When you think about packing for trips there are several obvious things that come to mind. You need to pack clothes and toiletries and your passport of course, but there are some things you probably don’t think about. Over the last decade I have discovered a handful of items that have made it to my list of packing must haves, especially when it comes to packing for Europe.
Miniature rolls of toilet paper
Okay I know this one sounds weird! Charmin used to make these little packs that fit inside your purse or backpack and they really are helpful. (It doesn’t look like Amazon has the Charmin brand of these, but they do sell an off-brand version that I’m sure will do the job just fine!) Bathrooms in Italy can be vastly different than what we’re used to in the U.S. Some toilets do not have a seat like the toilets we have grown accustomed to. This requires women to straddle the toilet to avoid falling in.
Some bathrooms I encountered had toilet paper but there were also trash bins in the corner that instructed you to throw the toilet paper into the bin instead of the toilet as the pipes are not able to handle a lot of paper waste. There were a few bathrooms I encountered where toilet paper was missing all together. Some women are okay with this……but I am not among them.
I highly, highly prefer to have toilet paper at my disposal. In these instances, I would pull out my handy dandy Charmin rolls and use what I needed and then throw it into the bin located in the bathroom stall just to avoid any flushing issues. If you are like me, these rolls are a lifesaver!
Shower Loofah
This is one thing I realized I needed when we visited Ireland. I have travel shower loofahs that I usually take with me simply because I love to use shower gel instead of traditional soap. But when I was packing for a two-week trip to Ireland, I was trying to cut out as much “unnecessary” stuff as possible. Which led me to determine that my shower loofah was part of the “unnecessary” stuff. I have since realized I was wrong.
I had thought that I would just use the washcloths that the hotels provided in lieu of bringing the loofah. Out of all of our hotels and B&B accommodations, only 3 had washcloths in the bathroom. Hanging on the towel bars in the bathroom were hand towels and bath towels. We tried to substitute the hand towels for washcloths and it’s definitely an option even if the hand towels are oversized. But I was still really missing my loofah. I don’t know if there are other countries similar to this who do not offer washcloths, but if you like using shower gel with your loofah, why take the chance? Just pack it!
Paper Map or Paper Directions
I know, I know….everything is digital now. We have GPS devices and phones with Google Maps and probably a million other digital options for directions. But hear me out. If you’re planning on being a little adventurous, and by adventurous, I mean at least leaving the major cities, and take a road trip out into nature, your GPS or Google Maps will probably stop working. Especially if you’re in the mountains. There are usually no cell towers in the National Parks and with the sheer size of most National Parks, there may not be a cell signal for many miles.
This was the case in Ireland. Almost every visit to Ireland includes a tour around the Ring of Kerry, but there are certain parts of it where there is absolutely no cell signal. If you’re relying on having a cell signal to tell you where to go, you may be out of luck. Now, you could wing it and just go exploring and go where the road takes you which is a very fine option…..but should you need to find a gas station or a bathroom or perhaps both, you will need an alternate option for directions. That’s where paper is your best friend!
Buy a foldable road map for the area you’re traveling to or use Google Maps or MapQuest to plan your route and print out the actual directions. You’ll thank me later! And if you’re still worried about being eco-friendly, you can recycle the paper once you no longer need it.
Sunscreen
When I was younger, I visited France during the month of June and found that it was pretty chilly compared to the temperatures I was used to during the summer months. I mostly walked around in jeans and either a long-sleeved shirt or sweater. When I planned to visit Italy during the beginning of June, I thought I would probably experience the same type of climate. I even checked the weather before I packed. It looked like it was going to be somewhere in the 70’s (Fahrenheit) so I packed a short-sleeved shirt and pants.
On the day we arrived in Rome, there was an unexpected heat wave! It was around 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius)! In no way did it stop us from visiting all the sites we wanted to see, but at the end of the day, when I looked in the mirror, I was so sunburned. I have extremely fair skin and I do burn fairly easy, but I completely underestimated the strength of the sun that day. Even with being inside the Vatican during the hottest part of the day, I was still very red.
It was the kind of burn that demanded aloe vera immediately. And while I was able to locate some aloe vera gel to soothe my poor skin, I should have just been smarter and packed some sunscreen instead. You can find travel size sunscreen in liquid, stick, and spray varieties. Moral of the story is never underestimate the sun!
Parking Emblems or Toll Vignettes
While researching our trip to Scotland, I found that there were some areas that required a parking disc to be displayed in your vehicle in order to park in the parking lots. Many lots had time restrictions on them such as a 2-hour time limit. The disc would show what time you arrived at the lot and would therefore indicate what time you should be leaving the lot. Some car rental agencies offered the parking discs at the individual rental locations.
Another option was to purchase one from certain stores in the area. We ended up finding a lot that did not require one, but it’s good knowledge to have in case you run into a similar situation. In Switzerland, you are required to have a sticker similar to a toll tag in order to use certain highways. It’s called a vignette. You must have it displayed before entering into Switzerland if traveling from another country.
There is an option to purchase one online before you travel which allows you to have the sticker from day one (https://www.myswissalps.com/motorwayvignette). Buying online saves you the worry about where you have to go to get one or whether your rental already includes one.
These are just two examples. All countries are different so I highly recommend researching the driving laws for the country you’re visiting to make sure you have everything you need.
Reusable Tote Bag
There are several countries in Europe and around the world for that matter that have banned plastic bags. Several more cities individually have instituted a charge for plastic bags. While major tourist attractions will probably offer you a paper carrier bag with a handle with your souvenir purchase, if you visit local places such as grocery stores, pharmacies, or convenience stores, you may need to bring your own bag or pay for a plastic one if you need it.
You can research the local areas you are visiting or just bring a reusable bag with you on your travels. They make them so small and lightweight now that you could probably even fit one in your pocket.
Refillable Water Bottle
Drinking water can vary greatly from place to place. Here in the US, there are some areas that have horrible tasting tap water and there are some places that have fantastic drinking water. In Europe, there are many places that have public fountains. In Pompeii, you can fill your water bottles directly from the fountain and the water is fantastic! And best of all it’s free.
A lot of countries in Europe do not offer free water in restaurants like they do in the U.S. There is usually a charge for the water. Many stores will sell bottles of water but the price per bottle may not be cheap. You can bring a refillable bottle and fill up with free water. Just make sure to check for signs by the fountains. If they say non-potable water it is NOT safe to drink! And if you’re planning on doing any hiking in Europe, these bottles are a must!
Money Pouch
A money pouch is a small pouch you wrap around your waist and hide underneath your shirt. I highly recommend purchasing one of these if you don’t already own one. There are some places such as in Italy, Spain and France where pickpocketing is more prominent. Even though crime has no zip code or so they say, highly populated tourist areas are known to have a higher rate of theft. Having your money, credit cards and ID safely tucked under your shirt is a much safer option.
Local Currency
While you can of course wait until you get to the airport at your destination to exchange your currency, you will not always get the best exchange rate. Currency bureaus at the airport are more expensive than at local bureaus. But oftentimes, you may need money before you get to your hotel. You may need it for taxis, bus fare, train tickets, or for tips for porters. Because of this, I highly recommend bringing a little bit of currency with you. Just a little to hold you over until you can exchange more. Many places in Europe take credit cards which means you may not need to exchange much but you will need some currency just in case.
Converter Kit
All outlets are not created equal! U.S. outlets are different from UK outlets which are also different from other European outlets. The U.S. outlets run on 110W and European outlets run on 220W. You can purchase a converter kit that has a few different attachments and you will be set for any type of outlet you encounter. Word of warning though, there are some things in which a converter does not exactly “convert” the power correctly.
Flat irons are one of them. Even with a converter, I have destroyed one flat iron and nearly killed another one. The amount of power just doesn’t change correctly. On my last trip, I ended up purchasing a $25 flat iron at a local store and used it for the entire trip. And now I have one that I know will work any time we visit Europe.
And there you have it! Make sure to add these items to your next packing list for Europe and make your trip a little easier.
