We (2 couples) will be making a 23 day trip to Europe, including Munich, Paris, Villefranche sur Mer, Amboise, Normandy, Murren and Varenna. We have been to Paris and Monte Carlo previously. The question becomes do the Guys need a sport jacket for dinners? We have no problem taking one, but obviously it saves room for other things if we do not. What are your thoughts/experience?

It depends on what level restaurants you'll be dining in. I took one on our first 2 trips to Europe, but haven't bothered since. We like everyday restaurants the locals go to, and most local men don't wear a jacket to the neighborhood bistro. I do wear a pair of nice slacks and a presentable long-sleeve shirt.

If you're planning to eat at expensive restaurants, then, yes, If you're happy with mid-level places, then no, you won't need to pack a sport jacket.

I usually take a blazer or sport jacket and end up wearing it more than I expect. I don't do that many expensive or fancy restaurants, but on cooler evenings it is great instead of a regular jacket or sweater. I usually wear it over a knit or regular T-shirt.
And I also wear it rather than pack it on the flight. I have yet to see an airport that isn't freezing cold, and if the plane isn't too cold, the flight attendant will hang up the jacket for me.

I remember back in peasant class asking the flight attendant to hang up my sport jacket for me. She just spit on me.

I agree fully with Patrick. I now always take a "wrinkle-free" Travel Blazer with me - it comes in handy on cool evenings and is easily draped over the back of the chair in restaurants. I also wear it on the plane and if it gets too warm I just stuff it in the overhead to avoid being spit upon! The new fabrics are fantastic and indeed do not wrinkle. Then you have one just incase you want to splurge for a high class restaurant.

Thanks for all the replies. I was also wondering if we go to a concert such as at Saint Chappelle, do they dress up? Thanks again

My rule of thumb is to think about what types of restaurants you would eat in on a regular basis (not special event type places) at home. If you are the kind of people who normally eat in rstaurants where you will need a sportcoat, then take one. If you wouldn't need one at home, then you aren't going to want one in Europe either. By the way, we are pretty casual (and have visited Munich, Paris, villefranche & Normandy) and my husband has never taken one, nor regretted that he didn't have one. We have also visited the theatre and attended classical concerts in several places and he didn't feel he needed one there either. We also don't travel nearly as upscale as many people who post on this board. So, look at it this way, are you taking a Rick Steves type trip or a more costly upmarket type trip?

No need for a jacket at Sainte Chapelle. Nobody dresses up for those concerts. In fact, no need for one at the Paris opera house either, although some people did dress up there.

There is no need at the St Chappelle concerts but someone might feel a little out of place in a building so grand as the Opera House with most people well dressed, and not wearing a jacket.
It sort of feels right to dress up a little for some events.

We travel very lite, and my husband ALWAYS brings a sport jacket when we travel, for the reasons mentioned by Patrick and CharlieB.

Because the trip is 23 days (lucky devil!) I'd advise you take it. If you decide to splurge on a truly decadent meal, you'll be ready.

Ditto elberko, Patrick, and CharlieB.

Nobody's going to yell at you because you're too dressed up (and if you pair the jacket with jeans, as my husband often does, you obviously won't be), and a jacket makes a nice layer. Never mind packing it, it just goes on the plane with you. Pick fabrics that aren't too wrinkly and won't show the dust of travel---it may be summer, but don't bring white linen unless you travel with your own personal valet.

This has nothing to do with Europe and perceived formality there---my husband dresses the same in the U.S., traveling and at home. A bonus: guys look great in a jacket, and better service and sometimes upgrades come your way as if by magic.

It depends:

1. A year ago, with the euro at .90 cents, i'd have bought a jacket in Europe (great prices on clothes) and gone out to lots of nice meals.

2. This year, I'm watching my vacation get more expensive hourly with the euro at $1.17 (thank god I didn't exchange that 140e leftover :^) ), thus I won't be doing as much shopping, and avoiding expensive restaurants as well. Ergo, no sport jacket.

Looks like the vaporetto, not the water taxi, in the summer of 2003 :^(

Coachboy