The Essential Europe Travel Packing List - What to Prepare Before Packing

Europe is well-known as a popular tourist destination with several well-known destinations. When you arrive, you will be greeted by a plethora of breathtaking landscapes, as well as several huge architectural works that bore the mark of time.

Whether it's your first trip to Europe or your tenth, you'll constantly wonder, "What do I need to prepare for the trip?" Thorough preparation can help you feel less shocked while visiting Europe for the first time. The following article will assist you in feeling better prepared for your thrilling voyage of discovery by providing tips on how to prepare your luggage for the trip. Hopefully, it will assist you in getting the most out of your future trip to visit lovely European nations.

Keep the following tips in mind when packing your baggage to ensure that you are neither short nor overweight for the trip: 

• Consider the season of your vacation. This will assist you in determining what you should prepare for each location and time.
• Take the time to research the destination you will visit. It is preferable to organize your itinerary in advance. Because you'll most likely pack different baggage for each European visit.
• Consider what you can buy in Europe rather than packing it in your luggage and bringing it with you. This will help you save up some space in your suitcase and make place for other important goods.
• Prepare the checklist and luggage about 1 week before the trip. You don't want to be perplexed when you realize you've forgotten something for your trip. So plan ahead of time and you'll have enough time to pick up the items you'll need.

The Ultimate Travel Packing Checklist for Your Trip to Europe

Identification

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This is an indispensable item that must accompany you everywhere you go or whatever you do. These personal items must be brought with you whether you travel, work, or go out. You can't go anywhere without it, whether you're at home or abroad.

Identity documents include:

• Passport and personal documents such as ID card, visa, etc.
• If you plan on riding motorcycles or cars throughout your vacation, you'll need an international driving license.
• If you're going alone, keep a little notepad to jot down important details like the embassy's phone number. When anything goes wrong and you need someone to contact and support you, have the phone numbers of family and close friends handy.

Important documents

A European tourist visa is the first and most important requirement for visiting Europe. During peak tourist seasons, a large number of persons will apply for a European tourist visa. As a result, if you wish to visit some of Europe's most attractive nations, you need to plan ahead of time for processes and visas. Instead of putting in the effort to apply for a tourist visa in each European nation, you could complete the Schengen visa requirements.

When visiting Europe, travel insurance is essential. you are sick and need to go to the hospital, the insurance company will support, help pay the costs for you. Not only that, but travel insurance also covers lost luggage, hotel rooms, and airline tickets if you have to cancel your trip. Purchasing travel insurance for Europe is an investment in your peace of mind, and you should do it.

Medications

The backup medication is one of the most important items to remember when travelling. You should bring some medications with you on your vacation to avoid any potential health issues. When you have health issues, it will be of more assistance to you. When packing your luggage, put these medications in a location that is easily accessible. This will make it more convenient to use when necessary.

When travelling, remember to pack the following medications:

• Painkiller
• Digestive medicine
• Motion sickness pills
• Medicines for the treatment of personal illnesses

You should carry some cotton bandages, red medication/hydrogen peroxide, bandages, etc. for medical first aid in case of an unforeseen situation.

To avoid getting them mixed up, place the above drugs and first aid equipment in a bag or container with a note on the type of medicine and how to use it.

Toiletries

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Personal hygiene items are definitely one of the necessary things when you travel. Brushes, toothpaste, face towels, combs, shampoos, shower gels, cosmetics, or men's shavers are only a few examples. It's worth noting that you should bring compact sizes with you for ease of movement and travel.

Note: If you plan to travel by plane, you should consider bringing liquids for hand luggage or not. You should know about the airline's baggage regulations. Any liquid, aerosol, gel, cream, or paste that causes an alert during screening will necessitate further testing. Check out the TSA's liquid regulations if you don't want to be stopped at customs just because you bring over the limit of liquid.

Electronic Items

The phone charger and camera are necessary equipment for the journey since they keep the phone and camera operational. However, many people frequently neglect to bring these essentials.

The power plug is a must-have accessory because There are different types of electrical outlets and all European countries do not share the same type of electrical outlet but different types. As a result, you must purchase the sort of spokes used for travel or get a universal power plug adapter . When you arrive, seek a sim card with a 4G package that you may use for 7 to 30 days, depending on your journey period. Do not utilize the national network and travel overseas since the costs will be too expensive.

In conclusion, check out The Packing List You Need Before any Trip. Because not only travelling to Europe, you also need to consult this list before going to any destination.

A Step-by-Step Packing Guide - Preparation Before Traveling to Europe

Choosing A Travel Bag For The Trip

Passengers must verify the weight allowance for both hand luggage and checked baggage. The size of your luggage is determined by the airline you pick, since you may be required to remove some things if you are overcharged. This will be quite inconvenient and time-consuming. As a result, make sure your backpack is light and spacious enough to contain all the necessary items as you wish.

When flying to Europe, the maximum amount of luggage allowed is generally around 30 kilos. As a result, you should select a suitcase with four wheels and a handle design. During travel, store necessary materials in a compact bag, ideally a folding backpack. Including a tiny bag will allow you to safely keep critical personal belongings such as passports, money, phones, and other small stuff.

When flying with checked luggage, bring a fabric suitcase with wheels to avoid being tossed or bumped and suffering luggage breakage. Simultaneously, this makes it easier for you to move. Hand baggage should only contain required and crucial stuff. This will assist you in avoiding the loss of your stuff.

One thing to bear in mind while flying to Europe is what products are not permitted on the plane. Gases, explosives, oxidizing agents, radioactive compounds, and other chemicals fall within this category. Furthermore, travellers must closely adhere to these laws.

Money, passports, and other valuables should not be left in checked baggage since they might be lost or misplaced. Searching will also take a long time for other passengers and customs officials. Leaving these documents in your carry-on luggage is therefore the most logical option. Another option is putting these essentials in a small bum bag to keep them close at hand when you need them. 

Check out CabinZero if you're still unsure about what sort of backpack to choose for your vacation!

Listing Items For Your Travel Essentials

Make sure you write down the checklist like we just listed. Put the checklist where you can see it or remember it the most. There are even more extensive packing checklist versions accessible online for specific places or sorts of travel, and such packing checklists would contain the tip and destination insights as well.

Also, be aware of items that are prohibited to bring to Europe. Make sure your luggage is neither over nor under nor in violation of the baggage laws of your travel destination.

Before packing your clothes, check the weather forecast

Once you've made a list of your travel essentials, it's time to pack them into your suitcase. Before heading out, you should investigate the weather by visiting websites that specialize in weather forecasts in order to dress appropriately for the weather. To prevent the cold in Europe during the winter, carry a heavy jacket and plenty of tight-fitting thermal elastic clothing. If it rains, don't forget to carry a little foldable umbrella.

Furthermore, the cost of washing in European hotels is rather expensive. As a result, to save money on laundry, carry extra clothing for the entire vacation. However, don't pack too much because the weather is dry and clean here. Because July in Europe may be somewhat windy, you should carry a light jacket.

• Spring: Spring typically lasts from February through April, with temperatures ranging from 6 to 20 degrees Celsius on average. The weather is normally very chilly at this time of year, making it ideal for visiting popular tourist spots.
• Summer: The outside temperature is around 25-34 degrees Celsius, therefore you should bring some extra summer-appropriate clothing.
• Autumn: Autumn in Europe will take place from August through October. The weather in Europe during this season is frequently frigid, making it ideal for travel.
• Winter: Winter in Europe lasts from November to January. At this time of year, the temperature is fairly low; in some locations, it is still zero degrees.

Pack Your Bag Carefully

Because not every hotel can provide all the room features you need, you might want to bring personal products in addition to personal hygiene goods such as shampoo, shower gel, razor, lotion, brush, toothpaste, comb, hair band, tissue, etc. You should take a tiny knife or a multi-tool with you. A tiny medical bag or box with all of the medications you are used to taking must also be packed. Modern medications are only available with a doctor's prescription in European countries.

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Prepare a multi-purpose adapter that can convert from two-pin to three-prong round in your luggage. 220V is the most frequent voltage used in European nations. In Europe, sockets are made up of two spherical pins. Bring a universal intermediate outlet with you. Because it may be employed in a variety of scenarios. If you wish to make a phone call from your hotel room, you must contact the front desk ahead of time and deposit a sum to access the phone line and other hotel facilities.

Shopping malls in Europe now allow card payments; you may carry and use standard payment cards such as Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Furthermore, you should carry along Euros for minor payments because Euros are the most commonly used currency in Europe.

Prepare Your Personal Item Carry-On Bag

Your travel toiletries should be packed in a separate bag and kept separate to prevent being mixed in with other goods and to be easily accessible in case you need them. Replace liquid toiletries with solid ones as much as possible to decrease weight and avoid leaks.

When you've gathered everything you'll need for your toiletry bags, examine whether anything is unnecessary in order to minimise room. Make a list of things you need to buy before you arrive so you don't forget anything.

The Final Step Before Sealing The Suitcase

Each person will have a different way of arranging luggage, but remember that it must be arranged so that it is most visible and easiest to retrieve. Avoid the case that you leave things too cluttered and you will have trouble trying to remember where you left them.

You should put toiletry items, liquids in a small bag or small bottles. Avoid the case that those liquids will leak out during transportation.

Photo by Universal Eye on Unsplash

Prepare Personal Items In The Carry-On Bag

Items such as passports, money, medicine or other essentials should be put in a small bag and always carried with you. Do not put them in the suitcase and you will have a hard time getting them when you need them.

Important Things to Note When Travelling to Europe

Immigration Matters

You must maintain all immigration documents and are not permitted to discard them. Passengers using double declarations must remember to leave the declarations behind in order to complete exit and admission procedures. When entering the country, passengers must fill out a customs declaration and maintain it if they need to purchase tax-free things. If you want to go to Europe on a budget, this is must-know advice.

Security

Europe is not completely secure. Never stand in a crowd, use caution when taking public transportation, and never go out late at night alone. Guests who are going alone should tell the tour leader if you’re going on a tour.

Never film or photograph locals (particularly immigrants and non-natives) without first obtaining their permission. 

Always keep a hotel card and a program with the times of the group's activities on hand.

Transport

Owing to the density of tourists, you may have to walk for a long period in some places due to car prohibition policies. As a result, investing in a nice pair of shoes is something you should do to ensure a pleasant ride. Taxis in Europe are incredibly costly - a 10-minute ride costs around 15-20 EUR.

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Travelling by bus or metro is a very convenient option for you. However, it is recommended that you master the timetable and completely adhere to the automobile laws, such as avoiding creating noise or smoking.

Having A Meal In a Restaurant

If you're going out to dine, keep the norms and customs in mind. Some restaurants allow you to bring your own beverages in, but they charge a lot of money for it. The restaurant's service is unique in that fresh dishes are only brought out once all of the old ones have been consumed.

If you ask for a few pennies back in Germany, it's regarded as a sign that you're unhappy with the meal. Furthermore, you should not squander food that has been left over as this may result in a fine.

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Don't Buy Tickets Too Late

In Europe, you must prepare ahead of time where you will travel and purchase your tickets. If you want to visit museums or major tourist destinations, for example, you should buy tickets through official websites.

At the same time during your visit, you may discover more about the circumstances. Purchasing tickets at the last minute before visiting a popular attraction in Paris or Rome can result in enormous lineups, and you may not even be able to enter when it is open.

Experience Outdoor Parties

Europeans love to eat outdoors, in a peaceful setting. Therefore, this is an amazing experience that you definitely shouldn't miss out on.

Bring a picnic mat, stock up on food and beverages at the supermarket, and spend time with friends and family in the cool squares or by the river. This is a wonderful way to be environmentally conscious while still saving money.

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Travelling Europe in Covid-19 Safety

Due to the stressful situation of the Covid-19 epidemic, European governments have tightened their restrictions on travel and immigration. However, several nations have reopened their tourism industries, and you can travel to Europe at this moment if you acknowledge the immigration rules during the COVID pandemic.

You must provide a digital EU Covid certificate or a similar vaccination certificate in German/English/French/Italian or Spanish Dental in digital or paper form to gain access. The following information should always be included on the certificate:

• Personal data of the vaccinated person (at least full name, first name and date of birth)
• Vaccination date, number of vaccinations,
• The name of the vaccine,
• Name of the disease that has been vaccinated
• Name and address of person/organization responsible for administering immunization 
• Certification in paper or in electronic form with an electronic signature or electronic seal of the person responsible for vaccination. If such information cannot be provided for administrative reasons, the person/organization in charge of administering the vaccination should clarify the certification in an appropriate manner, for example by using a national seal or emblem.

For people who have recovered from Covid-19, only one dose of the vaccine may be needed. In order to prove fully immunised, a recovered person must have additional proof that they have been infected with Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 prior to vaccination. A positive PCR test result done at least 28 days and up to six months prior to the disease's onset is necessary to establish a history of the condition. The certificate of recovery must be in digital or print format and in German/English/French/Italian or Spanish.

Above are a few notes about Packing Checklist For Europe Travel that CabinZero has just shared with you for your trip to Europe. Hopefully, this useful Europe travelling packing list will help you get the best experience in your journey to discover European countries. And during the time when the Covid-19 epidemic is still complicated, don't forget to bring with you items such as hand sanitiser, masks, and body temperature monitors when you travel!

Vy Nguyen