HarrimanTravelBooks.com                                                                                                                   2008 edition
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The key is to pack light and keep it basic; extra weight will wear you down and slow your pace. As you’re packing, think about how long you’ll be gone for and then ask yourself do you really need items X, Y and Z and do you really wanna lug ’em around from country to country, city to city. Ultimately, you want about one-third of your bag to be empty to accommodate souvenirs or other miscellaneous items accrued while abroad.

Note: Anything you absolutely must have upon landing (e.g. prescription drugs, toiletries, extra pair of undies/ socks) pack into your carry-on bag -- not your checked luggage.

The following is a suggested packing list. For a printable version, click here.

Bring...

 One pair of jeans

 One pair of lightweight cotton pants

 4-5 shirts (or, another option, forget the cotton pants and pack only 2-3 shirts. While abroad buy a few shirts and a pair of cargo-style pants to add a touch of Euro pizzazz to your wardrobe. What’s more, these articles make for a nice remembrance of your trip. In Germany and Austria, “H&M” fashion stores offer good value. Each city typically has at least one outlet that is located in the pedestrian shopping zone in the Old Town).

 One pair of shorts; perfect for hikes, hot days, to lounge around in, and for guys it can double as a swimsuit.

 6-7 pairs of underwear, socks (How many times do you want to wash clothes per week? We figure once.) Note: Bring a large-sized (preferably sealable) plastic bag to store your dirty clothes in.

 Comfortable shoes (Make sure they are absolutely worn in before you leave. If they’re new, and suddenly you find yourself walking across European towns/cities from site to site, your feet will ache with pain!)

 Sandals/flip flops (Avoid going barefoot on hotel floors and in showers.)

 Sunglasses

 Light, water-resistant jacket, or heavier if wintertime

 Hand gloves and scarf (if going in winter)

 Towel: Travelers spending every night in a hotel won’t need to bring a towel. However, travelers spending the night in a pension, B&B (Zimmer) or a hostel should bring either a travel towel (compact, absorbent space-age fabric that dries ultra fast) or an old towel that can be left behind to allow for the extra space needed for souvenirs and things acquired along the way.

 Liquid soap: Rather than a bar of soap, we prefer to travel with a handy squeeze bottle of liquid soap (like Palmolive. Consider putting it in a Ziplock-type bag to separate from the rest of your gear).

 Toiletries: toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss, deodorant, razor, liquid soap, tampons, etc. (Consider using a Ziplock-type bag to separate these items from the rest of your gear.)

 Shampoo/conditioner, small travel-size (Use a Ziplock-type bag to separate the squeeze bottles from the rest of your gear.)

 Self-compiled survival kit containing aspirin, Band-Aids, ChapStick, ear plugs, a few packets of tissues, small travel-size container of sunscreen and/or moisturizer. (Consider using a Ziplock-type bag to separate these items from the rest of your gear.)

 Passport: Don’t forget your passport! And double check that it won’t expire while you’re on the road. Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond your intended stay.

 Money: Don’t forget your credit and debit cards. And call your bank/issuer beforehand to let them know you’ll be using the cards overseas (customer service number is on back of card). If you do not notify your bank/issuer, chances are your account will be frozen when they see transactions coming in from abroad. Note: Bring a second credit card in case your primary card gets lost, stolen, demagnetized, or whatever. The same principal holds true for your debit card; order a backup by calling the customer service number on the card. To be extra prudent, bring $200-$300 in cash.

 Adaptor; voltage converter: Because the voltage in Europe is 220/240, twice what it is in North America, bring an adaptor (so you can plug your electrical gizmo into the socket) and possibly a voltage converter (to convert the voltage). Most new mobile appliances are dual-voltage (100-240v), like, for example, laptop computers which only require the adaptor. Double check the small-print details on your gizmo; you’re looking for 100-240v, which means it’s dual voltage. If you only need to plug in, let’s say, a hairdryer, then consider buying a local product at a discount store (which may only cost 5-10€). Note: Be careful not to leave the adaptor behind when pulling the plug out from the wall socket. To gauge prices and get an idea of what these things look like, adaptors and voltage converters can be found here.

 Mini alarm clock (but if you’re traveling with a phone or PDA, a clock is included.)

 Camera, lenses, film (bring an extra memory card/stick for your digital camera. If you max out the memory, many Internet cafés are able to burn your pictures to a disk.)

 Harriman Travel Books (HTB) adventure novel to read during downtime (shameless plug here). If you’re a big reader, bring extra material, preferably that thick paperback you’ve been meaning to read for months.

 Drink/water bottle. Reuse the disposable plastic bottle you bought on the road. What we do is buy a 750ml bottle of water and drop a dissolvable multivitamin tablet in it. If this is you, the tablets (called Brausetabletten in Germany and Austria) can be found in most any supermarket or drug store (like Schlecker or Müller) and cost around 1€ for a tube of 20; they come in a variety of flavors and vitamin-types. We prefer the modest Multi-Vitamin. Whichever vitamin-type you choose, it adds taste and, of course, an essential nutritional substance to your water fortifying your diet. It’s up to you how strong you want your water, but generally one tablet per 750ml is fine. What’s more, the vitamin water, we believe, helps significantly alleviate a hangover. To further bolster your odds in taming the beast, after a night of drinking, we recommend you consume a liter of vitamin-fortified water before going to bed. Try it; it works!

 Daypack: Use a small backpack, or carry bag, to stow all your must-haves (e.g. camera, picnic goodies, water bottle, souvenirs, maps, tourist info, etc) while you mosey about town for the day.

 Student ID: If you’re a college student, bring a valid International Student Identity Card (ISIC) for discounts. Many cashiers only accept this ID card. Other cashiers, however, aren’t bothered and will equally accept your official campus ID.

Note: If you do forget something from your packing list, don’t panic, you can typically buy it on the road. You’d be surprised what name brands, or products, you can buy these days in the most unlikely of places.

Optional Items

 Money belt (This should really be an essential item on the packing list but not everybody is used to wearing one.)

 Nightshirt (for gals)

 Sweatpants to sleep, or lounge around, in. (Depending on your person, sweatpants are a must-bring for wintertime.)

 Swimsuit

 Sweatshirt/pullover

 Black dress: Women, consider packing the out-on-the-town black dress, but it’s not necessary for the casual tourist. Besides, what shoes will you wear with it?

 Comb/brush

 Visor/hat

 Journal to document your travels.

 Language translation book

 Liquid detergent soap to hand wash your underwear, socks, light shirts, etc. Laundromats in Europe are somewhat expensive. Note: If you do plan on washing light articles of clothing in hotel sinks, bring a stopper or small rubber ball or something similar because many sinks are plugless! Also, bring a large-sized (preferably sealable) plastic bag to store your dirty or damp clothes in.

 Travel iron

 TSA-friendly luggage lock:The theory behind this lock is the TSA (Transport Security Administration) has the key to open it and therefore won’t have to cut it if a spontaneous baggage search is ordered. We use a TSA-friendly lock and haven’t had any problems -- knock on wood. That said, we’ve heard a few stories from travelers who have used the TSA lock and it was still cut open.

 Hostel sheets: If you’re planning on staying in hostels, occasionally you will be charged extra (few euros) to rent sheets, but if you have your own set you may be able to avoid the charge. Consider bringing a cheap sleep sack ($8-$11), often available at super stores like Walmart or Target.

 Sewing kit

 Multifunctional camping knife (with spoon, fork, corkscrew, etc.) for picnics and whatnot.

 Compact umbrella, or just use your jacket.

 Music device, like an iPod or (MP3) Walkman

 (GPS-enabled) cell phone or PDA

 Deck of playing cards

 Motion sickness remedy

 Travel insurance: Consider buying travel insurance. What if you get robbed, or there’s a medical emergency? If your stateside insurance does not cover you overseas, here’s a start to finding a respected provider: travelguard.com or worldtravelcenter.com

Important:

Don’t forget your medications! And, if possible, keep them in their original containers.

Don’t forget your contact lenses with sufficient supplies. If you have a pair of glasses, it’s not a bad idea to bring them just in case.

If you take a particular medication, arrange your prescription beforehand. Additionally, if you wear glasses/ contacts, make sure you know your prescription so any necessary replacements can be made easily and quickly.

Don’t bring clothes that bleed!

Leave expensive jewelry behind, especially if you’re traveling through Southern Europe!

Consider making photocopies of your important documents (e.g. passport, travel itinerary, travel insurance, traveler’s check numbers, medical info, int. driver’s license, etc.) as a back up in case a problem arises. What’s better, if you’re computer savvy, scan the documents and email them to your Inbox.

Confirm your first night’s hotel reservation to avoid any lodging hassles after landing.

And so…with all the pre-travel formalities checked off, you can now close your cases/bags, set ’em by the door, and begin the countdown to your journey of a lifetime! Gute Reise …