Europe for 19 days

Hello Natalie,

Everyone onboard here(almost)is going to tell you to"pack light".

They are absolutely on target,and with your very busy fast moving pace you especially need to think about each item you pack and make sure its worth lugging around.

You didn't say how you were travelling, bus tour, trains, or by car, but for most people , for 3 weeks they can make do with a 21 or 22 inch rolling suitcase and a carryon.
It does require some "smart" packing, and washing a few things out in a sink but you will be very happy to have not packed a larger bag.
If you have no back issues, then many here seem to like a back pack, I personally don't so I won't comment, other then to say that many train stations have many stairs, and many hotels have tiny, useless or non existance elevators, so be prepared to carry your rolling bag up and down steps.
Europe in general seems to be filled with stairs, and bumpy sidewalks, and no lowered curbs, so whatever you do chose a well made bag.

We did a 3 1/2 week trip around the world, had to pack for both summer and winter. We used Rick's 21" convertable. It is marvelous adn holds all you need with room to spare if you plan right. There are several lists on this site and others with suggesstions as well as several other threads on this board. Basically-pick materials that wash and dry easily then- wear 1 pair pants, 1 T, 1 "big shirt" and a waterproof shell-type jacket- with a hood. Pack 2 pair pants, 2 or 3 Ts, 1 "big Shirt", 1 sweater or fleece, underwear and socks. Wear good, comfortable, practical shoes. Pick one basic color (black, grey, navy, khaki, etc.) for all pants and pack only tops,etc. that coordinate with pants and each other for layering. A scarf or 2- esp. large ones are good accessories. Limit jewelery. You can wash in the sink as needed.

Europe is full of cobblestones and (in the cities) lots of stairs. Unless you have sustained serious back injuries, I say skip the rolling suitcase or rolling dufflebag and get a backpack (not the kind with the heavy frame) that has a stow away waist belt and shoulder straps. Much easier to get around - especially since you are moving from city to city every 2 days.

Choose a pack that is light and fits your torso properly (some companies make packs specifically for women). And before you even leave for Europe, pack it full of everything you plan to bring and walk around with it in your neighborhood. Walk at least 1 mile and include some hills or stairs. If you can't do this, you've packed too much - go home and rethink what you are bringing.

If you really follow the packing light approach, then trip length makes no different. You take the same amount of clothes for three days as you do for 30 days or 3 months. The RS carryon size backpack works very well.

To see 9 places in 19 days is EXTREMELY optimistic! You basically loose a day, or at least most of it, every time you relocate. Any thought in cutting your list in half and do the other half next time you go - as Rick Steves says "just plan on coming back"?

I go to Europe every summer for a month and take one of RS roller bags - the carry-on size. But then again, I take that same bag whenever I fly to somewhere for any amount of time - RS lives out of it for 3 months at a time - granted he has lots of practice. Good luck - there is SO much to see in Europe - the time just flies.

I agree with packing light, everything is easier when you aren't lugging a lot. With your amount of moves, packing/unpacking will be easier with very little luggage.

I also think you are covering a lot of ground for 19 days. Test your route at viamichelin.com. I try to plan on no more than three or four hours of travel per travel day. It invariably becomes more than that but allows us to have small setbacks and still get in and out of hotels, eat meals, and have some relaxation at the end of the day.

Bring up to six tops, three bottoms, two pairs of shoes, three pairs socks and underwear, two lightweight sweaters and a lightweight rain/wind shell. Make sure the color choices are all mix/match so you can create a lot of options. Bring as little cotton as you can; it shows stains, stretches out of shape and is harder to hand wash/dry. Polyesters, rayons, washable silks and wools, microfiber, etc. are all good travel fabrics.

Natalie,
I find Rick's packing lists very helpful. You can find them on this page by clicking on "Travel Tips" above.