volkswagendriver

Everyone says to "pack light", but that's kind of subjective. My soon to be wife and I will be spending our honeymoon in Europe, arrinving in Munich on a Sunday and leaving on the following Sunday. We'll spend the bulk of our time in the Austrian Alps, but will alos go to Italy and Bavaria for days trips. Knowing all this, what would you pack? Right now, I'm thinking a couple pairs of khakis, a few pairs of shorts, five or six shirts, a rain jacket, walking around shoes, hikers and some Birks. And of course underwear, socks, etc. I'd love to hear your suggestions!

DebitNM

Will you have the ability to do laundry? Even handwashing helps keep packing light. You only need 2, possible 3 of most items. Wear one, wash one at night and a spare in case they don't dry. Shoes are harder, wear the heaviest on the plane. Wear the heaviest of the clothes, and your rain jacket too.

We did 25 days in Europe last years and used only a carryon each. Bring some Purex combo laundry detergent/softner sheets with you.

And once you cut back on your clothes, pack this way:

http://www.fodors.com/community/trav...ow-to-pack.cfm

adrienne

When are you going? The mention of shorts makes be think of July. What you pack depends on the time of year, especially in the Alps.

I would wear dark pants to hike - not khakis. Dark pants are also more acceptable at restaurants for dinner. Khakis are very casual wear. Also a decent pair of shoes for dinner.

I'd also pack a sweater and, depending on how high in the alps you'll be, a pair of gloves.

It seems like you're staying in one place since you'll be there for only a week and you mentioned day trips. Who cares how much stuff you bring if you don't have to haul it around on boats, buses, and trains. Bring as much as you can lift - that's my motto.

Not everyone says to pack light.

volkswagendriver

Ah, I should have mentioned we'll be there at the end of June. Thanks for the tips thus far!

adrienne

Check the average weather for your location to determine if you should bring shorts.

DebitNM

What about those hiking pants where the bottom of the legs detach at the knees via zippers and become shorts??

I like going light with only a carry on so as to: not have to worry about risking loss of checked luggage; not pay fees to check bag; and for me - I can't life more than a properly packed carry on. And I don't like having to juggle more than one bag. And having to take a bag on a train, bus or to a car rental [and some of those European cars are limited in trunk space] so for me - light makes sense. Of course, to each his or her own~

Dukey1

Wear the heaviest and bulkiest stuff such as shoes ON THE PLANE

kawh

generally go for a month, with one carrier bag each. (granted... each year older i get, the harder this is.) #1 thing to remember is-- you can buy it there if you need it... and buying even toothpaste on vacation is like a tiny souvenir. i think your list will work-- but would cut down the shirts and shorts. also-- agree with above that light pants are a problem in europe... we often end up sitting on very sooty steps and such. just bring fabrics that tend to dry overnight if you can. make sure the socks are quick to dry as well. roll, don't fold. (why does that work so well???) we almost always end up buying a cheapo large bag the last week of the trip so that we can start tossing dirty clothes in willy-nilly and to carry our souvenirs back home. can get something on the street for under $20. if it's big enough, you can throw one of your carry-on bags in with it so you still only have to carry one each.
you will never be sorry if you pack light.
have a wonderful honeymoon!!! p.s. where are you getting married???

ParisAmsterdam

I like the compression ziploc type bags. Not regular ziplocs and not the kind you need a vacuum cleaner for.

Mine come from a travel shop. They have double zip enclosures and a little plastic tool to make sure they are sealed. You then roll up a packed bag and just when you think it's going to burst with a bang a relief valve pops and your package is less than half it's original size.

Pack a couple of complete outfits per sack... trousers, shirt,
socks, underthings. I take a couple empty ones for clothes that have been worn. Two weeks with a 22 inch rollaboard is no problem. Over weight has not been a problem for trans Atlantic flights. It could be for cut rate European airlines like Ryanair and the like. The one drawback I find is there is some wrinkling. I can live with that.

Congrats on the wedding... have a wonderful honeymoon and many happy years together!

Rob

Traveler_A

I've been researching that as well and below are a few helpful websites. Not all tips work for all types of travel but you'll get a good idea of what to bring and what to leave at home.

Another piece of advice I found is to use a scanner to scan the photo and info page of your passport, then save it as a PDF (or image file) and store it in an email account of location you can access while on your trip in case you need it.

Also, notify your bank and/or credit card companies that you'll be traveling overseas so they know that the charges in Germany are not fraudulent. Otherwise they might lock down your card.

http://www.onebag.com/

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/pack-light.htm

http://www.travellerspoint.com/packing-list.cfm

http://www.independenttraveler.com/t...nd-accessories

ParisAmsterdam

<<<Another piece of advice I found is to use a scanner to scan the photo and info page of your passport, then save it as a PDF (or image file) and store it in an email account of location you can access while on your trip in case you need it.>>>

If your passport is lost or stolen having a photocopy matters not a bit to the consular or embassy people who will get you a new one. I've never understood the point of this piece of advice.

volkswagendriver

We're getting married at our church here in WI. And being from WI, if it's above freezing, we're wearing shorts ;-) I'll save the shorts for hiking and stick w/ pants most times though.

I doubt we'll eat at any high end restaurants, butwe'll want to go to Mass at least once while we're over there, so I'll bring some appropriate church clothes.

amer_can

RearisAmsterdam's comment about duplicated id items..Don't know what your experience is but student daughter had all of her stuff stolen in Geneva train station and the duplicates did alot to speed up the process of recovery. It is not fun to lose it all and be delayed without $, credit cards, and ATM id during Christmas holidays.. It workred for her. I have always done this, since the cards have been in vogue.

suze

You don't need "a few pair of shorts". Just 1 is enough. If it's warm enough you need them, just wear that same pair over and over. Same for "five or six shirts", I think 3 or 4 is plenty. Besides that I think you've got the right idea generally.

cafegoddess

I sleep in.
I don't have a schedule
I don't call work.
I eat whatever I want (tarte tatin with fresh Cream follow with salted caramel at 3 in the morning, no problem, frito misto for lunch and dinner everyday and coke light, yes plse.

cafegoddess

Sorry wrong thread, darn iPad!

november_moon

So you are going to be there for a week, right? Packing light shouldn't be a problem and you shouldn't even need to really do laundry - it is only a week. Maybe wash a couple things out in the sink but other than that, I wouldn't worry about it. Besides, it is your honeymoon - you should be occupied with things other than laundry

What you have listed should easily fit in a carry-on sized rollerboard.