The “experts” of weekend travel are checking in to share a list of our top vital items to pack!  This list is strictly for weekend trips, aka the kind of trips where the items you’ve packed are smushed into your book bag and the zipper is struggling to stay shut.  For anyone who has a lot of experience with these trips, you understand the necessity of certain items and the importance of not overpacking.  Here’s a little list comprised of the items I have used on my weekend trips:

1. Travel bottle of shampoo and conditioner
   1. Fortunately I have never forgotten to pack this essential item.  When you’re constantly on the go and walking all over a city in a day, you’re probably not going to smell very good at the end of the day.  It’s natural!  Don’t forget to pack these, as they will save your life.  Some hostels don’t provide shampoo and conditioner for you…
2. Phone charger- the WHOLE thing
   1. You would be surprised the number of times someone has forgotten a piece of their phone charger.  Whether it’s the adapter, the chord, or the actual plug, make sure you pack each piece.  Even if you don’t use your phone in other countries, it still comes in handy for music on the trek back to the home country.
3. A book
   1. I love to read, so this is a ‘must have’ on my list.  Whatever your guilty pleasure may be, I highly suggest you bring a book along because a phone won’t always keep you entertained.  Sometimes it’s just wonderful to sit back and have something to read while enjoying the environment around you.
4. A scarf
   1. This is definitely aimed more towards winter-weather trips, but a scarf always comes in handy and it doesn’t take up very much space!  It’s a great way to add a little spice to any outfit, but it also keeps you nice and cozy.  It is likely you will adopt European fashion tendencies if you’re here for a while and a scarf is a big European trend.
5. Comfortable walking shoes
   1. These are super important because you may underestimate how often you will be walking.  I used to thing that we would Uber most places, but that is certainly not the case.  When you’re abroad you adopt an appreciation for walking.  When I visited Budapest, we walked the entire city in a day and accumulated over 30,000 steps.  Needless to say, I was not wearing heels.

What do you pack for your weekend trips?  I’d love to hear what other people use for their traveling necessities!

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