I’m a travel advisor. I plan complicated vacations. I research destinations, hotels, transportation, tours, flights, and all those little details that can make or break a trip.
You would think that means I have packing completely figured out.
I do not.
There is something about preparing for an international trip that suddenly makes every item in my closet feel absolutely essential. What if I need this? What if it rains? What if it’s colder than expected? What if we go somewhere nice? What if I need comfortable shoes AND cute shoes AND dress shoes?
And before I know it, I’m staring at a suitcase wondering how I’m supposed to fit three weeks’ worth of “what ifs” into 50 pounds.
And if you ask Sarah, she will happily tell you that I have NOT mastered the art of packing light. She fusses at me almost every time we travel because I pack too much, my suitcase is too big, and somehow we always end up trying to figure out how to make it fit in the car with everyone else’s luggage. I always insist that I need everything I brought. Sarah usually disagrees.
So yes, some of the advice in this blog comes from experience, and some of it comes from repeatedly learning the hard way that just because I can fit something in my suitcase doesn’t mean I should bring it.
My Latest Packing Challenge: Germany & Poland in November
My upcoming trip to Germany and Poland is a perfect example.
We’re traveling in November, which means chilly temperatures, the possibility of rain, shorter days, and weather that can change pretty quickly. We’ll be flying into Frankfurt, renting a car, exploring Germany as we make our way toward Poznań, and then attending a travel industry forum in Poland. Afterward, we’ll also spend time exploring more of Poland.
So this isn’t a simple “pack some sweaters and go” situation.
I need comfortable clothes for sightseeing and road-tripping. I need warmer clothes for being outside. I need comfortable walking shoes. I need professional outfits for meetings with travel suppliers. I need something appropriate for dinners and events.
And, of course, I still want to look cute in pictures.
Welcome to the international packing struggle.
Lesson #1: Pack for the Destination, Not the Fantasy Version of the Destination
This is something traveling has taught me over and over again.
It’s easy to picture yourself strolling through Europe wearing the perfect outfit and adorable shoes.
Then reality arrives.
Cobblestones.
Rain.
Wind.
Hills.
Ten miles of walking.
Suddenly those cute shoes you absolutely had to bring don’t seem quite as important.
When we traveled through Scotland, practical clothing and shoes mattered. We were constantly outside, exploring castles, walking through towns, visiting the Highlands, and dealing with weather that could change throughout the day.
That experience reinforced one of my biggest packing rules:
Comfort wins.
That doesn’t mean you can’t look nice. It means choosing pieces that can actually handle what you’re going to be doing.
Before packing, look at your itinerary; not just the destination.
Are you walking through cities? Taking trains? Renting a car? Hiking? Going to nice restaurants? Visiting churches? Attending business events?
Your itinerary should determine what goes into your suitcase.
Lesson #2: Layers Are Your Best Friend
If you’re traveling somewhere with changing temperatures, layers are much more useful than packing several bulky outfits.
For cooler destinations, I like to think in terms of:
Base layer + sweater or cardigan + jacket/coat + accessories
That gives you options.
If the afternoon warms up, you can remove a layer. If the temperature drops after sunset, you can add one.
Scarves are especially useful because they take up very little room but can make a huge difference when it’s cold or windy.
For Germany and Poland in November, layering will be essential. Instead of filling my suitcase with giant sweaters, I’ll concentrate on pieces that work together.
And that’s another important trick:
Choose a color palette.
This is not the trip to pack one shirt that only matches one pair of pants.
Pick neutral bottoms and tops that can be mixed and matched. Black, navy, gray, tan, denim, or whatever colors work for you.
If almost everything coordinates, you can create far more outfits with fewer pieces.
Lesson #3: Different Seasons Require Different Strategies
Spring
Spring can be tricky because temperatures can vary dramatically.
Bring layers, a lightweight waterproof jacket, comfortable water-resistant shoes, and a small umbrella. Don’t assume “spring” automatically means warm.
Summer
Lightweight, breathable clothing is your friend, but remember that some churches, religious sites, restaurants, and cultural attractions may have dress requirements.
A lightweight scarf or wrap can be extremely useful.
And don’t underestimate the sun. A hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and refillable water bottle can be just as important as your clothes.
Fall
Fall is another layering season.
Early fall can feel like summer during the day and considerably cooler at night. Later in the season, you’re dealing with coats, rain, and potentially very chilly temperatures.
This is when versatile sweaters, comfortable boots or walking shoes, scarves, and a good jacket become valuable.
Winter
Winter packing is where luggage can get out of control FAST.
Coats, sweaters, boots, and cold-weather accessories take up space.
My biggest tip?
Wear the bulky stuff on the plane.
If I’m bringing boots and sneakers, I’m probably wearing the boots. If I need a heavy coat, I’m carrying or wearing it rather than stuffing it into my suitcase.
Use your luggage space for the items you can’t wear through the airport.
Lesson #4: Country Matters Just as Much as Season
Packing for Europe isn’t the same as packing for the Caribbean, and even within Europe, different destinations and itineraries call for different things.
Research:
- Typical weather during your actual travel dates
- Local customs
- Dress codes for religious or historical sites
- Terrain
- How much walking you’ll be doing
- Whether your hotel has elevators
- Whether laundry facilities are available
- Transportation between destinations
That last part matters more than people realize.
If you’re taking trains through Europe and changing cities every few days, you are the person who has to move that suitcase.
Every staircase suddenly makes that extra pair of shoes seem like a terrible life decision.
Lesson #5: Shoes Can Make or Break Your Trip
If there is one place where I refuse to sacrifice practicality, it’s shoes.
International trips often involve far more walking than people expect.
Those adorable shoes aren’t so adorable when you’re limping back to your hotel.
Bring shoes you’ve already broken in. An international vacation is NOT the time to discover that your brand-new shoes give you blisters after 30 minutes.
For most trips, I try to keep shoes to a minimum:
One great everyday walking shoe, one alternate pair appropriate for the destination, and (only if the itinerary requires it) something dressier.
The key phrase there is if the itinerary requires it.
Lesson #6: Packing Cubes, Compression Cubes & Vacuum Bags Are Worth It
I love anything that keeps my suitcase organized, and when you’re trying to squeeze cold-weather clothes into a suitcase, anything that gives me a little extra room gets my attention.
Regular packing cubes are great for organization. I can keep shirts in one, pants in another, undergarments in another, and so on. They’re especially helpful when you’re moving between several hotels because you don’t have to completely unpack (or destroy your entire suitcase) every time you need one shirt.
Then there are compression packing cubes, which take things a step further. Once they’re packed, an extra zipper compresses everything down and helps reduce the amount of space your clothes take up. I especially like the idea of using these for sweaters, leggings, pajamas, and other bulky items when traveling somewhere cold.
And then we have travel vacuum bags. These can be amazing for bulky clothing like sweaters, coats, and jackets because they remove the excess air and flatten everything down. For travel, I prefer the type that you can roll to push the air out or bags that come with a small portable pump. You don’t want to depend on having access to a full-size vacuum when it’s time to repack at your hotel.
Vacuum bags can also be handy for separating dirty laundry on the way home. Put your worn clothes in a bag, compress them, and keep them separate from anything that’s still clean.
But there is one VERY important thing to remember with both compression cubes and vacuum bags:
Compression saves space. It does NOT save weight.
In fact, these things can almost work too well for someone like me. Suddenly I have all this extra room and start thinking, Look! I can fit three more outfits!
No, Stephanie. That’s not how this is supposed to work.
You can absolutely compress your suitcase into being overweight. Your airline does not care how beautifully organized or impressively flattened your 60-pound suitcase is.
So use compression to make packing more manageable; not as permission to bring even more stuff.
I am mostly saying that last part to myself.
Lesson #7: Leave Room
This may be one of the hardest things for me.
I want to pack for every possible scenario.
But you need room.
Room for souvenirs.
Room for things you purchase along the way.
And honestly, room so that you don’t have to perform a full-body wrestling maneuver with your suitcase every time you change hotels.
If your suitcase requires you to sit on it to close it before you’ve even left home, we have a problem.
Lesson #8: Know Your Airline’s Luggage Rules
This one is especially important for international travel.
Your international flight may have one baggage allowance, while a smaller regional airline within Europe has completely different restrictions.
Pay attention to:
- Checked baggage weight
- Carry-on dimensions
- Carry-on weight limits
- Personal-item dimensions
- Regional or low-cost airline restrictions
Don’t assume that because your suitcase was allowed on your flight from the United States, it will automatically be allowed on every other flight during your trip.
The Things I Never Want in My Checked Bag
There are certain things I want with me, regardless of where I’m going.
My passport and travel documents stay with me.
So do medications, valuables, electronics, chargers, and anything difficult or impossible to replace.
I also recommend packing your carry-on as if your checked luggage might not meet you at your destination. Don’t just pack enough to get through the flight, pack enough essentials to comfortably get you through at least a couple of days. That means a few changes of clothes, undergarments, basic toiletries, medications, chargers, and anything else you would really struggle to be without.
Because luggage sometimes decides to take its own vacation.
We learned this one firsthand on our trip to Scotland. The airline somehow forgot to send Michelle’s suitcase along with our flight. We arrived in Scotland. Her luggage did not.
And this wasn’t a situation where it showed up the next morning. Michelle was without her suitcase for NINE DAYS.
Nine days of an international trip without the clothes and personal items you carefully packed is a very long time. She had to make do with what she had, buy things she needed along the way, and keep waiting for the suitcase to finally catch up with us.
That experience completely reinforced why I tell travelers not to treat their carry-on as just a place for headphones, snacks, and things to keep them entertained on the plane. Think of it as your emergency suitcase.
You obviously can’t fit nine days’ worth of everything into a carry-on when you’re also checking a bag, but you can make sure you have enough to get through the first couple of days without panicking. Choose clothing you can mix and match, include the essentials you can’t easily replace, and keep anything truly important with you.
If your checked bag arrives right along with you, wonderful; you never needed your backup plan. But if it doesn’t, you will be VERY glad you packed that carry-on with a little more thought.
Don’t Forget About Electricity
International travel also means thinking about plugs and voltage.
Different countries use different electrical outlets, so research what you’ll need before leaving.
A universal travel adapter can be incredibly useful if you’re visiting multiple countries.
But remember:
An adapter and a voltage converter are not necessarily the same thing.
Check your electronics before plugging them in; especially things like hair dryers and styling tools.
And I have learned this one the hard way. I have lost several hair dryers while traveling because I didn’t pay enough attention to the voltage difference. There is nothing quite like plugging in your hair dryer in another country only to realize (sometimes very quickly) that it was NOT designed for that electrical system.
After sacrificing more than one hair dryer to international travel, I can confidently say: check the voltage before you plug it in! If your styling tool isn’t dual voltage, you may need an actual voltage converter, not just a plug adapter.
Sometimes the easiest answer is leaving the hair dryer at home and using the hotel’s. Honestly, after my track record, that may be the safest option for me.
One less thing in the suitcase!
My Packing Reality
After traveling internationally, I’ve realized successful packing isn’t about bringing everything you might need.
It’s about bringing things that can do multiple jobs.
Can I wear these pants with three different tops?
Can this sweater work for sightseeing and dinner?
Can I wear these shoes all day without regretting every decision I’ve ever made?
Can I layer this outfit if the temperature drops?
If the answer is yes, it’s probably earning a spot in my suitcase.
If I’m standing there saying, “Well, I might wear this if…”
That’s usually a sign it needs to stay home.
Usually.
I’m still a work in progress.
My Final International Packing Tips
Before you zip that suitcase closed:
- Check the weather again a few days before departure.
- Look at your itinerary and pack for what you’ll actually be doing.
- Build outfits around pieces that mix and match.
- Layer whenever possible.
- Wear your bulkiest items while traveling.
- Limit shoes.
- Keep medications, documents and valuables in your carry-on.
- Bring a change of clothes in your carry-on.
- Check airline baggage restrictions; especially for flights within your destination.
- Research electrical outlets and voltage.
- Leave some room for souvenirs.
- And most importantly, remember that in most destinations, if you forget something, you can probably buy it there.
International packing may always be a little stressful. I don’t think I’ll ever be the person who casually throws five things into a carry-on and says, “I’m good for two weeks.”
That’s just not who I am.
But every trip teaches me something new about what I actually use, what I don’t need, and what I’ll do differently next time.
And now, as I stare at my closet and think about Germany and Poland in November, I’m going to attempt to follow my own advice.
Wish me luck.
– Stephanie Hall
Planning an international vacation of your own? Packing is only one piece of the puzzle. As a travel advisor, I can help you navigate the flights, accommodations, transportation, tours, travel protection, and all those little details that come with traveling abroad, so you can spend less time worrying about logistics and more time getting excited about the adventure.