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The Travel Essentials:
Passport - you won’t believe how easy it is to forget the most basic item you need!
Visa (if needed) - double check the requirements for the specific country or countries you are traveling to well in advance. A lot of European countries do not require Visas for most travelers if it’s not for an extended amount of time, but you always want to check this again to be safe.
Cell Phone - seemingly a no brainer, but the part that isn’t is making sure you have a plan to be able to use it when you’re out and about for GPS and other essential functions. Lots of phone companies offer “Pay as you go” international options or you can pick up an international SIM card if needed when you arrive as well.
International Driver’s License (for U.S.-based travelers) - If you are planning on renting a car at all during your trip then I would recommend getting an International Driver’s License from AAA. You do not need to be a member to get one and they only cost $20 ($32 if you need them to take your photos for it too). Not all countries will be sticklers about this, but it’s better to be safe than sorry on this one. During my second trip to Europe, my husband and I went to Italy and got randomly pulled over. We were happy that we had this then!
Copy of your Passport - You should always make a copy of your passport when traveling internationally and store it in a safe place (separate from your actual passport). This is a fail safe in case you lose - or god forbid, get pick-pocketed - during your travels. Having a copy of the passport will make the process of getting a new one from your embassy much simpler!
Printed Information Sheet - I have a sheet I fill out for any international trip with all types of important, could-need information on it. It includes things like: home country’s embassy location and contact numbers, legitimate transportation companies that I’ve researched ahead of time, police/fire/ambulance emergency numbers for the country I’m visiting, contacts at home, useful phrases in the native language, and more. You’re welcome to download my guide and use it, or you can make your own as well! Either way, it is important to have this information handy when you’re traveling.
Credit Cards & Cash - I recommend bringing a minimum of two different credit cards - preferably ones that do not have foreign transaction fees if possible. Some people recommend bringing cash with you and exchanging it upon arrival, I find it to be more convenient to bring my debit card and just withdraw some cash while there. Whichever way you do it though, you should have a decent amount of cash on you at all times while traveling as some places do not accept credit cards. I also should note here that American Express is not widely accepted throughout all of Europe either. Visa or Mastercard is the way to go there.
Rolling Suitcase - Ah, rolling suitcases how I love you! Transporting luggage has been made so much easier since the invention of these bad boys! I don’t go anywhere without one of these and this one is my favorite one!
Packing Cubes - If you are an organizational freak like myself, then you are going to love these handy items! They are especially amazing on long trips and help to keep my suitcase from becoming a disaster zone!
TSA Approved Toiletry Bag - If you have TSA Pre-check then this isn’t as important, but if you don’t then this is a game changer. This clear bag is perfect to be able to follow the specific guidelines when traveling with liquids. It also is easy to quickly remove from your luggage to send through the scanner by itself.
Travel Laundry Bag - This is another item that I did not realize how badly I needed it until I had it! I throw one of these in my luggage and my husband’s luggage for each trip. It makes knowing what you need to wash when getting home so simple and convenient. Before I had these, I ended up just washing everything in my suitcase even though I am a serial over-packer and never actually wear every item I pack. What a waste of time and energy that was!
Travel Pillow or Neck Pillow - If you have a long flight, you’re going to want one of these to add a little extra comfort. That is unless you are lucky enough to be flying First Class!
Student ID - This is not always something we think about, but if you are a current student, make sure you bring your Student ID. Many attractions offer reduced pricing for current students so it will definitely save you some money!
Multi-Tool - I don’t go anywhere without this. You never know when you’re going to need to open a bottle of wine; however, there are many valuable tools on here besides just the corkscrew! Make sure to pack this in your checked luggage or else you will get asked to throw it away at the airport if it is in your carry-on bag or purse.
Hand Sanitizer - This has a whole new level of importance in the COVID-19 world and beyond. Popular tourist spot = many, many germs. It’s as simple as that. Pop one or two of these in your bag and you’re good to go!
Reusable Water Bottles - I never leave home without one of my reusable water bottles! It’s so convenient to always have a drink with you, and it also cuts down significantly on plastic bottle waste! Many cities in Europe have installed public water stations/fountains too where you can refill for free! How awesome is that?! I use this one by Contigo all the time, but this silicone one is pretty awesome for travel because it rolls up to make it super compact when it’s empty!
Umbrella - It’s always nice to have a compact travel umbrella with you just in case of rain. Even if you’re not going somewhere that is known to have rainy weather (think Ireland), rain inevitably happens everywhere. It can really put a damper on your well thought-out travel plans if you don’t have an umbrella and instead have to either take cover or get soaked!
Picnic Blanket - Can you think of a better place to have a picnic than in front of the Eiffel Tower or in a park in Rome? If you’re planning to have one of these romantic picnics then I would recommend bringing some sort of covering to sit on. We actually own two different options for this ourselves. This one is more for picnicking and camping and is a little bit bulkier but still decently compact. Whereas this one is more meant for the beach but could also double as a picnic blanket and is very compact.
Sunglasses - I do not go ANYWHERE without a pair of sunglasses no matter the season! Though I will say my eyes seem to be very sensitive to light compared to my husband’s. Even still, it’s a good idea to have a pair of these with you during your travels. Depending on your destination and the kind of photos you’re planning on taking you can either opt for these polarized everyday sunglasses or bring these fashionable aviator sunglasses!
Mini Bluetooth Speaker - Purchasing this has been another game-changer for our travels! We don’t spend much time in hotel rooms or AirBnBs but when we do, it’s nice to have this mini speaker to play some of our favorite tunes while we upload photos, edit photos, and write notes about the day. It’s also great for camping!
Passport & Credit Card Zipper Wallet - I’m not going to lie to y’all, I did not know RFID scanning was a thing for longer than I would like to admit. I’m not up-to-date on all the technology happenings - that’s one of the reasons I have my husband! I definitely recommend having a wallet/passport holder that blocks the RFID scanners when traveling (or better yet, all the time) - because why not?! This one is a good option for unisex and this is the one I actually use myself!
Travel Journal - This isn’t a must for everyone traveling, but I like to bring a journal with me whenever I take a trip. Taking just a few minutes here and there to jot down some of my thoughts while traveling really helps me when going back to write these blog posts. They also are a fun keepsake to have when I want to go down memory lane! You can even get your favorite Wise Wanderings photo on the cover of a journal for your next trip - visit my shop here.
Day Bag or Backpack - Depending on what you’re planning to do during your trip, you may want to have a day bag or backpack with you to carry whatever it is you may need in it so you don’t have to constantly swing back to your home base. This one is a great option as it also is theft proof too!
Electronics:
Portable Charger - Having your cell phone die in a city you are not familiar with is not ideal at all! When I travel I end up making my phone die a lot quicker than usual because I have it in camera mode or use GPS on it almost all the time! As a result, I like to bring along a portable charger whenever I’m traveling. You can also opt for a solar powered charger like this one. Just note that the solar charging capability is more of an emergency option. You should still fully charge it before leaving for the day.
Camera - I always bring my camera along on any trips. If you’re just starting out taking travel photos this isn’t always necessary as phones these days have come a long way. I currently use a Nikon D850, but a good starter digital camera is the Nikon D3300.
Camera Lens - It’s important to pack the various lens you may need for your specific trip. Do you need a macro lens or a super zoom lens for some of the attractions you’re going to? Pack those!
Tripod - If you plan to take any possible low-lighting photos, or any photos with yourself in them then a tripod is a must! My husband and I use it all the time to get photos of us together!
Remote Shutter Release - This is also a must if you’re planning on being in any of the photos you’re taking. Some of the newer cameras actually have the capability to turn your phone into a remote shutter release so definitely look into your camera’s functions before you go out and buy one of these. My Nikon D850 does exactly that so I currently do not need one of these.
Extra Camera Batteries - I like to bring a minimum of two batteries with me on all trips and I make sure to fully charge them both every single night. This is most likely overkill, but you never know when you could possibly lose one or have a technical malfunction, etc. It’s better to be safe than sorry with this. These batteries are the ones that work for my Nikon D850, so double check which battery model your camera uses.
Extra Memory Cards - The amount of memory cards you need depends on multiple variables. How large is your memory card? What size images are you creating? How often are you going to upload the photos to your computer or external hard-drive? It’s always a good idea to have a few of these with you on any trip regardless of your answers for the previous questions. Again, not all memory cards fit into all cameras so double check which ones are compatible with your camera model before purchasing!
Battery Charger - I ended up buying this charger that charges two batteries at the same time. This is way more convenient than only charging one at a time. I don’t have to worry about switching the batteries out once one has charged and can even just plug it in and fall asleep if we had a crazy and exhausting day exploring. It also came with a cord to hook it up into your car so, if you are car camping or road-tripping then that’s super convenient as well.
Electric Adapters - You definitely need to throw a few of these bad boys into your suitcase when traveling to Europe (or anywhere internationally for that matter). This one is adaptable for over 200 different countries but is on the bulkier side. This one is a little more compact and you may be able to get away with only needing one of them since it has one outlet and two USB hook-ups all in one, but it is not as versatile.
Electric Converter - This is more of a “if you need it” item. If you have some absolutely MUST-bring electronic that is not dual-voltage then you will need a converter to plug it in. Personally, it’s more trouble than it is worth to me so I just forgo bringing any items that would require a converter, but that’s just my own experience. I know many people that bring converters with them on their travels as well!
Laptop - I take my laptop on all trips I take. This allows me to get a little jumpstart on editing photos if I have the time. I don’t always use it, but it’s so slim and compact that it doesn’t take up much space at all and it’s nice knowing I have the option if I want to use it. I’m a huge Apple girl as I have never had a smartphone that isn’t an iPhone and I currently have the MacBook Air, but there are plenty of good laptop options!
External Hard-drive - For anyone that is serious about their travel photos, bringing an external hard-drive is a must. Every night after the full day’s activities I take the time to upload all my images onto the hard-drive to make sure they are backed up and safe!
Toiletries:
Everyday Sunscreen - It’s important to wear sunscreen any day that you are spending time outdoors. Even if it is overcast or in the winter, lots of harmful UV rays still get through and can do some serious damage to your skin. I learned my lesson the hard way with wearing sunscreen. You can read all about my second-degree sunburns that I experienced on my trip to Italy in this blog post. I have a few favorite sunscreen options so I’ll let you know all of them and you can pick and choose! If you’re going swimming it is really important to make sure your sunscreen is not only waterproof, but also reef safe. There’s a lot that can go into being reef safe, but the main thing is that it is Octinoxate & Oxybenzone free. This sunscreen by Sun Bum is a great full body sunscreen for a day at the beach. If you’re not going to the beach and just spending a day outdoors hiking or walking around one of the many gorgeous European cities then most likely you’ll just need some sunscreen for your face, for which this one by Sun Bum is a great option. If you would like a little color with your sunscreen and are going to be getting dolled-up for the day then I absolutely LOVE this tinted sunscreen by BareMinerals. Just make sure you get the appropriate shade as mine will only work for my fellow super pale gingers out there! 😜
Chapstick - Another item I can’t go anywhere without is my chapstick! I’m a HUGE fan of both Burt’s Bees and Sun Bum chapsticks. Both companies are cruelty free, both have SPF in them, and both are superior products! Most of Burt’s Bees products aren’t considered Vegan though, whereas Sun Bum products are, so if that’s a big deal for you then definitely go for the Sun Bum ones!
Anti-Frizz Spray - I’m a curly-haired chick, which means frizz is my unwanted constant companion. Ugh. I’ve tried multiple anti-frizz sprays and serums in my life so far and these two are my favorite: this one by Sun Bum and this one by Living Proof - I swear I don’t work for Sun Bum, they just have some seriously amazing products!!
Everyday Medications - Obviously if you are on any daily prescribed medications you should bring those with you, as well as your daily vitamins that you normally take. I also take this a step further and bring travel portions of some other medications that I use fairly often. For example, I bring a few doses of Extra Strength Tylenol and Advil. You never know when a headache is going to strike or some of those monthly terrors known as cramps, and those things can really ruin a trip! It is so much easier to just bring this along with you than it is to find a pharmacy in an unfamiliar city which will take you off track of your itinerary as well! Just get a small little pill caddy to hold these in when you travel so you’re not having to take full bottles of everything with you. You can even re-label them for whatever medication you’re putting in them so there’s no confusion. I used to create correlations with the days of the week and the medications like: Tylenol was in Monday because Mondays give you headaches or Advil was in Friday because Aunt Flo always comes to ruin any weekend plans. 🤣
Toothpaste & Toothbrush - This is a must for all travels and is one of the few toiletries that hotels don’t automatically provide. Though most of them will give you one if you request it so rest assured there is a safety net if you forget yours!
What NOT to bring:
Most of this part of the list consists of items that will make you stick out as a tourist in Europe. If you do not care about that then take this list with a grain of salt. At the end of the day, whatever it is you decide to pack for your upcoming travels to Europe, your comfort should be your number one priority!
College/University Apparel – Wearing College or University clothing screams tourist or foreign exchange student. If you don’t care about that then by all means bring that Ohio State Buckeyes T-shirt or Clemson Tigers Sweatshirt!
Ball Caps – Europeans do not tend to wear ball caps for whatever reason.
Chunky Tennis Shoes – Europeans also do not wear overly bulky sneakers that are sometimes trendy in the USA. Not only do these make it a dead giveaway that you are a tourist, but they also take up an insane amount of luggage space!
Electronics that do not have dual voltage – This is the only exception to what I said in the intro statement. This item is not just to make you not stick out. Your electronics that do not have dual-voltage will not work in Europe (unless you bring a converter – see list above) and worst case scenario could completely burn themselves out or blow a fuse or transformer if you try using them with the higher voltage without the converter.
