I love to travel. My first time traveling to Europe was with a school group when I was in the 6th grade. We visited Italy and Greece and I was hooked. Since that first trip 40 years ago, I’ve visited over 15 countries. That’s a lot of packing and a lot of riding on planes, trains, boats and automobiles. When you’re taking a trip Europe (or beyond), packing is always a balancing act. You want just enough so you have what you need to be comfortable and you don’t end up wasting precious time shopping for items you forgot. But not too much, because most of the time in Europe you have to deal with your own bags. One time of hauling a large suitcase onto a train or up a flight of hotel stairs will cure you of overpacking.
But there are always new gadgets promising to make travel easier. And I think I’ve tried most of them. These are the ones I’ve found to be worth the space in my bags when I travel to Europe.
Packing
Sturdy, Expandable, 4-wheeled Suitcase
After dealing with wobbly wheels and broken zippers on various suitcases I purchased from discount suppliers, I decided to bite the bullet and invest in a highly rated (i.e. more expensive) model from Away Travel. I started with the “Bigger Carry-On Flex.” It’s awesome and what I use for mosts trips these days. I have taken this sucker all over Europe. It’s been thrown into planes, dragged over cobblestones, sat on, over stuffed and left in the rain. This case- combined with a soft bag- can easily get me through a week of over seas travel. One note- this “bigger” carry-on size is considered too big for overhead storage on European inter-country flights (Easy Jet, Air Lingus, etc). The case actually fits, but the airline usually won’t let you bring it onboard because it’s a hair too big to fit in those blasted sizing cages at the gate. (I had a rather unpleasant and expensive run in over this with EasyJet this past trip.)
I loved my first Away case so much that I sprung for the net size up, the “Medium- Flex”. I took this one recently on a two week trip to Japan. It was just as easy to maneuver and as durable as my carry-on version. And I was able to carry it up stairs and it fit fine in the luggage racks on trains. I also take this one on cruises when I like to bring lots of outfit options and shoes. It has fit nicely under every cabin bed I’ve had so far.
Carry On https://www.awaytravel.com/suitcases/bigger-carry-on-flex?color=olive_green
Medium Suitcase https://www.awaytravel.com/suitcases/medium-flex?color=olive_green
Foldable, Expandable Soft Bag
My mom gave me this bag and I poo-pooed it because the last thing I thought I needed was ANOTHER bag. But this has become a mainstay. I usually pack it folded up in my suitcase and then pull it out as the trip goes on. I put dirty clothes in this bag and then I have room for souvenirs in my suitcase. Add a lock to it and it’s fine to check with your other luggage when you fly home. The other way I use it is as a combo with my smaller carry-on suitcase when I don’t want to check any luggage. I put two pairs of shoes in the bottom compartment and some clothes in the top plus all my airplane essentials. When it’s time to board the plane, I slip my cross-body purse inside and I’m good to go with only two carry-on items.
Travel bag https://a.co/d/e0WOUfX
Travel Lock https://a.co/d/9svouAI
Organized, Compact Jewelry Case
Usually I don’t travel with expensive jewelry, I take costume instead. I like this case because I can organize sets together in the individual clear packets. Having sets already organized keeps me from emptying out all my jewelry onto the bed and inevitably loosing something. On the rare occasions I do take my better jewelry on a trip, this case is small enough to put in my carry-on backpack.
Jewelry Case https://a.co/d/aMiqI96
AirTags
Know where your bag is at all times! If your husband obsesses about wether or not your checked luggage made it onto the plane… get these. He can watch your bags move through the airport to his heart’s delight. I also put one in whichever bag I’m carrying with me. Using the “Find” app on your phone- you can even have these play a sound so that you can locate whatever you put them in. The batteries are replaceable but mine have lasted more than a year before needing to be changed.
Air Tags https://a.co/d/9XYpp46
Clothing
Hands Free Purse
I love having my hands free when I’m traveling. A cross-body feels secure in large crowds and comfortable for long days. My hands are free to take photos, consult maps and hold on to subway rails. This one is an almost exact dupe for the Lulu Lemons at a fraction of the cost. It’s washable too if you want to get it in a lighter color.
Crossbody https://a.co/d/fYmYnpK
Wind Breaker/ Rain Coat
This Columbia jacket is waterproof, light weight and has a nice hood that will stay up and keep rain out of your eyes. You can layer underneath it for warmth and it folds to nearly nothing so you can put it into a purse or backpack. It’s available in lots of color options and works for every season except cold, cold winter.
Wind Breaker/ Rain Coat https://a.co/d/846rSK7
Winter Coat
Speaking of cold, cold winter… I took this other Columbia coat on a recent trip to Switzerland too visit the Christmas markets. I’m a southern girl, so cold weather is not my thing. This coat kept me warm and dry and it was long enough to cover my rear end. The hood is a good size to keep the rain/snow off my hair. And it’s light enough to fold down small and go into a carry-on bag or suitcase. Plenty of pockets for my wallet, hand warmers and phone. And nice enough to wear in the evening over dinner clothes. Combined with some super warm socks and boots and I was toasty warm the whole trip.
Winter Coat https://a.co/d/gu14LOG
Walking Shoe
If you want to not look like an American over seas- do not wear sneakers. (Or a baseball hat for that matter.) These shoes are not the prettiest but I walked all over Japan in them with no blisters or slipping. They went with everything so I only needed to bring one daytime shoe- which left plenty of room for more evening options.
Walking Shoe https://a.co/d/7iQgJmO
Sturdy, Fashionable, Comfy Black Boots
I like to have a black shoe for evening. This is my “city” evening shoe. The boots have enough of a heal to feel dressed up but not wobbly on uneven streets. And they have a good comfortable sole that won’t slip. They keep the rain and slush away and they’re easy to clean with just a wipe off.
Black Boots https://a.co/d/eBgcBkm
Walking/Hiking Waterproof Boots
One of our favorite places to visit is Ireland. I got these boots for our first trip about 10 years ago and I’ve been wearing them ever since. They are great for walking on rocky, wet paths like the coastline in Ireland and Scotland. They keep your feet warm and dry, but aren’t super lined so you can wear them all year. Most of the people you see in the countryside will be wearing something like these. My legs are short and the Eddie Bauer ones come almost to my knees. If you’re a tall person, you could probably wear the Dublin boots. I love the look of the Dublin boots and saw them on many people there.
Boots https://www.eddiebauer.com/p/92006179/women’s-trace-boots?sp=1&color=Espresso
Dublin Boots https://www.horse.com/item/dublin-ladies-river-boots-iii/E024760/
Hand Warmers
If your feet, head and hands are warm- then you’ll be warm. These hand warmers were awesome in Switzerland. They’re compact, rechargeable, have multiple heat settings and the battery life was long enough to get through most days.
Hand Warmers https://a.co/d/529IzVB
Toiletries
TSA Approved Toiletry Kit
At my age my “beauty” routine is a little involved. I use to wing it and leave all my lotions and potions at home when I traveled. Now there are many things I don’t want to go without because honestly, I can tell the difference when I stop using them. I prefer to have two bags rather than one big one. There are a couple of reasons… 1) It’s easier to puzzle piece two small bags into my suitcase than one large one and 2) many European bathrooms do not have counter space or even outlets. So you end up doing your make-up and hair outside the bathroom, somewhere in the hotel room. I pack one bag with the items I’ll use in the bathroom (shampoo, soap, lotions, potions, toothbrush, etc) and the other bag with my make-up and hair products that I keep at my make-shift vanity in the bedroom. And I like to have the clear bags just in case I decide not to check luggage and need to be TSA compliant.
Toiletry Bags https://a.co/d/9x2hEM3
Travel Bottles/ Pots
I simply have too much skincare to bring full-size bottles. Plus my husband hates to check luggage, so it’s easier to have everything in TSA approved sizes. I’ve flown with these as far as Japan and have been using my set for going on two years now with no issues. The stickers are worthless, they don’t stay on, so you have to remember what’s in what or use a permanent marker or nail polish to mark them.
Toiletry Pots https://a.co/d/9mVEgHW
Toiletry Bottles https://a.co/d/5WQa8Bv
Toothbrush
If you love your Sonic toothbrush as much as I love mine- this is a travel size version that works great. If you don’t want to fool with it, here’s a basic option with a cover. I never leave my toothbrush out when the room’s being cleaned. Having a cover makes it easy to throw it back in my bag or in a drawer.
Sonic Tooth Brush https://a.co/d/6h5UonR
Travel Toothbrush https://a.co/d/bRdDBid
Perfume Bottles
A friend gave me these at a Favorite Things Swap. They’re easy to fill and I’ve never had a problem with leaking.
Perfume Bottles https://a.co/d/ifLv3lH
Bathroom Spray
If you’re sharing a bathroom with someone other than your partner, it’s just good manners to use a little spray. It really does work too.
Bathroom Spray https://a.co/d/7JhwBob
First Aid Kit
These little kits are a perfect size to throw in any suitcase. I always keep mine packed with band-aids, anti-bacterial ointment, a little sewing kit and a general oral antibiotic. It stays in my suitcase until it’s needed.
First Aid Kit https://a.co/d/9XrAsgb
Blister Bandages
Just about every trip to Europe involves a lot of walking, It never fails… you or someone you’re traveling with will get a blister. And it’s miserable to be in pain when you can’t stop walking. Plus you can never find a chemist (drug store) when you need one.
Blister Bandages https://a.co/d/cmG2aFa
For The Hotel Room
Dual Voltage, Compact Curling/Flat Iron Combo
I don’t recommend taking your own hairdryer, even if it’s dual voltage because they inevitable overheat. I have yet to stay in an Airbnb or hotel that didn’t provide a hair dryer. Curling irons and flat irons are a different matter. This one is compact, gets very hot, can be a flat-iron or curler and is dual-voltage so it works fine overseas. All you need to do is plug it into you travel adapter.
Travel Curling Iron https://a.co/d/aGHQPp5
Light Up, Magnifying Mirror
One of the gifts of being post-menopausal is more hair where you don’t want it (face) and less where you do (head). It takes daily attention to keep from becoming Sasquatch. Add that to my aging eyesight and I now travel with my magnifying mirror. This one is large enough to actually see in, offers 20x magnification, stays charged a long time, can stand on it’s on and adds extra light. It works perfectly for a vanity area set-up in the bedroom since there’s no room and usually no light in the bathrooms.
Travel Mirror https://a.co/d/honuVvZ
Lint Roller
Lint looks messy. If you wear a lot of black like I do in the evenings for going out- this is worth the packing space.
Lint Roller https://a.co/d/erRmDBH
Travel Plug Adapters
I suggest one per person of these. I like this particular one because not only can you can plug in multiple cords, but it also actually stays plugged into the wall. I’ve tried a few of the all-in-one types that have various prongs that slide out depending on the country, but they were bulky and had a tendency to fall out when things were plugged in- annoying! Of course you need to get the version that works for the country you’re visiting.
Travel Adapters https://a.co/d/cFRnzIY
Charging Station for Nightstand
If you have an Apple watch, an iphone and airpods like I do, it’s much simpler to bring a combo stand. Takes up only one plug/outlet and folds down nice and compact for your suitcase. I actually use this one at home too.
Charging Station https://a.co/d/6cS1uwP
Power Strip
Sometimes a room will only have one or two plugs and they aren’t where you need them. This happens a lot to me when I’m trying to find a plug for the hairdryer near the mirror. A power strip just makes things easier.
Power Strip https://a.co/d/cK1cJDk
Bedside Fan
If you normally sleep with a fan for noise, this is a life saver. And it does put out a good bit of air if you need a cool breeze on your face when you sleep.
Bedside Fan https://a.co/d/2JqK8ST
For the Plane
Backpack
This is what I carry on to planes for all the things I need in flight. I also use it as my work backpack at home. It has a padded section for your laptop or ipad if you want to bring one. My favorite parts are all the pockets. Some are hidden where I put my passport and credit cards. There are places for water bottles, chargers, etc. I like that the top opens up wide so you can see everything inside easily. It also has a strap to fit onto your suitcase handle. I’m 5’3″ and it’s very comfortable for me to wear on my back or to carry by hand.
Backpack https://a.co/d/3zUADNN
Airplane Seat Pocket Organizer
I saw this on a Tik Tok and it sat in my Amazon cart for a long time before I decided to try it. I mean really a zip lock bag would do the same thing- right? Well probably yes, but I feel so much more organized with this little bag. I put everything I want to have close at hand on the plane in here- charging cord, airpods, airplay, cards, lip balm, eye mask, reading glasses. It’s so easy and quick to pull out this one bag and put my backpack in the overhead. But the biggest selling point is I’m no longer tempted to put anything in the germy, gross plane seat pocket. And I don’t end up pulling my backpack out a hundred times for things I forgot in the rush to get seated and annoying my seat mate.
Airport Seatpocket Organizer https://a.co/d/3UOv7vr
Extra Battery
Of course bring your charging cords, but just in case you get caught without an outlet, an extra battery will save the day. I like this one because you don’t need any cords with it. It plugs into the wall to charge, has multiple cord options and recharges quickly.
Extra Battery https://a.co/d/9s3N5y2
Noice Cancelling Headphones
I was a late adapter to the noise canceling technology. But once I tried my husband’s on the plane- I was hooked. It makes hearing your music or videos so much easier. Plus they really do drown out all that noise when you’re trying to sleep. Over the ear versions aren’t comfortable for me, so I love the Airpod Pros. Plus I can “find” them with my other Apple devices. But there are lots of noise-canceling, wireless options out there- choose the ones that are most comfortable for you.
Airpods Pro https://a.co/d/eQWw9OQ
Bluetooth Wireless Transmitter
If you want to use your own headphones on the plane… like the wireless, noise-canceling ones we just spoke about above, you’ll need this little gadget. It plugs into your monitor on the plane so that you can connect via bluetooth to your own headphones. (If you’re flying international, you’ll also need the little adapter below too.)
Airfly https://a.co/d/hl9J4z4
Headphone Outlet Adapter (international flights)
Outlet Adapters https://a.co/d/5R5GEAi]
Playing Cards
Yes, you could spend hours surfing through social media on your phone… but if you want to pass the time and stay engaged with your traveling companions, nothing beats a game of cards. They’re easy to pack, inexpensive, do not need batteries or the internet.
Playing Cards https://a.co/d/j0kDFxl
Smart Phone Holder/ Stand
If you can’t find someone to play cards with… then by all means, indulge in some quality phone time. I like to download episodes of shows I never have the time to watch and movies that I never make it to the theater for. But I hate having to hold the phone with my hand for hours or looking down at the phone on the case stand. This gadget clips on to just about anything and holds your phone at a more comfortable viewing height.
Smart Phone Stand/Holder https://a.co/d/86zeXVH
Wipes
You’ve all heard the nightmare stories about dirty plane tray tables. arm rests, etc. It takes just a minute when you get to your seat to quickly wipe all the surfaces you might touch while flying.
Disinfectiong Wipes https://www.walmart.com/ip/Clorox-To-Go-Fresh-Scent-Disinfecting-Wipes-9-sheets/22210582?classType=REGULAR&athbdg=L1102&from=/search
Hand Sanitizer
Planes, airports, taxis, trains, elevators, subways… lots of opportunity for yuck. These little sanitizer sprays smell so good- you won’t mind spritzing your hands all day.
Hand Sanitizer https://a.co/d/58JMiSR
Pocket Pharmacy
Hope for the best- prepare for the worse. I find I only get sick when I don’t bring the cold medicine. This little pack can hold a plethora of medicines to cover just about any malady you might have on vacation. And the labels make it so very organized. I love this little thing so much, I now have one in my car too.
Pocket Pharmacy https://a.co/d/egOsCBS
Spot Remover
Food stains on your shirt are not the look anyone wants in their vacation photos. For most little spills, this will get enough out so that you can’t notice it. And it keeps more serious stains from setting in.
Spot Remover https://a.co/d/4X4bUcF
Travel Blanket
Even if you’re in first class, having your own soft blanket from home will make you feel so much more relaxed, warm and cozy. And you know your blanket will be clean.
Travel Blanket https://a.co/d/9TgDnKh
Eye Mask
The other key to sleeping on a plane? No light. This eye mask is lightweight, keeps all the light out and is curved so you don’t mess up your eye makeup while you rest.
Eye Mask https://a.co/d/9EzjVtl
Compression Socks
I know, old lady alert. But for long flights, they really are worth the ugly factor. In my mind, I’d rather have ugly socks on during the flight and slim ankles when I arrive. These particular ones were very comfortable and soft to me.
Compression Socks https://a.co/d/5CwifsH
Is That All? 😂
Whew! That seems like A LOT when I write it all down. Do you really need all of this? Only you can say. And is it everything you need? Of course not. Every trip is different and what you’ll need varies. But for Europe or traveling overseas in general, these are my own must-haves. And the list evolves. I’m always reading travel blogs for ideas. If you have a travel favorite, I’d love to hear about it!
-Rebecca