Packing Tips from EF and Mrs. Carver
EF has many helpful articles about packing. I’ll include them for you to peruse:
“International Travel Packing Checklist”
Takeaways: Prepare to dress for the weather and cultural norms – this might require some research! Pack an extra outfit in your carry-on, and any essentials you MUST have. Consider liquid/gel packing limitations so you can put all bags in over-head luggage. Simplify your morning beauty routine. Pack things you can re-wear that are interchangeable.
“Packing For Every Type of Tour Day”
Takeaways: This one you should definitely look at. It lists tips for packing for the flight days, tour days, and bus travel days. We won’t have any long bus travel days, but I like that this is a concise guide for the other two different types of travel we will be doing.
“The Significance of Packing Lightly”
Takeaways: Pack lightly enough that you could easily carry your luggage on a long walk or up a flight of stairs. No one ever says, “I wish I packed more,” on this type of trip. This article also reminds travelers to prepare for the major amount of walking we will do on tour. There are some specific suggestions on what to pack, and a reminder that you CAN pack the essentials without taking up that much room. On the return trip, it’s not as big of a deal if you have to check a bag. Maybe you purchased something with more than 3oz of liquid, or a letter opener which looks too much like a weapon to take aboard passenger section (ask Matt about it), but on the way there, we DO NOT want to risk losing any luggage or taking more time to check bags.
“Interesting Facts About UK Culture”
Takeaways: Summer weather is around 55-70 degrees depending on the area of England. We will not be by the water, so I think it will be closer to 70, but it may rain. (This is from 2018 so the currency stuff may be different. I will get us more recent details about that this summer.) See article for list of great things to have (windbreaker, sunscreen) and things to leave behind, and suggestions of foods to try!
Takeaways: Summer is about 60-90 degrees depending on the area of Italy. Last summer in July it was 90 degrees in Rome on several days when I checked. (This is from 2018 so the currency stuff may be different. I will get us more recent details about that this summer.) Read the article for suggestions (bring a quick-dry towel and comfortable shoes!) and food recommendations.
“10 Non-Essential, Non-Electronic Travel Items”
Takeaways: I love these creative suggestions for things you might not think about bringing but would be handy if you have room – like a travel pillow, bubblewrap or a mailing tube for souvenirs, plastic bags, address labels for postcards, etc.
Thoughts From Mrs. Carver
The picture is me with Matt’s Swiss Gear backpack that he has travelled EVERYWHERE with. I believe in 2017 we packed just that bag, the blue one in front of me (which is from EF), and my crossbody camera bag that has a dozen pockets . . . for both of us for the 10-day trip. We might have had one extra, foldable bag for taking souvenirs home.
I am CERTAIN I could pack for myself for our 8-day trip with just these two bags.
I laid out the amount of outfits, toiletries, and other things I think I need for our trip and they were able to fit in the big backpack with room to spare. I am a very light packer, and I know everyone does not pack that lightly, but your goal is to only take the essentials. The blue EF bag (you’ll get your own later this summer) is suggested as a carry-on for a change of clothes and the stuff you MUST have with you. But your other luggage (for me, this Swiss Gear bag) should not be too big or heavy, and it should be just ONE BAG. Most airlines allow one piece of luggage in overhead or under the seat storage and one carry-on item, like a purse or small backpack.
Matt’s bag fits under most airplane seats or in the overhead compartment, so I know I can stow it and have the carry-on and there’s no chance of arriving without my luggage ready to go, no waiting at luggage collection, etc. If you think you’ll want to bring back a lot of souvenirs–pack even lighter to leave space. Or, pack an extra bag that can fold flat to use just on the way home.
If you have other packing questions, ask me or comment here.