Packing for Long-Term Travel: What Worked for 110 Days in Europe

When I first wrote about our plan to spend months exploring Europe, one detail received some extra attention: the fact that we were each taking a single (small, wheeled) carry-on suitcase and one backpack per person. Plenty of you said there was NO way you could travel so lightly!!

When I asked if anyone had questions about our trip, I wasn’t surprised that people were curious to hear about our experience of packing for long-term travel with such limited luggage space.

You can see our luggage in the pictures above—that was it! For 110 days! Across multiple countries and wildly different weather conditions!!

I’m happy to report that it worked remarkably well.

I’ll try to break everything down and answer your packing-centric questions, though my pictures are a bit lacking. I find taking pictures of packing procedures tedious and boring, so I never do it. Also, if you want to know how to pack expertly, you need to talk to my husband. (A guest post idea, maybe?) His proficiency with packing is truly incredible and in the interest of transparency, for most of the trip I had him pack my things because he can get at least 25% more into a suitcase than I can.

Part 1 of this little Q&A series ran a few weeks ago, where I talked about how I plan itineraries when we travel.

Packing for Long-Term Travel: What Luggage Did We Take?

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We each had a wheeled carry-on suitcase (the kids’ were both thrift store finds; John had a new Level8 carry-on—specifically chosen for its wide handle—and I used a Kenneth Cole Reaction wheeled suitcase we already owned)… and we each had a backpack.

The limited size was occasionally tough, but it was also a blessing. We had to navigate public transit quite a bit with all our luggage in tow, and carry-on suitcases were much easier to schlepp through transit stations, onto buses, etc.

They also stowed more easily on trains, buses and, of course, planes. Not to mention inside hotel rooms and apartments. Large suitcases would have given us more room, but they would have made every transition significantly harder!

The Packing Items I Loved Most

I bought this BAGSMART hanging toiletry bag before we left and was thrilled with it. Of all the items I took with me on the trip, this was my favourite in terms of packing convenience.

It was so, so, so handy and could hold SO MUCH STUFF. Our daughter had a slightly smaller hanging toiletry bag.

Being able to unzip the bag, hang it from a hook and see everything at once was extremely useful—especially in bathrooms with minimal counter space.

Compression packing cubes are great. We didn’t take enough!

I always used to pack my liquids in Ziploc bags, but we are now big fans of transparent, zippered bags that are TSA-approved.

I bought some inexpensive toothbrush covers (those take up a lot less space than a toothbrush holder).

And I packed a lot of little things like bobby pins and earrings in thick sealable plastic sleeves you can buy at crafting stores. These were AMAZING at keeping all sorts of items organized.

We bought each of the the kids this exact travel journal. It was great. Belle wrote every single day the entire trip and absolutely loves flipping through it. Indy… managed to keep up with things (loosely) until Helsinki and then his journalling petered out. But I’d consider it a big win and we were very happy with the quality of the product!

My Kobo was hands-down one of the best things I brought on this trip. (I got mine second-hand but I’ve linked to a newer version of the one I have.) I used it constantly.

Universal chargers, Goodr sunglasses, and eye masks like this (one for everyone!) were all worth the space they took up in our luggage.

Did We Use Everything We Brought With Us?

No.

Some clothes were put into donation boxes. Since we get most of our clothing second-hand, it didn’t pain me too much to leave things behind.

We also left some clothes in Helsinki in a locker at the office where John works so he could bring them back to Canada on subsequent work trips.

For the most part, though, we had what we needed.

Clothes I Rarely Wore

Overall, the weather was cooler than I expected.

A few things received almost no use:

• A black bodysuit (wore it zero times)
• A black skirt (wore it zero times)
• Several T-shirts (wore a handful of times)
• One dress I only wore once or twice

My jeans weren’t as comfortable as some of my other pants, so I didn’t wear them very often. That said, I wore them enough that I think (?) they deserved the space they took up in my luggage.

I also took a heavy puffer vest, which I used quite a bit during the colder months but eventually donated.

I bought it for $15 at a consignment store, and it was so bulky that I left it behind in Helsinki. (I knew it wasn’t going to be cold enough to need it in Denmark and Wales.)

The Columbia jacket I bought on discount that came with a removable liner was amazing and I used it ALL. THE. TIME.

Aren’t You Glad You Left the Polka-Dotted Jumpsuit at Home?

Jana asked this question because, before the trip, I shared pictures of different clothing options.

I tried everything on, mixed and matched outfits and took pictures so I could get a better sense of what deserved space in my suitcase.

And yes, Jana: I am glad I didn’t take the polka-dotted jumpsuit.

I wouldn’t have had many opportunities to use it since the weather was relatively cool for most of our time in Europe. (And it’s not exactly convenient for bathroom breaks.)

You were right!

Packing for Several Seasons

We all took coats and needed them.

We also packed gloves and hats and used them often enough that I was glad we had brought them.

That’s one tricky part of travelling for several months: the weather can vary wildly, and it’s difficult to pack lightly when you need to be prepared for everything from cold rain to sunshine. (Most of the places we stayed had umbrellas but we did end up buying one.)

Layering was essential.

Photos above: we went from chilly Zurich to sweltering Monaco in a handful of days.

The Medical Supplies/Toiletries I Was Glad to Have

I took almost everything we ended up needing:

• Fingernail clippers
• A digital thermometer
• Basic medications

The thermometer was especially important. At one point, Belle had a sky-high temperature, and I was so glad we could check it rather than guessing.

For medications, I took a single weekly pill divider with each “day” filled with a different OTC product:

• Advil (ibuprofen)
• Aleve (naproxen)
• Tylenol (acetaminophen)
• Drowsy antihistamines
• Non-drowsy antihistamines
• Muscle relaxers
• Gravol (didn’t end up using, but I wanted some for our boat ride from Helsinki to Stockholm)

We came home with some of everything left, but it was reassuring to have a small supply of things we might need.

I did forget to pack Band-Aids; a rookie mistake! But, guess what… they sell Band-Aids (or plasters) in Europe.

What Did We Buy in Europe?

We bought consumable products like:

• Toothpaste
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Sunscreen
• Facecloths because this is just not a thing in Europe which BAFFLES me.

There was no point trying to carry enough toiletries for three whole months. I didn’t end up needing to buy any makeup or deodorant. I did buy one nail polish on a whim and LOVE it enough that I’m going to get John to hunt it down next time he’s in Europe.

We did buy a few clothing items! I bought one shirt (the blue one pictured above) and we bought Belle a sweatshirt, two other shirts, a pair of jeans, a pair of shorts, and a pair of sneakers (she paid for the sneakers; she had plenty of footwear, but wanted a specific Adidas pair).

Did I Get Sick of My Clothes?

Not really.

I like having limited options and am relatively unfussed by wearing the same thing again and again.

A few items didn’t make their way back to Canada, and the timing of our return worked well. I transitioned directly into wearing dresses most days… my favourite summer uniform.

What Would We Do Differently?

There isn’t much I would change.

Neither pair of jeans was overly comfortable because they were a bit loose around my waist. I suppose I could have left those at home or replaced them with better-fitting options.

I would also take fewer T-shirts. I packed three or four and rarely wore them. (I almost always run cold, not hot!)

It’s almost impossible to pack for several months without bringing a few things that get little or no use.

The important thing is that we had the items we genuinely needed, and we managed to travel for 110 days without dragging enormous suitcases around Europe.

Would We Travel Carry-On Only Again?

Yes!!!!!

It forced us to be selective, but it made the actual travel days so much easier.

When we were climbing stairs or trying to find space on public transit, I was very glad we didn’t have larger bags.

Packing for long-term travel with carry-on luggage occasionally felt restrictive, but the freedom of having less luggage was 100% worth it.

Your turn:

• Could you travel for several months with only a carry-on suitcase and a backpack?
• What do you bring on almost every trip and then never use?
• Do you have any more packing questions for me?