We leave for Spain on Saturday! Here are my Summer Packing Tips for Two Weeks In Europe! It’s a bit complicated as we will be in cities (Madrid and Barcelona) and the country/seaside (Sitges and Cortona, Italy). Actually, we will be there for 2 and a half weeks. But after years of trips to Europe (and living there), I have a plan and some tips.
It’s great that we can plan to travel again. Cindy, Annie, and Ashley from Modern Glam will be showing their Travel Wardrobe tips, too, with links at the end of the post.
Summer Packing List Two Weeks In Europe
I will be taking a tote bag on the plane with essentials and a one-day change of clothes and checking a medium-sized suitcase. Using just a carry-on suitcase for 18 days would cause me too much stress and our flight from San Francisco to Madrid just has one stop.
Tip One:
Juliet from Make Mine A Spritzer says that you don’t need a whole new travel wardrobe “Just a few new things to make everything feel fresh.”
Dresses
It’s going to be really hot in Madrid (high 90’s) and a bit dressier in the city (plus, our daughter is getting married there to a man who was born in Spain and grew up in the U.S.).
For every day, I find that light-weight dresses like the one below from Madewell and skirts pack well and are always appropriate. Madewell has lots of cute options right now.
I am packing this Johnny Was dress, too. I’ve shown it to you before. It’s 20% off now and some sizes are still available.
It packs down to the size of a t-shirt!
Tip Two:
Packing Cubes! I cannot recommend these enough as they make your clothes more compact and organized. And you can just put the cubes in a drawer when you reach your destination. Use them for your dirty clothes, too.
Skirts
I bought this skirt to wear while we are in Sitges on the Mediterranean coast. It can be worn with a t-shirt or as a bathing suit cover-up too. Skirts are cooler than pants! I don’t feel pulled together in shorts…but go for it if you have the legs!
Tip Three:
As much as you want to pack your white jeans, save them for home. A friend who travels a lot for business and pleasure says to go with a light wash denim or another color as white shows the dirt too quickly and you want more than one wear. We will be on planes, trains and in automobiles!
Pants
I’m wearing these cargo pants on the plane and three or four t-shirts to wear with these pants and the skirts.
Shop The Post:
Tip Four:
Limit the number of shoes you bring to three or four.
Shoes:
THIS IS SO HARD FOR ME. And of course, they should all be comfortable. I’m bringing a pair of heels that I may only wear the night of the wedding. But summer sandals are lightweight and these are great for walking on cobblestones.
Shop The Post:
Tip Five:
Hand-wash your undergarments mid-trip. Someone commented on my Fall/Winter Travel List that the amount of underwear was not enough for 14 days. Well, of course, you have to do a little washing.
Tip Six:
Learn what you need to do regarding Covid guidelines. The easiest way to know is by reading what the airline you are flying on recommends in addition to the CDC travel notices.
Those are my Summer Packing Tips for Two Weeks In Europe.
Let’s see what my friends are recommending:
Love all the tips. Have a fabulous trip and wedding. What a lovely time it will be!
Thank you!
I think the Johnny Was lights up your life! Packing light is really hard for me, but I am getting better. Love the packing cubes.My husband and I have a deal: I pack his bags (cubes, which he loves, too) and he deals with the luggage on trip! Years ago we agreed that new toothbrushes on trip and dispose. The trip I admire you did was the Russia to France on a train as I recall and with your gimpy ankle! How did you do that? Have a fabulous trip and a lovely wedding.
Having that dislocated ankle made me appreciate what handicapped people go through…and for airport wheelchair services!!!
Mary Ann,
I hope that you have a wonderful adventure in Spain. Madrid and Barcelona are two of my favorite places to visit and I cannot wait to see your photos!
I love all of your choices and suggestions. I too like to wear dresses, they are “dressier” and more comfortable to me. I laughed about your comment about the white jeans, I follow another blogger that took 4 pairs of white jeans on a safari honeymoon! She said they stayed clean.
Have a fabulous day and trip! Stay safe.
The “international” lady that gave me the white jeans advice is also named Elizabeth. That’s crazy…white jeans on a safari??! We were in Buenos Aires when Elizabeth said that…I was wearing white jeans and boy, did they look dirty…just sort of yellow!
Hi Mary Ann,
How wonderful to be traveling to Spain for your daughter and future son-in-law’s wedding.
It looks like you’ll be great wardrobe-wise. Have a wonderful trip. I’ll be thinking of you and the fun memories to be made.
xo,
Karen
Thank you so much, Karen!!!
Such a great post!! I love all the outfits you have packed and can’t wait to see photos from the wedding. For me, underwear is such a small (ish) item, that I really will pack as many pairs as days in the trip and a couple extra. I can’t handle the idea of having to re-wear my skivvies if I can’t find the time or place to wash them. But that’s just me!
You have a good point!!
MA … I’m so excited for you and your family and the wedding!!! I’m also incredibly impressed with your medium sized checked bag. While I may be one to dispense advice (yes, a few new items increases excitement to wear them … repeatedly … meaning you don’t pack as much) following my own advice is another story. And, I might be tempted to pack a steamer trunk for your 2 1/2 week adventure. But, you are much more experienced and sensible. I adore you Madewell dress and may order it for myself … the Johnny Was is fabulous too. Have so much fun … I can’t wait to see your stories along the way! xo
Thanks, Juliet…you will look beautiful in the Madewell dress!
Hi Mary Ann,
Enjoy that trip and the wedding! It is lovely to see you having a good time after last year. You give such cheer to others—now it is your turn. And yes, those packing cubes are absolute life savers for keeping things neat and easy to manage. Worth every cent. Stay safe and have fun! Helen
So true, Helen. My sister and I see our Mom’s presence in so many happier times now. But we know ultimately she is in a much happier place. Alexandra is going to wrap my mom’s blue rosary around her bridal bouquet.
On my last vacation prior to covid, we’ve got the packing cubes ( thanks to one of your packing posts) and it was a game changer. I prefer packing a minimum and shop for my needs during the vacation. My husband makes us do that . It’s so much more fun, you don’t over buy, and you come back home with things that will always remind you of your trip.
Your husband is really awesome, Li!!!
Mary Ann, I love your dresses and they will be perfect in Spain! How exciting to be going abroad! Thanks for the tip on the packing cubes…I will need to try those. Been traveling alot, but mostly domestic travel. Heading to Europe in December but of course, the weather will be very different. Safe travels. Take lots of pictures!
HI Mary, have a great time in December!!!
Mary Ann! Love your dresses, your travel outfit, and your tip on not packing white jeans! Could not agree more! I never even wear them when I go into the city! Too risky!
Howard is bringing white jeans but he needs them for our “Spanish Night”…stay tuned 🙂
Hi Mary Ann
Your packing tips are always the best because you are “the world traveler”. I need to use your link and purchase those packing cubes. I keep forgetting to. I hope you have a fabulous time. I know you will. Can’t wait to see all the pics and live vicariously through you!!
Thanks, Cindy. The packing cubes are game changing! I love all the outfits you created…genius.
Great packing tips Mary Ann.
Sounds like you’ve included everything except what the Mother of the Bride will be wearing for the wedding. Whatever you choose, you’ll be beautiful!
Thanks, Mary. I’m wearing a black and red dress that my sister gave me. I think it looks “Spanish.” Hope my “shapewear” arrives in time!
How exciting Mary Ann! Thanks for the tips…I always put items in my carry on that I would be sad to lose or anything hard to replace. A great idea to keep a change of clothes in there too! Years ago to save time I started keeping a master copy of things I always bring with me so I don’t have to rewrite a new list for every vacation. Then I would cross them off as I pack. However, a few years back I accidentally put my mascara back in the drawer that morning we left and didn’t realize it until I was getting ready to attend a wedding the next day. Luckily there was time for my husband to make a CVS run. It was an emergency!!
Have a great trip!
Ha! I can’t tell you how many times I have done that with my toothbrush. Now I have a travel case that I keep lots of those things in…but still, pack a smaller makeup case each time.
When my husband and I travel besides putting an outfit for each of us in our carry on, we also put a couple of outfits in each others checked bags. That way if it takes a few days to locate one of our bags, we will have additional clothes to wear. Also, Downy wrinkle releaser is good to bring if you need to iron. Usually, there are no irons in European hotels.
EXCELLENT ideas!!!
LOOKS PRETTY GOOD!
I WORRY ABOUT THE MEDIUM SIZED LUGGAGE HAULING ONTO THE TRAIN?WILL YOUR SON BE AROUND?!
HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME!
ITALY TOO………………OH MY GOSH!WELL, I’m requesting a small baggie of dirt from CORTONA!PLEASE!
I HAVE A COLLECTION OF ITALIAN DIRT!!!!!!!
BE SAFE ENJOY THAT BRIDE!
WISH WE COULD ALL BE FLIES ON THE WALL!
ARREVERDERCCI!!!
XXX
Yes, I will have Tommy and Howard’s help 🙂 and the suitcase is pretty light. Wish you were coming, too!
Oh, Elizabeth! You have a collection of dirt? How did I not know this? Here I thought I was clever to have a sand collection. Silly me!
ONLY ITALIAN DIRT………in ANTIQUE GLOVE BOXES!!!
I WAS HEART BROKEN TO LEAVE 27 years ago!