I’ve Been to 39 Countries in Europe, Here Are 12 Things I Leave Out of My Carry-on—and What to Pack Instead

Here’s what to pack instead.

By Kristy Alpert

I lived in Europe for a total of five years: three years in Germany and two years in France. I’ve also been to 39 countries in Europe and I used to bring waymore than I needed, but I quickly learned how unnecessary many U.S. comfort items are while navigating European cities. For instance, that giant water bottle is not something any European is carrying around. There are clean water fountains everywhere for public use as well as plenty of cafés for you to sit back, enjoy the culture, and sip without having to hydrate on the go.  

I continue to travel back and forth between Europe and the U.S. and I rarely check a bag these days since I have whittled down my Europe essentials to what I know I’ll absolutely need. You won’t find me walking around with a money pouch and I definitely won’t be bringing a pair of heels. However, I’ve also picked up some handy tricks, like using compression packing cubes and universal power adapters, so you can swap out some of these unnecessary items with gear you’ll actually need on your next European vacation.

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