The abroad life is treating you well: You’ve just booked spring break in Ibiza, Valentine’s Day in Prague, or reading week in Rome and you can’t wait to spontaneously take the Eurostar outside the borders of your city for a quick weekend trip. With so many opportunities for touring, exploring, and taking the perfect #abroadinstagram on your weekend adventures, its sometimes a challenge to step aside and think about what you actually need to bring. Luckily for you, Her Campus Bucknell Abroad has put together the ultimate weekend packing guide to ease all of your pre-trip worries:
First things first: check the weather.
Nothing says ice cold like a weekend in Switzerland without proper footwear, jackets, scarves, and the inevitable hand warmers. Before leaving your home city, make sure you’re updated on any and all weather warnings, cold fronts, and heat waves that might hit you the weekend you’re traveling and pack accordingly.
Travel tip: BYOU (bring your own umbrella) – weather patterns this time of year almost always involve intermittent rainstorms.
ShedRain Travel Umbrella, Amazon
Leave behind the extra baggage.
While it’s always a good idea to take advantage of cheap flights, always be aware of extra baggage fees. Most inexpensive airlines allow you two carry-on bags per flight, so leave behind the monster suitcase. Avoid wasting Euros on oversized baggage by asking yourself the simple question: Do I really need this? In most cases, the answer is no. For quick trips, pack two pairs of pants, two or three tops, and a sweater or sweatshirt for cooler climates. When you’re aimlessly walking around a confusing foreign city, the last thing you want to do is lug around the extra weight.
Travel tip: Maximize space by rolling your clothes, not folding them. This prevents them from wrinkling and allows you to fit that extra t-shirt into your backpack.
Hershel Supply Co. Woodside Backpack, Zappos
Stick to neutral color palettes.
Don’t be that traveler who wears a Bucknell sweatshirt around a European city. To fit into the fashion culture, stick to the basics. Pack solid, black or dark-colored pieces that can easily be mixed and matched for both daytime and nighttime activities. Simple, cotton pieces, like long-sleeved t-shirts, won’t wrinkle and can be layered under cardigans for touring around or leather jackets for exploring nightlife.
Travel tip: Transition from day to night outfits easily by packing one or two cocktail necklaces or earrings. Bold pieces can make a simple daytime ensemble look like a completely different outfit for going out.
V-neck Sweater, Zara
Don’t forget your feet.
Exploring a new city is an incredibly eye-opening and memorable experience that shouldn’t be tainted by sore heels and blisters. When packing for a weekend trip, leave behind the heeled booties and brand-new flats. Instead, pack a pair of fashion sneakers for touring around during the day and a pair of black, comfortable boots for nighttime adventures. Your feet will thank you the morning after.
Travel tip: In your carry-on toiletries bag, pack extra Band-Aids and Blister Cushions in case your shoes start to cause problems.
Superga Classic, Amazon
Keep it in perspective.
When it comes to traveling the world, we know that it’s hard to fit your life into a carry-on backpack. But if you sit back, relax, and realize that it’s only two or three days out of your semester, it’ll be easier to pack the essentials. Just remember: your favorite down coat, pair of boots, or leather jacket will always be waiting for you in your wardrobe when you come home Sunday night.