On the Grand Tour of Europe, you really get to experience all kinds of weather. Some things I packed were lifesavers, some would’ve been useful, and a few I didn’t need at all. Even though you might think Europe is always sunny, it does rain sometimes. Having a small, packable raincoat made those rainy days way easier and also worked as an extra layer on the cooler nights in Switzerland. My water bottle was another must-have, it was small, easy to open, and had a handle, so carrying water around was super convenient. Refilling it at the hotel before heading out guaranteed fresh water and saved me from buying bottles everywhere. I also seriously underestimated how much walking we’d do, so comfortable shoes were a lifesaver on long hikes and city tours. On days when we didn’t have time to go back to the hotel, my running shoes kept my feet comfortable and safe, even after walking all day. For clothes, I brought just a few pairs of shorts and pants and switched up my shirts each day. Having a mix of dressy, casual, and tank tops made packing between cities way easier. Finally, I’m super thankful I brought things to do on the bus. You’d think the views would be enough, but 4–6 hours is a long time. I had a journal, coloring books, and some books to read, which kept me busy and also helped me reflect on my program and write down memories I’ll look back on later.
There were also times I wished I had packed a few more things. On the first night in Barcelona, friends I’d met on the plane had an UNO game ready to play. That made me realize I should’ve brought cards or games to play with others between activities or after dinner. When it comes to shoes, I wish I’d packed more universal options, plain black and white shoes that could match anything. Even though my friends were happy to share, having my own would’ve been way easier. I also wished I had brought more casual clothes. I only had a few, but a couple more would’ve made mornings simpler and helped with extra excursions. Longer clothes were easy to throw on and covered knees for churches, which was perfect. Even though I didn’t have everything, I managed fine, and with clothing stores everywhere, I could grab what I needed if I wanted.
I also packed a lot of stuff I honestly didn’t need. I packed seven pairs of shoes. Most of them just sat in my suitcase, taking up space and weighing me down. I also brought way too many toiletries. I mean, I didn’t even use half of them, and by the end, I realized I could’ve just packed the basics and been fine. Europe has many different types of stores with all types of toiletries. My advice would be to buy the majority of your stuff over there. I brought a ton of clothes and had some outfits I never even wore, and a lot of times I just wore the same things over and over because they were easiest to mix and match. Packing lighter would’ve made moving between cities so much easier, and honestly, it would’ve made my bag feel way less like a nightmare to carry around. Lesson learned: you really don’t need to overpack, and it’s better to have space for souvenirs or last-minute stuff you pick up along the way.
Thank you to Student Ambassador Alivia M. for writing this blog!
