive dual voltage (120/240 VAC) blow dryer from Target or Walmart. These usually sell for less than $20. A bonus is you’ll not need a voltage converter to use it, just a wall socket adapter.
Plan to wear the bulkiest items on the plane. Wear your biggest pair of shoes, your thickest scarf, maybe a sweater, and your coat. You can remove these items as soon as you board, but this will free up space in your bag.
Roll your clothes. This is a big space saver. If you are pressed for space, you can put your clothes in gallon Ziploc bags and push the air out as you seal them. Consider filling bags by outfit so your luggage is well organized and you don’t have to search for things.
Fill your shoes (and bras) with socks and underwear to use every available space.
Don’t wait until the last minute to pack. Give yourself time to make sure it all fits and that your bag won’t be too heavy for you.
A few more packing tips
Put dryer bounce sheets in between your clothes to keep them smelling fresh
Pack the heaviest items in the bottom of your suitcase (by the wheels) so that it is easy to roll
Use a contact case to store liquid makeup, like foundation.
Keep powder makeup from breaking by putting a cotton ball or pad in the compact
Use a pill case to separate jewelry
Put your shoes in a shower cap or plastic grocery bag to contain any dirt
Roll up your belt and put it in the collar of a dress shirt to keep the collar stiff
Use an old glasses case to store your chargers and/or headphones so they don’t get tangled.
To prevent liquids from spilling, unscrew the lid, cover with a small piece of plastic wrap and then screw the lid back on
Use a large binder clip to cover your razor, or bring a few disposable razors.
Store cotton swabs in an old medicine bottle.
Winter travel tips
If you are traveling in the winter, make sure you are prepared for the “worst” weather. You will probably encounter snow and ice. The sun reflects off the snow, so don’t forget sunscreen and sunglasses. Bring warm socks and shoes and clothing you can layer. Wear your heavy winter coat on the plane and stow it in the overhead bin. This will save a lot of space in your suitcase.
Charlotte and I use the following packing lists for winter travel:
Charlotte’s Winter Packing List
One Heavy Winter Coat – hip length or longer;
Gloves;
Earmuffs;
Several scarves for fashion and warmth;
At least one hat;
Small travel umbrella;
Boots/shoes that are comfortable, well broken-in, and travel-tested;
Thermal socks;
Five pairs of pants and/or jeans;
Long-sleeved fashion tee shirts;
Sweaters and Turtleneck shirts;
“Cuddle-duds” (long underwear);
Underwear and bras for the trip’s duration.
David’s Winter Packing List
Lightweight Puffy jacket for warmth;
Waterproof outer jacket;
Gloves;
Earmuffs;
Several scarves for fashion and warmth;
At least one hat;
Small travel umbrella;
One pair waterproof Gortex boots that are comfortable, well broken-in, and travel-tested;
three pairs of light-weight, moisture-wicking socks;
two pairs of pants and/or jeans;
Four moisture-wicking long-sleeved tee shirts;
Four long-sleeved cotton button-down shirts;
Two lightweight cashmere sweaters;
Underwear for the trip’s duration;
One pair of lightweight silk “long-johns.”
Packing List
Here are some additional packing suggestions, which can be adjusted based on the time of year.
The Essentials
Passport (valid at least six months beyond the end of your tour)
Debit/Credit cards (inform providers of your travel dates)
Insurance cards (just in case)
Driver’s license (as an extra ID)
Photocopies of the above (in case they are lost or stolen)
Foldable duffle/Tote bag (if you plan to buy many souvenirs)
Summary
With this information, I hope you are ready to grab that suitcase and start packing. Remember to pack light, bring appropriate attire for the location and the weather, don’t bring too much, and use your space efficiently. I hope you find my packing lists useful.
Before the COVID-19 Pandemic, Europeans tended to use cash for their day-to-day spending much more than Americans did. Back in the early 2000’s Europeans carried lots of cash in their pockets on a daily basis. Even as recent as 2019, I would deal mostly in cash when making purchases less than €50. But, that has all changed with “social distancing” and the Covid-19 Pandemic panic.
In 2022, CONTACTLESS payments are the way to go.
Either TAP your contactless credit/debit card to the MACHINE or your WRISTWATCH to the machine. However, you must set this contactless system up with your bank and credit card provider before leaving home. ApplePay and GooglePay have similar systems for phones and portable devices.
And, by the way, the MACHINE is portable. It comes to the table at a restaurant, and your credit card never leaves your hand.
If you need CASH, use a BANK ATM Machine
Using your debit card from your local back home is still the best way to get cash while traveling in Europe. There are ATMs (often called Bankomats) everywhere, and you treat them like those in the United States. Insert your card, type in your PIN code, and choose the cash amount. The machine makes noise and then spits out cash in the local currency.
AVOID EURONET ATM MACHINES! – These machines have popped up all over Europe in the last year. The machines are typically in storefronts and advertise “free cash withdrawals.” Those traveling with me have reported high fees and exorbitant exchange rates combined into 20% or more markups.
If you have cash to spend, get to know the currency, both notes, and coins.
Bank NOTES
Paper currency (notes) are very easy to identify in all European countries. They all have a number in the corners denoting the value of the note. To make it even easier, European notes have different sizes and colors for each denomination. A €50 note is larger than a €5 note and is a different color. This holds whether you’re spending UK Sterling, the EU euro, or any other currency. Other than it looks like Monopoly money, you should have no trouble working with paper currency.
I still carry a small daily supply of banknotes in my front pocket, secured with a money clip. Each morning I take inventory of my banknotes and load up with what I think I might need to spend during the day.
The remainder of my stash of cash (and passport and credit cards) goes in my money belt tucked neatly and safely inside my pants. Now, of course, I know this is not living like a local, but it does give a peace of mind knowing that in unfamiliar circumstances, I don’t have to worry about my important stuff being taken from me.
COINS
You’ll likely use a few coins in Europe, like for doing laundry. It’s a good idea to do a little homework before your trip and study the different coin denominations, colors, and sizes. Here are some hints:
I like to lay all the coins out and do a mental and physical quiz each time I arrive in a new country.
Here is how I begin this quiz in the European Union.
Here is how I begin this quiz in the United Kingdom.
I like to use two pockets to sort out my coins; one for small coins under €1/£1 and another for large coins over €1/£1.
Before going into a shop, I take inventory of the coins in my pocket so that when the merchant gives me the total, I’ll know if I have enough coins to make the purchase or need to pay will bank notes.
Gone unchecked, coins can be overwhelming. It is a good idea to use many coins as you can on a daily basis.
After your trip, spend or cash in the coins before leaving the airport. Since many European coins are high-value, it can be expensive to fly home with a pocket full of change. Before heading home, spend them, trade them in or give them away.
Plastic Credit Cards
Europeans don’t make a distinction between credit cards and debit cards. I don’t believe I’ve ever had anyone ask “debit or credit.” I use my plastic (credit card) for larger purchases such as hotel bills, airline tickets, car rentals, and other big-ticket items. It makes perfect sense to use a credit card for online and telephone purchases. Credit cards also come in handy for purchases at unattended self-service machines in train and bus stations and at those unmanned European gas stations. Unfortunately, you’ll most likely need a chip-and-pin card for these. See my chip-and-pin card article for more information.
American credit cards work throughout Europe and are widely accepted at major hotels, stores, and attractions, especially in tourist-oriented areas. In smaller towns and mom-and-pop operations, credit cards may not be accepted because the merchant must pay the credit card company a hefty fee for the “privilege” of accepting credit cards. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted. The American Express card, although a well-known name in the travel industry, is often not accepted due to the higher transaction fees the merchants must pay American Express.
Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) is a service offered to credit cardholders that offers to convert a foreign transaction at the point of sale into the home currency of the cardholder. This is never a good idea for the consumer because it comes with inflated exchange rates that benefit the merchant. An unsuspecting cardholder can lose up to 7% by opting into this feature. Since DCC works against the purchaser, never say you would like your purchases to be converted to dollars.
You’ll not get beyond the check-in counter at the airport without a valid passport… if your destination is outside the United States of America. Americans are even required to show their passport when traveling to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean. Applying for a US Passport is the most important item to consider once a decision to travel has been made. The US also issues a “passport card,” which is about the size of a credit card. This card can only be used to re-enter the United States at land border crossing and sea ports of entry from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. It cannot be used for international air travel, so we’ll not discuss this option any further here.
If you have a passport, it must be valid for six (6) months after your travel is complete, that is, the day of your return to the USA. Rules differ by country, but for European countries, this is the case. Additionally, your air carrier will not allow boarding for an international flight unless your passport is valid for six (6) months beyond your travel dates.
I have witnessed several passport-related events that have caused stress and even canceled trips. I recall a young lady signing up and paying to travel to Europe with her French teacher and friends. She (and her mother) waited a long time to apply for her passport and then worried daily when checking the mail, hoping it would arrive shortly. Unfortunately, her passport did not arrive before her travel date, and she had to stay behind and watch her friends go to Europe without her. On another occasion, a friend realized his passport would expire during his scheduled trip to Europe. To make matters even worse, he realized this only a couple of days before his trip was to begin. Thankfully, he called the National Passport Information Center, made an appointment, and drove 500 miles to renew his passport in person.
Applying for a new US Passport
Applying for and obtaining a US Passport, or even renewing an old one, can take some time. The average standard delivery time is 4 to 6 weeks. For an adult (18 years or older), the application and service fee is $165 for a passport with a validity period of 10 years. Children under 16 are only eligible for a passport with a validity period of 5 years, and the application fee is only $130. Forms and Information are available at: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html
When applying for a new passport, it must be done in person at an Acceptable Facility or US Passport Agency. Applicants must complete Form DS-11 and bring it with an approved original document showing evidence of US citizenship, a photo identification document, and two recent passport-sized photos. Full details and online printable forms can be found at: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports.html.
There are many agencies where you can apply for a passport. Some include:
Federal, state, and probate courts,
Clerk of the Court Offices,
Post offices, and
Some public libraries.
For a complete list, search here.
When applying for or renewing a passport, why not asked for extra pages? You can request 52 pages instead of the usual 28, and it won’t cost a dime. This can only happen when requesting a new passport. See the details here.
Renewing a US Passport
If you have a current passport no older than 15 years, you can renew it by mail without having to visit an agency in person. You will need to complete Form DS-82, pay the application fee ($130), include two recent passport photos, and send it by mail to the passport agency. There are restrictions to this process, so it is a good idea to read all the applicable information at: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/renew.html
Faster Service on the Application
For an extra $60, passport renewal or a new application can be expedited. See the websites mentioned above for rates and details.
You have your passport, so now what?
Once you have received your passport, there are a few things you should consider.
Make copies of the first couple of pages of your passport. Give one copy to someone at home and bring another copy with you on tour stuffed in an inner pocket of your suitcase.
It is also a good idea to keep two extra original passport-sized photos on hand with you when traveling.
When traveling, keep your passport with you at all times. The safest and best way to do this is to keep it in your moneybelt. I put mine in a small plastic sandwich bag to keep it dry. Keeping your passport safe is very important. If it is lost while out of the country, you’ll be stuck for several days trying to get a replacement. Replacing lost passports requires a trip to the U.S. Embassy, which will take precious time away from your tour experience.
Many countries, especially outside of Western Europe, require a VISA. A VISA is an official document attached to one of your passport pages. It takes some time to apply for and receive a VISA, and it requires that you send in your passport to have the VISA officially attached to your passport. This means that your passport will not be in your possession for some time. Be sure to do your homework, check the US Department of State to find out if you need a VISA, and leave yourself plenty of time to complete the VISA process before your departure date.
Be frugal with your blank passport pages. Often an immigration office will open a passport to the first blank page he encounters and stamp it. This is ok if you seldom travel and have plenty of blank pages. But for frequent travelers, this wastes a lot of useful passport “real estate.” Consider placing sticky notes on blank pages to help direct the agent away from the useful blank pages.
If you are a frequent traveler, consider applying for Global Entry. This is a program for US citizens to expedite their re-entry back home at a US airport. There are fees and an extensive application process, but if you travel a lot, it is worth the effort.
Enroll in the S.T.E.P. program, an acronym for Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. This is a free service for US citizens traveling abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. Their motto is “stay informed, stay connected, stay safe!” Enrollment is a simple process. Each time you leave the USA on a trip, visit the S.T.E.P. website and register your trip, destination, and duration. Should a problem arise, you’ll be contacted by the Embassy in your destination country. Additionally, the Embassy will contact you or family members in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency.
Traveling Americans and Passports
There are about 340 million people in the USA, and according to the US Department of State, there are 149,359,051 American citizens who possess valid passports. That’s only about 48% which means there are a whopping 52% of us that have never left the USA! Just imagine the cultural shift if those numbers bumped up to 75% or more. We might have a better understanding of other people groups and a more tolerant outlook on the varied cultures in the world today.
If your Spouse or Travel Partner has a Passport… you should too!
Recently, we were touring with a group around London, and one of our passengers became so sick he had to be admitted to the hospital. This gentleman had a US Passport (obviously) and travel insurance. The hospital wanted to keep him for several days. We contacted his wife at home in the USA and suggested she take advantage of the travel insurance feature and fly to London to be with her husband. To our shock, she informed us she could not fly over because she did not have a passport. Luckily, the gentleman was in good care at the hospital and flew home in a few days.
Summary
A passport is essential to travel outside the USA, and it takes a bit of work to jump through all the hoops to get one. Apply for or renew a passport as soon as you think you might travel internationally. Passports must remain valid for at least six months beyond your travel period. For a fee, expedited service can get your passport issued in as little as 2-3 days. It is a good idea for all US citizens to hold a valid passport just in case an emergency arises. Unfortunately, only about 37% of us do. Once you have a passport, keep it in a safe place, make several copies, never carry it in your back pocket, and consider getting extra pages with your application.
The Musée du Louvre is the world’s largest and oldest museum. It houses famous works of art such as The Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo, and countless world-famous paintings dating up to the mid-1800s. It is overwhelming, crowded, and impossible to see everything in one visit. Over the years, I’ve developed a route visiting what I deem to be the “best of the best” the Louvre has to offer. Tonight, I’ll share this route and the works of art along the way. Also, I’ll include a new audio-guided walking tour, available for download, and a printed companion to the art.
There are many more of my Travel Talk Tuesday episodes in the archives. If you are looking for more information, videos, or advice about European travel, check here https://davidmcguffin.com/ttt
I’ve visited the Lauterbrunnen Valley in Switzerland many times, but I’ve never gone to the “Top of Europe” until my last trip. The Jungfrau (Mountain) soars high above the valley and surrounding peaks. The Jungfraujoch (mountain pass, literally yolk)) sits at 3454 meters (11,332 feet), capped with an observatory, restaurants, gift shops, and exhibits. Outdoors, it is cold, and snow and ice are guaranteed 365 days a year. The Aletsch Glacier flows peacefully down its southern slope towards Italy.
There are many more of my Travel Talk Tuesday episodes in the archives. If you are looking for more information, videos, or advice about European travel, check here https://davidmcguffin.com/ttt
Either TAP your contactless credit/debit card to the MACHINE or your WRISTWATCH to the machine. However, you must set this contactless system up with your bank and credit card provider before leaving home. ApplePay and GooglePay have similar systems for phones and portable devices.
