Packing- Travelling Solo in Europe

Hello my people,

Thanks for reading again.

Travelling by your self is not for everyone, but the experience can be so rewarding. Lets go back to a week before I left. I had packed my bag, copied my passports, given my friend and family my itinerary and everything was planned. I brought a bag with a lock in built in it. Before I went over I heard that its not safe for a girl to go alone and things can get pinched out of your apartment. I made sure that I brought a suitcase with a built in lock in it to make sure my possessions are protected whether I was with my suitcase or it was left in the room. When packing for a solo trip for Europe there are a few things you will need to take in to consideration. What time of year it is. Is it summer or winter. Will you need sunblock or scarfs. Will it be snowing? What the climate is like? Are you heading to London? Will you need an  Umbrella? Remember to PACK LIGHT.

Packing list for Europe in Winter

Carry on Bag

• A small carry on bag
• A jumper. (Lets face it planes are cold, especially if you plan on sleeping. Bring a light coat)
• Spare pair of clothes (You may want a pair of clothes that suits your final destintations climate. If you are going from a hot climate to a cold climate.)
• Spare pair of underwear
• Book, magazine, ipod
• Phone (Switch it off data roaming, enable 3G and Cellular data. If you do not want to have a big phone bill) You will be able to connect to wifi without turning the cellular data. You will still be able to receive and make calls. Europe has free wifi in the hotels you stay in, restaurant or McDonald. If you plan to use your phone on the plane make sure you turn it on the airplane mode.
• Deodorant (travel size)
• Tissues
• Hair tie (Female)
• Tooth brush and small tooth paste
• Facial wipe (This will help you to feel fresh  even if you haven't showered in over 20 hours)
• Gum or Mints
• Snacks for the plane
• Travel sickness pills
• Any other daily medication
• Make up (Female) 
• Water (This will vary if depending on what airport you go through. You will not be able to take large water bottles through customs. But on the other side of customs a few airports you will be able to buy a bottle of water and take it on the plane. Some airports will search your bags at the gate.)
• Wallet
• Passport
• Itinerary 
• International money changed to the currency of your new destination and any stop overs. (If you have a stop over in country before you get to your final destintation it is a good idea to make sure you have some money changed over to that currency just in case you would like to buy some food or a bottle of water).
• Eye mask
• Ear plugs
• Map of your first destination 
• Credit Cards, Eftpost cards, or Travel Cards (make a copy and give it to a friend or family member)
• Neck pillow (they are great for long distance flights, for night time flights try and get a seat with no one beside you so you can stretch out)

One big tip I can give you is make sure you bring some food on the plane. The Air craft will feed you twice on a long trip. They will feed you when you first get on your flight and than about one hour to two hour before you get off the flight.  On my first 10 hour flight to Europe there was really bad turbulence and I end up throwing up alot. Since they feed you twice I was starving for hours until the second meal time. Than I landed in Bangkok at 12am and there was really not much food that you could take on the flight apart from a few chocolate bars and dried fruit. Than I got on the next flight 4 hours after we landed and they feed us again after we took. It was a 13 hour flight. They feed us again about 11 hours into the flight. As soon as they clear away the food they turn off the lights so that everyone can sleep. You may need food to snack on in this time. Make sure you dont take any fruit or veggies on the flight as customs will not let you bring it on the plane. Food that you can bring on is biscuits, chips, chocolate anything packaged. Another tip if you are travelling alone make sure you organise a transfer to get to your first hotel. This will make sure that you get yourself and your belongings safely to your base camp or your first hotel. 

Suitcase

• Copies of your Passport (make a copy and give it to a friend or family member)
• Maps, Phrase Books, Itinerary 
• Ear plugs (you may need these if you are staying in hostels)
• A suitcase with a lock on it
• Camera and camera charger and a spare SD card
• Phone charger
• Tooth Brush, tooth paste
• Make up
• Listerine
• Straighter 
• A Europe power adapter 
• Travel Diary (if you are doing alot of different country's you will forget things, write them down and you wont)
• Sunscreen
• Tissues
• Deodorant, perfume
• Empty Water bottle (you hotel may provide fresh drinking water, this may save your money)
• Eye mask
• Travel shampoo and travel conditioner (best idea is to bag your shampoo and conditioner, to avoid any spillage on your clothes or other items)
• A small umbrella (you wont regret it)
• A small bag for the day time (buy bottled water while you are over there and keep it in your bag if you are doing alot of walking)
• Hand wipes and tissues (chances are with the weather change you may get a cold or the flu)
• Poncho
• Small line to hang out your washing if you need to wash your clothes
• Pegs
• Address of your family and friends if you would like to send post cards
• A list of your countries embassies just in case you into a tight situation 
• Hair Brush
• Soap
• Lock for your suitcase (if you do not have one inbuilt)
• A couple of plastic bags (You can use this for wet clothes or to keep your dirty clothes separate from your clean clothes)

Clothes (Winter)

• 3 pairs of jeans only (you wont use anymore than that)
• A few pairs Thermal under shirt and leggings
• Underwear for everyday you are over there (maybe some extra pairs)
• Enclosed walking shoes (comfortable)
• Lots and Lots of socks (it tends to rain alot in Europe over winter, and the water might sock through your shoes)
• 3 main warm jackets (possibly ones you dont mind getting wet or water proof)
• Gloves
• Scarf 
• Beanie (Its bloody cold you will need something)
• Bras
• A couple of Warm long sleeve shirts
• PJ's

Clothes (Summer)

• Underwear and Bras
• Dresses (Conservative. Traveling alone you do not want to attract any unwanted attention) 
• Shorts and Shirts (Check that the country you are visiting doesnt have a strict dress code. Some countries do not allow women to wear skirts above the knee)
• Bathing Suit and a Towel
• Enclosed walking shoes and thongs
• Heels (If you are planning to go out on the town)
• A jacket and a pair of jeans just in case you get cold
• PJ's
• Hat
• Socks

Pack light as you will buy a lot of items for friends and family to bring back. You may even buy some clothes.

Medication

• Panadol (Bring some from home, some countries will not sell the brands you get in Australia)
• Travel sickness tables (For the long plane rides or bus trips)
• Buscapan or Renie Tablets (For your stomach)
• Multivitamins (The weather will be cold, snowy or rainy you may catch a cold)
• Cold and flu tablets
• Any daily medication

This is the suitcase I packed.Clearly I was an idiot cos I packed it so full and ended up leaving half my clothes in Rome on purpose so I had enough room to bring back objects from Europe home. Make sure you pack light. I ended alternating between 3 pairs on jeans and a couple of warm long sleeve shirts/ thermals and jackets. You can wash clothes when your over there. You may as well have space in your bag to bring amazing items and presents for family and friends back.