Pack Light! That's rule #1. You will use the same amount of clothes for one week than for three months. If you carry just too much clothes you will end up with dirty laundry on your back all the time. Normally 5 underwear and shirts should give you enough freedom to stay clean and do laundry once a week.
Roll your clothes, in this way they will get less wrinkle and will fit better in your backpack. Also, try to carry dark and wrinkle free clothes, so they look clean even if they are not. Also, carrying an iron is not fun.
Bring some color plastic bags to separate the dirty clothes from the rest of your stuff. Ziploc bags will help you to maintain your soap, shampoo, gel and stuff like that safely in your backpack.
When you pack, put the heaviest stuff on top, so it gets supported on your shoulders, not on your waist. I am sure that you will notice the difference, don't you think?
Your shoes (hiking boats) are key for success in Europe. You will be walking more than you have ever though. They must fit perfectly on your feet, if they are loose or uncomfortable will make some friction causing callus. If this is the case, and you are already on the road you can use a porous medical 3M tape that will allow your skin to breath and will stop the friction. Also, some good socks will help to avoid the friction, my brother bought some Timberland and had no trouble whatsoever, I didn't and I regret.
Unless you go in the winter one sweater and one wind breaker will do fine all the time. Preferably choose something with a hood to protect you from the rain, the last thing you want to do is to get sick.
Two pants will do fine. Choose them dark and wrinkle free. Also, only one short is required. Keep in mind that you cannot enter into the Italian churches with them.
Split your money. Never thrust in a single source. If you use only your ATM card you will certainly get good exchange rates and no commission, but if it gets lost, stolen or stuck in the ATM you cannot get a replacement as easy as you could do with some traveler checks. If you carry traveler checks, consider American Express, if you change them in an American Express office (which are everywhere) you will get good exchange rates and no commission charge. Some cash might take you out of trouble in an emergency. U.S. Dollars are well accepted in all Europe. Also, a credit card with some cash in advance is a great help. The point is: Do not put all your eggs in a single basket! Split your money and do not trust a single source. Always carry them on your money belt.
Do not carry the whole guidebook, rip off the pages that you will need and throw them away as you leave that country, the next year you can buy an up to date book anyway. Also, if you travel with other companions get different guidebooks each, so you can get a much better coverage.
Bring either a camera or a camcorder. My brother had the camera all the time, and I used my camcorder. At the end of the trip we did copy the tapes and pictures. Bring a X-Ray film protector if you are serious about your films. In Spain, your day-pack will be scanned in every museum. Also, use wide angle lenses if possible. Camcorder's lenses are a lot cheaper than camera's lenses. They will allow you to shoot small castle rooms or you can get a nicer shot of the Eiffel tower. Bring a 300mm telephoto for you camera, you do not need a telephoto for a camcorder, a standard 18x optical zoom will give you the same close up as a 300mm camera telephoto. Take four 2 hr 8mm tapes per month, and a 8 hr battery, you won't need more.
A phrase book or electronic translator is a great help. The last one is preferred, since it includes the calculator. It can also work as a wake up alarm.
Don't forget to carry a small first aid kit, and a homeopathic kit. Sorry, I do not believe in Allopathic medicine.
Also, you will need some IDs.
- ISIC student card. If you are under 26 but you are not a student anymore get the Go 25 card.
- Insurance card.
- Driver license. Even if you do not plan to rent a car.
- Passport/Visa.
A day-pack is a must. Make sure that it fits inside of your backpack, so you carry only one thing in the train. Bring a medium size backpack, I carried a Eureka! Diablo 2900 cu-in. backpack, it was nice. Maybe a 3250 cu-in would have been better. Buy some combination locks for your day/backpack. If you are traveling with companions use the same combination for all the locks all the time.
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