Packing Guide: Short trip abroad

If I could give you any type of advice it would be to not over pack for a short trip abroad. 

While packing, it can be very hard to say no to unnecessary things. You feel like you just NEED those extra pair of shoes or you NEED that jacket. Realistically its going to be more of a pain to have them. So, cut your suitcase in half.

Here is a list of things you need for a short 1-2 week abroad.

1. Two or three outlet adapters so you can charge all your appliances at night. 
2. Make sure you can do mix and match outfits. Jeans and skirt outfits that you can interchange. Four shirts and four bottoms make 16 outfits if they can all mix match. Also a good idea is to take pictures of different outfits beforehand so you don’t have to be figuring out outfits while on vacation. 
3. If you are traveling in the winter you only need two jackets. Bring one that is heavy and one that is lighter, so if anything you can layer together. If you are traveling in summer make sure you bring one light jacket/cardigan just in case you are in a restaurant that is cold, it gets chilly at night, or you need something to cover your shoulders for going into cathedrals, better safe than sorry.
4. I’ve learned that you really only need two pairs of shoes when going on a short trip abroad.  Two different color shoes so you can mix and match outfits while mix and matching shoes as well.
5. Bring a hair curler and leave the straightener and blow dryer at home.  In my experience, outlets abroad can not handle straighteners or blow dryers and they usually break.  I use the Conair curling wand and it works great abroad!
6. Travel with a small suitcase!  If you are on a short trip you are most likely staying in different cities for only two or three days.  Traveling on trains and airplanes more than a few times during your trip can be exhausting with a large luggage to bring around (trust me).

Packing might be a stressful part of a trip but in the end this is the least important.  Take a lot of pictures, live in the moment and enjoy being abroad!

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