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These Europe Packing Mistakes Will RUIN Your Trip

Away Together w/ Nik and Allie

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Packing for Europe? These are the most common packing mistakes travelers make and tips on how to avoid them. Download Our Free Packing Checklist: https://awaytogether.com/europepackin...

If you're struggling with ideas on how to pack for Europe, this is for you! Discover what bag not to bring, what not to wear (with advice on how to avoid some embarrassing tourist mistakes), what not to buy, and what not to forget. Get valuable tips on choosing the right bag for your European adventure, whether it's a backpack or a roller bag, and find out about the best travel backpack options on the market.

Big thanks to Holafly for sponsoring this video. Get 5% OFF Your Holafly E-Sim here: https://bit.ly/holaflydiscount

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Best Lightweight Luggage for Europe: I Tested The Lightest Carry On Luggage in ...

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⏰ Timecodes ⏰
0:00 Don't Make These Europe Packing Mistakes
1:03 Mistake #1: The Most Common Europe Packing Mistake
2:07 Clothing Tips for Europe
3:33 Best Shoes for Europe Travel
4:21 Always Opt for Things with THIS feature
5:32 Travel Toiletry Rules
5:45 Mistake #2: Don’t Forget
6:27 Travel Adapter for Europe
7:10 How to Charge Things in Europe
7:34 Staying Connected Abroad with Holafly
8:41 Mistake #3: Don’t Bring This
11:03 You SHOULD Bring These
11:35 Mistake #4: The BIG One
12:23 Why to Pack Carry On Only to Europe
13:11 Carry On Rules and Regulations
14:50 The Best Lightweight Carry On for Europe

20 Comments

@awaytogether Creator 2 years ago Pinned

Get your free Europe Packing List Here: https://awaytogether.com/europepackinglist/

@donrichards6881 2 years ago (edited)

I haven’t read all comments so this might have already been added, but, we use to carry photocopies of our passports, drivers licenses, credit cards until someone told me to photograph everything and send it to myself in an email. That way if you lose everything you own you can still access all your information on any computer or phone anywhere in the world.

@kaylakinker7823 1 month ago

I wish my husband would watch this. We are headed to Europe (Munich, Lucerne, Sicily, Rome) and I perfectly planned every inch of our carry on and personal items and now he wants to check a big bag.

@Chris_Bikes 2 years ago

We never bring more than a weeks worth of clothes. Even in the winter we can get by with a carryon bag and a backpack. Out tip is to find an airbnb with a washer or if at a hotel scope out a nearby laundry. Even in London we found a cute laundry and it wasn’t that pricey. The lady gave us an ikea bag to carry our stuff back to the hotel. When you do this you can be very minimal. We don’t mind running a washing machine overnight or while we are gone and hang things to dry. We feel like a local

@shelaghjackson9577 2 years ago

My rule is if I’m not going to use something three times or more , it stays home.
I like to stay in apartments so I can do laundry every few days, then I can take less.
Layers, layers, layers!

@jordibarguno 2 years ago

You also forgot to mention that we in Europe recently got farmacies, supermarkets, and stores. We even have Amazon pretty much everywhere, so you can buy toothpaste, deodorant, plasters/ bandages, etc. Jajajajajajaja
Rule 1 Dont overthink it. You are not going to the Congo.

@gazrob2166 2 years ago (edited)

I take 7 shirts, 7 underwear, 7 pairs of socks one pair of shoes and two pairs of trousers for a two week trip. No toiletries. I use the laundry one week in.

@edwinc7885 2 years ago

I usually only take one pair of shoes. A pair of Clarks leather sneakers. Super comfortable for the 15,000-20,000 steps on a typical day and smart enough for a fancy restaurant in the evening.

@lindatisue733 2 years ago

12:45 I am tour guide, over packing is the #1 mistake travelers make. I travel for a month at a time. I use ONE carry on. Nobody cares if they see you in the same clothes two days in a row. Ladies, two pairs of shoes are adequate, even if you are going from snow to tropical. I do exactly that once a year. You do not need heels One caveat, if you are going to do hikes, both places, you might need 3 pairs.

@susanshuffield8628 2 years ago

I traveled with wheeled carry-on only to Vienna with no plans to go anywhere but in the city (and nearby cities via rail). When I exited the train station and started walking to my hotel, my luggage broke on the first street I crossed. I hadn't even arrived at my hotel, and I had to carry my wheeled luggage. Never again! Backpack only, baby! Also, you did not touch on it in this video, but when we landed in Prague, they had lost our checked carseat. And we had scheduled travel to another town that same day. Now, we always carry our carsears/boosters on and gate check them! Love the vids! Please keep them coming!

@XY_Dude 2 months ago

I've fallen in love with vacuum bags. I carry lots in small volumes.

@richarddavidson4329 2 years ago

Another reason not to check a bag is that you lose all flexibility if your flight is delayed or cancelled. By not checking a bag it is often much easier to get re-booked on alternate flights. Thanks for the great videos!

@lauraezell7723 2 years ago (edited)

After traveling from the US to Europe yearly since 2012 I've gotten my packing down to a science. Biggest piece of advice is to agree with Nik--pack in the smallest bag/suitcase you possibly can. I do hike and need trekking poles and because I don't want to depend on the whims of a particular TSA agent as to whether these are allowed on board I check my bag. I have the luxury of being able to take a direct flight to my destination which lessens the chance of misplaced baggage. My suitcase is 22", and that has done just fine for trips from 2 weeks to one month. Packed it weighs in at 28-30lb which is manageable for me on stairs, cobblestones, and all the public transportation systems that I use. I pack a lightweight foldable duffel which lives in the bottom of my suitcase until the last evening of my trip. That's used for anything extra (such as Swiss chocolate :)) that I might bring home to the family. The duffel becomes my carryon, and my lightweight backpack my personal item on the flight back. Next favorite tips to repeat are layers to cover variable temperatures and a good raincoat/windbreaker & waterproof shoes are worth the cost. (And I wash clothes in the hotel sink, always planning a two night stay mid trip to cover drying time.)

@ronin7997 2 years ago

Frites. I'll be taking a 2 and a half week vacation to Europe this September and your videos have been extremely helpful! I appreciate all the useful advice.

@travelvideos 2 years ago

You can bring one power extension outlet, where you can plug in your camera, chargers, laptop. I am European but all electronics in my house are running on type A plug (Japan/US). So when I go somewhere out I take A type plug and outlet. If you don't need any more clothes or shoes after traveling, consider it donating to those clothing boxes you see in cities. They will be put into good use. Our salaries are like 40%-300% lower than in US. Every bit helps when economy is in the toilet.

@NatorDM 2 years ago

No one needs the big checked bag. However, most people feel obligated to especially when it comes with the ticket. I went to Africa a few years ago for a few weeks, and my entire family brought 2 big bags each thankfully they didn't didn't leave one behind, but I only brought my camera backpack and a small carry on on wheels bag, and mother of God I will never go back, seeing them struggle to get to their rooms, get the bags onto the 4x4 on the way to the hotel, not to mention all the crap they never used was literally just insane!

@peggywoods4327 2 years ago

I bring a checked bag on my annual trip to NL & UK because I'm going to a couple festivals and that bag has all my camping gear. I used to fit it all in a larger backpack, but now that I'm in my 60s I decided I didn't want to schlep that 35lbs on my back anymore (in addition to my carry-on pack on my front). Last year I treated myself to a rolling bag, and as a result a little bigger tent. I was able to maneuver the bag without too much trouble and kept it at around 40 pounds. I've been tweaking my gear some for this year to bring the weight down a bit, plus leaving some things behind. I also check the weather frequently before I go and adjust my packing accordingly. I've transitioned to solid toiletries, so the space dedicated to that is minimal. I pack even less clothing and bring my Scrubba bag and a clothes line and laundry sheets. For jacket options, I bring my trusty Loki Gear. Most of their stuff folds into itself (and has carrying straps) and the sleeves have built-in mittens and the hoods have a face mask. I also have a Honcho Poncho that doubles as a duvet (so I don't need a sleeping bag) or a pillow (it packs into its pocket also). I remember my first trip and packing way too much! I had no room for souvenirs. This year I'm going to try one of those neck pillows that you stuff with clothing...

@TruthinLove 2 years ago

Another great video. I have spent the last year studying all your videos for a three-month trip to Europe with just a carry-on Monos, a backpack, and Allie's Free People sling. I can't wait! I would never, ever have considered this before finding your channel.

@kessas.489 2 years ago

I always take a microfibre towel! You don't know if you destination has enough towels or how often they change them! And I'm traveling with solid products, no liquids anymore!