Lots of packing questions

[AbsolutVis]

I have lots of packing questions. I'm headed to Europe this June for six weeks as a graduation present. I've done some backpacking in Colorado and Utah, but this is much different sort of trip (no tent or stove for cooking ).

1. I have a pack already but I am a bit of a girly girl and for this kind of venture I'm wondering if I'll be able to fit everything in it. I also have a day pack. Have any of you traveled with a pack and another small bag? (like a duffel or something)

2. Shoes - would most of you recommend sneakers or hiking boots for every day? I also love my Reef flip flops, they are really comfortable. Are these a good thing to pack? Ladies - would you recommend bringing along one pair of dressier heels for going out?

3. Clothes - during the day I won't have my large pack with me and I want to try to dress in a way that won't scream tourist. I know Europeans in general aren't as casual as Americans. Are skirts and dresses and dresses better than jeans, khakis and capris?

4. Lots of people have mentioned this wrinkle resistant fabric, but no one has actually mentioned a name. Any clues?

5. My flat iron (hair straightener) is an absolute must (I know, I know ). I have seen some mini curling irons in travel stores, but no mini flat irons. Anyone know a company that makes them?

6. Cell phones - several of my friends that have studied abroad bought cell phones, even if they were just there for a 4 week winter session trip. Anyone have any experience with these? Think they are a good idea?

[kena]

2-3. My absolute fave summer European outfit is a just below the knee skirt in a neutral color, with a slighly form fitting t-shirt, and good sandals (Mine are Mephistos) . I wash it every night and wear it again the next morning, maybe changing the t-shirt for diversity.

4. I've had excellent results with a blend of linen and lycra. The linen part makes it very fresh and elegant, while the lycra makes it almost wrinkle free.

[jennifer]

Have any of you traveled with a pack and another small bag? (like a duffel or something) ; I travelled with my backpack and another smaller backpack which i kep my film, camera, pencils, journal and postcards I bought, my food was also in there. I think even if you're "girly girl" as you say, there is a lot of stuff you can rule out, you'll see that you don't need everything you think!

2. Shoes - would most of you recommend sneakers or hiking boots for every day? I recommend sneakers all the way. Boots can make your feet really hot in june, so you might stink. By being humid, your feet rub up more to your shoe and make blisters easier. I'd go for a very good running shoe that has good aeration in it! Asics are very good and not so expensive for that!

I also love my Reef flip flops, they are really comfortable. Are these a good thing to pack? I wouldn't recommend that unless you plan on using them for showers, beaches and stuff, for walking they are useless, oh god they hurt your feet. But if they serve these purposes and can double up as dressier shoes than running shoes, then they usually are small and can be easily tucked into your pack!

Ladies - would you recommend bringing along one pair of dressier heels for going out? Not really, I'd use my flip-flop/sandals that I use also for the shower if I can!

Are skirts and dresses and dresses better than jeans, khakis and capris? I think locals also dress in jeans, khakis and capris, it just depends on the look you have, the assembling of your shirt and pants, the way you lugg around your camera and look to the sky while walking!

4. Lots of people have mentioned this wrinkle resistant fabric, but no one has actually mentioned a name. Any clues? No idea! Nylon is pretty good. There are great nylon pants that are thin and dressy, they don't wrinkle and are great! They are the typical black pants you find at Suzy Shier or places like that!


I have seen some mini curling irons in travel stores, but no mini flat irons. Anyone know a company that makes them? I don'tm sorry! But why the heck tag such a big thing along?

6. Cell phones - several of my friends that have studied abroad bought cell phones, even if they were just there for a 4 week winter session trip. Anyone have any experience with these? Think they are a good idea? I think it depends where you'll be calling. If you're calling home, it's useless, cause it's long distance and ouch, really expensive. But if you're doing a lot of local calls in the same country, why not if you find a good deal. But if you're changing countries, you're paying fees again and your cell is useless once you leave, so waste of money!

Good luck!

[Kim]

I love those t-shirts too, Kena! My favorite are the Gap stretch ones (don't like the regular ones but the stretch ones rock!).

They hold their shape and look nice, rather than sloppy.

[kristine]

if you want to take a hair straightiner you have to make sure you have a plug converter that works in europe, you can ask someone about that at a travel store. Also even if you get that you might still have problems, my sister couldn't even use her hair drier when she went over because the converter didn't even work like they said it would. i also tried it when i went over there and it blew out my hair drier, so you might need to get expert opinions about that. Also about dressing, trust me they will know you are a tourist. but if you don't wanna be as noticed then i would recommend wearing nice pants, but that is usually hard to pack, but skirts and capris are fine as well. it all depends on how hot it is b/c when i went there last summer we just about died when wearing pants since we aren't used to wearing that kind of clothing in the summer. well if you have any more questions let me know - Kristine

[WillTravel]

You could buy a straightening iron in Europe. Then you wouldn't have to worry about power or converters or anything.

[LHR02]

I always buy hair dryer, curling iron, etc once I get there. They can be found for 10 euros or so, for a 'cheap' one same as at home and as WT said, no power or converter hassles and I just dump it when I leave. If going into London first off, go to Boots....they are everywhere. Dual voltage bougth in the states ONLY work on low setting when switched to 220v...they cost more here and are a hassle there. Buy them there, it's almost cheaper and a whole lot less problems.

[SaraBeth]

Thanks for all your suggestions! I'm so new at this and I feel like I'm asking lots of silly things, but you all have been so helpful. Does anyone have ideas for good sandals? Brands and specific styles would be great. Thanks!!!

[sejvirgo]

last summer i brought sneakers, flip flops and one pair of high heel sandals. basically i only wore my flip flops. i ended up leaving my nice shoes behind as they gave me horrible blisters the one time i wore them. my sneakers took up a lot of space in my pack, and i was tempted many times to leave them behind.
for clothes i brought 2 skirts, 1 dress, 2 paris of capris, 1 pair of dress pants, 1 long sleeve shirt and a few t-shirts. i never wore the dress and only wore the pants onc, but the skirts were the best. they dried fast, were lightweight, wrinkle free and super comfortable.
i just spent a few weeks in paris, and since i wasn't backpacking around i brought 2 paris of nice shoes, which i wore all the time. my hairdryer blew out (i didnt use one while traveling over the summer), so i suggest buying that stuff when you get there.
also, bring a sarong with you..... you can use it as a skirt, towel, blanket..... and they dry fast!
i am a girly-girl too and i made it through the summer fine without many of the things, like a hairdryer, that i thought i couldn't live without!!!

[Jordo]

I hear from many people berkenstats(spelling is prob. wrong) are a great sandal , they like mold to your feet and are very comfy

[NFLqueen]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh I hate to say it because I straighten my hair almost every day but honestly........................ consider leaving it at home!!!!!!

I have brutally curly hair but the thought of the converters and i've had several items WITH converters that still blew my appliance..... and the time to straighten it every day wasn't worth it. I can honestly say in several months in hostels i didn't see even one girl straightening her hair! Trust me you'll thank yourself if you leave it behind, you'll miss it but still one more thing to carry around!

Shoes - if your flip flops don't take up much room bring them as well as a "nicer" sandal that you can wear with skirts etc. I wouldn't suggest "heels" per say because you honestly won't use them enough to be worth the space at all. I brought a very comfy pair of black sandals that worked with dressier clothes - still wouldn't sport the outfit at home but gotta sacrafice right

Regarding a cell phone, again just another thing to carry around and worry about, you can get international calling cards almost anywhere in different denomonations, I would suggest them - they're easy to use. And if someone may need to get a hold of you - just check your email frequently.

It'll be the hardest thing you ever do if you pack like myself but bring things you like and wear them over and over again. Don't bring too much!!!! I went for 6 weeks, with a pair of shorts, 2 skirts, one dress, capris, and 3 casual tank tops, 2 dressier ones, one sweater and a jacket that I didn't wear even once! Oh and comfy but nice black pants, they got wrinkled but the color helped hide it, and one outfit to sleep in.

Ok sorry I'm long winded but fire back if you have any other questions

Kel

[NewTraveller]

What about when it rains?? Pack a rainjacket or just buy an umbrella along the way?

[NFLqueen]

Sorry about that, I didn't mean that you shouldn't bring a light jacket.... I was just quite fortunate not to need it. I was there in that brutal heat wave last year and it only rained twice in over 6 weeks.

Yes I would suggest bringing a light jacket, especially if you're leaving late May you will still likely need one in the evenings etc. As for an unbrella, if you have the room and can find a small one sure bring it along, otherwise you could buy one along the way if the weather is really bad.

Kel

[jennifer]

I brought an umbrella along and never actually put it in my daypack. Although it was small, i never felt like bringing it. I ended up never using it, like I never do at home. I rather have a raincoat with a hood, or plain get wet than having an umbrella, cause it takes an eternity to dry off in my own opinion. I never use one at home anyways!

It really depends on how you are, if you like umbrellas, bring a small one, but I hate them so....I'll surely never bring one along, just my K-Way jacket that folds up cacuse it has a hood.