Ultimate Europe Travel Checklist: Pack Smart for Your Trip

Time To Travel

You finally realized booking that trip to Europe was a good idea. You bought your plane tickets, booked your hotel room, and maybe even bought a new outfit for the occasion. But you still need to pack. No one wants to be the person who forgot their favorite pair of shoes or toothbrush at home while everyone else is ready.

But don't worry! That's what this Europe travel checklist is for. Whether you have traveled to Europe before or this is your first time, check your list. This way, you can enjoy a relaxing vacation.

Luggage: Hear Me Out

Of course, you're not going to forget your luggage (hopefully). But if you are still using your suitcase from eight years ago that you have to drag through the airport, it may be time for an upgrade. Depending on how many European countries you plan to visit, you could be carrying around your luggage a lot.

To save time and frustration, make sure to get a quality suitcase. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just something that will be easy to maneuver through the airport.

Another piece of packing advice for Europe travel checklist is to pack light. Think about your last vacation. How many of the clothes that you packed did you wear?

The odds are not a lot. Remember, you will be carrying this through airports and, depending on your vacation, to other countries. You want it to be light. Learn how to mix and match outfits to save space and get the most out of your suitcase.

Lock It Up, Literally

This doesn't seem like it would need to be on your Europe travel checklist, but trust me, it's necessary. Major metropolitan areas in Europe often have a significant issue with pickpockets. While the situation is not ideal, it's best not to let it be you.

The best course of action is to purchase some TSA-approved locks before your trip and put them on everything: your checked luggage, your carry-on, and that little bag you plan on carrying around.

A thief is going to be less likely to take a bag with locks on it than one without.

Day Bag

You won't want to carry your favorite tote bag or hiking backpack in these beautiful European cities. Remember earlier? We want to prevent pickpockets from targeting you, and besides, carrying that much can be overwhelming after a long day.

Another item on the Europe trip checklist is a quality day bag. Use something to hold your essentials like debit cards, band-aids, hotel keys, and prescription medications if needed.

I recommend getting a bag that stays on your front instead of your back. Grabbing your things when you need them is easier, and you won't have to worry about your items in crowded places, like public transportation or busy tourist spots.

Make sure that baby is RFID-proof, too!

RFID stands for radio frequency identification. If you use contactless payment, have an animal "chipped," or have a passport with this symbol, you are using RFID.

This is important to know because technology is a double-edged sword. RFID has made checking passports shorter and paying faster, but there are also cons. Now thieves no longer have to take your wallet to take your money. All it takes is getting close and reading your unprotected card.

With RFID-proof technology, the paranoia of your card being hacked goes away. That way you don't have to stress on vacation and you know your bank account is safe.

Passport Holder

Even though we shouldn’t, a passport is easy to misplace. According to the U.S. State Department, more than 300,000 American passports are lost or stolen every year. Let's not jinx it and make it you.

With technology and the magic of smartphones, you can carry your passport on your phone using apps like passport.app or by taking a picture. But you still need your physical passport to get into another country, and it's better to have easy access and know exactly where it is.

Another plus of having a passport holder is that many of them have AirTag holders. No one plans to lose their passport before or after their trip, but accidents happen. An AirTag in your passport case can alert you if you left your passport at the hotel, if it fell out of your bag, or if someone stole it. If someone steals it, you need to report it right away.

Because of the RFID in passports, they also make passport holders with RFID-blocking material or sleeves to put over passports. The odds of your information being skimmed from your passport are very slim. Just make sure not to leave your passport open in public.

But if it puts your mind at ease to know your passport is RFID protected, I would buy an RFID wallet that holds a passport. This way, you are able to keep track of your cards and your passport and know they are secure.

I recommend adding a passport holder with a wristband or neck strap to your travel to Europe checklist for 2024.

Adapter

A key thing to do before your Europe trip is to get an adapter. Depending on where you are coming from, the outlets for your electronics may not work.

To avoid buying new items, use an adapter. You can plug your item into the adapter, then plug the adapter into the wall. Before buying an adapter, though, make sure it is the right one for the country you will visit. Different countries have different outlets, so one adapter will not be a one-size-fits-all solution.

If you plan to bring high-voltage items, add a converter to your travel checklist. A converter handles tasks an adapter cannot do, such as changing the voltage. If you bring your favorite blow dryer, flat iron, or curling iron, you will most likely need a converter.

For example, blow dryers in America run on a different wattage than those in Europe. Without a converter, you could damage your blow dryer—and you might also have a bad hair day. Some people choose to leave these items at home so they don't have to get a converter or buy appliances in the country.

Personally, I can't survive without my blow dryer. Although I do not bring my everyday blow dryer when I travel, I still need one.

My hair is too thick and takes hours to air dry. I recommend getting travel-sized appliances. Many of them are easy to pack and have dual wattage, so you do not need to worry about a converter.

First Aid Kit

Someone always ends up with at least a scrape on vacation. So one of the first things to do before traveling to Europe is to pack a first aid kit.

There are a couple of ways to do this.

You can buy a travel first-aid kit on Amazon or at Walmart. But you can also make your own. I received mine as a gift but added extra items to it. Some essentials every first aid kit needs include:

• Band-aids

• Disinfectant

• Hand sanitizer

• Gauze tape

• Topical relief

• Ibuprofen

Those are the bare essentials needed in case of an emergency. If you are traveling, it is important to have some medications with you. Bring anti-diarrhea medicine, melatonin, and anti-nausea medicine. You never know when you may need it.

Having an extra pair of contacts and glasses is also essential.

I have horrible eyesight. If I were to lose my contacts or glasses, it would be a nightmare. Having an extra pair on hand is the best way to solve a problem before it starts. Depending on where you are, if you do have issues with your contacts or glasses, it could cause a hole in your pocket.

It's also important to make sure you pack whatever medication you regularly take. Even if you only take them when needed.

In different countries, medications could cost more, not be sold, and some can not be distributed without a prescription. You need to be prepared to take your medication with you.

This could mean getting a doctor's note or getting a larger prescription. But the worst case scenario would be needing something ASAP and not being able to get it.

Tide Pen

It seems a bit silly, but accidents happen. You might spill a bit of dinner on your shirt, or some dirt might make its way onto the bottom of your jeans. Depending on where you're staying, it might be a long wait for the washer. And let’s be realistic: is having one shirt with a small stain worth using up a washer?

Before you start your European travel, grab a Tide pen or any other stain remover wipe/marker.

eSIM Card

If you plan on FaceTiming your friend while visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa, you will need an eSIM card. But what is it?

An eSIM card is an electronic SIM card. Traditionally, when people travel abroad, they would buy more data or get a physical SIM card to put into their phones, allowing them to get international service. Now, eSIMs offer those same services.

Before you race to the app store and buy a plan, know that there are free apps that allow you to talk to your family members across the pond for free. Apps like WhatsApp and Skype allow people to message and FaceTime for free. Many social media apps like Facebook and Instagram now also have messaging and FaceTime features.

Travel Insurance

I will always advocate for getting travel insurance. It's better to be safe than sorry.

You never know when an emergency will happen, whether it's medical, political, family-related, etc. There have been multiple instances in the past four years where it would have helped travelers and their families if they had insurance.

The world is unpredictable. Hopefully, you will not need it, but it’s better to have it than not to.

Portable Charger

In today's world, you need your phone, especially if you're in a foreign country. That's why it's important to have a portable charger on hand (and charged)! I recommend getting one that can be wireless just in case your charger decides to be a bit funny or go missing.

Go Forth and Use Your Europe Travel Checklist!

Using this Europe travel checklist, packing should be a breeze. Another piece of advice: make sure you are packing for the season you are traveling.

Check the weather and see how you should dress so you can plan your outfits accordingly. You don't want to bring sneakers when you may need snow boots instead. Or pack your winter coat when you could be wearing your favorite shorts.