You’ve been saving for months, if not years, read every blog post and searched every #mustdo on Instagram. By now, you’re all packed and ready to jet off on your European adventure – but before you do, here’s a list of Europe summer travel essentials every traveller forgets to bring:
Comfy Enclosed Shoes
Alright, this one’s a biggy: pack comfortable enclosed shoes with good grip on the bottom. I’m emphasizing grip here because Europe is paved primarily with beautiful (but slippery) cobblestones. I remember taking a romantic stroll along the cliff face of Santorini’s iconic caldera with my gelato in hand, when all of a sudden my #fashun-able shoes gave way. Let’s just say the insta-worthy moment passed and I looked more like the donkey doo-doo I slipped on, once my double choc gelato not so gracefully came crash landing on my dress!
Backpack
This sounds like a simple one, but in Europe, you tend to catch public transport and walk everywhere (I’m talking up to 15km per day). So along with your comfortable shoes, make sure your bag is comfy too! I particularly like to suggest a backpack for two reasons, 1. positive posture and 2. your cute off the shoulder tote won’t feel so fab after you fill it with all the impulse-buys you’ll make shopping throughout a 10-hour plus day.
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Multivitamins
On the less glamorous side of your #Eurotrip, you’ll find yourself doing a fair amount of travelling in between each country. Whether it’s a two-hour train ride, or a short flight between you and your next destination, water in transit is often extremely limited. Packing either a multivitamin or dissolvable hydrating tablet can, and will likely be the difference between you feeling fresh and ready to tackle your next location or having a headache and needing a nap because dehydration is nobody’s friend. Hot tip: these babies are also tip-top at tackling last nights bulk Aperol sprits hangover…
Scarf
This one is more for us ladies, but whilst it’s cute to rock a boob tube and short shorts on your Europe summer vacay, you will not be allowed into churches and cathedrals with those exposed shoulders. Rolling up a scarf and chucking it in your bag simply gives you the freedom to spontaneously explore the best of each local culture and not miss out on some of Europe’s best architecture.
Safety Pins
With the risk of sounding like someone’s jaded grandma, clothes just aren’t made like they used to – and after a long day, sometimes our clothes call it quits before we do. I’m talking a cute group dinner in a skinny strapped silky dress when BAM! The strap gives way. Now, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with #freeingthenip, but a wardrobe malfunction overseas is often a lot less funny when you’re in the middle of nowhere and miles away from your suitcase. Save yourself or friends from looking like a boob by simply throwing a couple safety pins in your wallet. See what I did there…
Plastic or tote bag
Remember the dress I spilt gelato all over in Santorini? Yeah, well three weeks have past and I still haven’t been able to do a load of washing! This is fairly common practice when you’re on the go in Europe. The last thing you need is sweaty, off gelato stinking out the rest of your fresh threads, so packing a plastic bag means you can easily separate your more ripe, adventure soaked clothes and tuck it into the ‘I’ll worry about that later’ part of your suitcase.
RELATED: 11 UNNECESSARY ITEMS GIRLS ALWAYS PACK FOR A VACATION
International travel adapter
Fun fact: over 5 billion people in the world have phones. Not so fun fact: finding adapters for your phone chargers in foreign countries isn’t easy. Avoid inflated adapter costs and social media FOMO by investing in an international travel adapter before you jetset. That way you can take all the #Eurotrip pics your heart desires and you don’t have to worry about your last 5% being wasted on your mum calling to make sure you know the dogs miss you at home…
Patience
Your #Eurotrip will likely be everything you can imagine and more. You’ll feel enriched, learn so much about yourself and have that many good times you’ll be posting #takemeback photos on your socials for the next 12 months. BUT sometimes, travelling (either alone, or in a group) can be trying. Delays in transit, disagreements with friends, and long days are all extremely normal. With a little patience and faith that it’ll all be worth it, you sir/madam, are officially ready to jetset.
