packing can be stressful and overwhelming!

Packing for going abroad is not an easy task at hand. It is something that people do not seem to talk about a lot. So after my experience with packing for a semester in Italy, I wanted to share my tips and packing list!

TIPS For Packing: 

• Pack early!!! Set aside at least 2 free days before you leave that will give you enough time to pack and rearrange to make everything fit perfectly! I started packing 2 weeks before leaving and had to rearrange and repack several times. 
• Only bring your essentials! I tried to pack everything I could think of for my semester, however I was not able to make everything fit while keeping my suitcase at 50 pounds.
• Pack all your full sized toiletries and hair products in your checked bag. (For me, this added A LOT of weight, so pack your lighter things in this bag to help you stay under 50 pounds!)
• Bring medicine! You will get sick! Medicines might include: NyQuil, DayQuil, ibuprofen, pepto bismol, tums, cough drops, antinausea or motion sickness medicine 
• Get a passport holder to hold your passport, credit cards, money, student ID, etc. while traveling.
• Leave extra room in your suitcase or check a second bag on the way home! Leaving extra room in my suitcase was just not possible for me. I packed each suitcase to the brim! Before I came, I bought bags off of amazon that are similar to an IKEA bag and brought one with me to check on the way home. 

What To Pack In:

• 1 large checked suitcase
• 1 carry on suitcase 
• 1 travel backpack 
• 1 fanny pack 

TIP: wear layers to the airport to save room in your suitcase!

What To Pack:

Travel and Tech

• 2-3 Phone chargers
• Apple watch charger 
• Airpods charger
• Airpods 
• laptop
• laptop charger 
• 1-2 Portable chargers (and cord to charge it)
• 2-3 European travel plug adaptors (2 prongs not 3!)
• Digital or disposable camera (not a necessity, but fun!)
• Air tags
• Door lock (for apartment and travel)
• Passport holder 
• Neck pillow
• Travel blanket
• Eye mask 
• Books to read
• Travel journal 
• Brita water bottle and replacement filters 
• Printed documents (insurance card, arrival guide, orientation schedule, housing assignment, student ID, copy of passport, flight itinerary, letter from doctor if bringing any medications)
• Luggage locks
• Scissors 
• Speaker (not a necessity, but fun to have) 
• Lint roller 

Hygiene

• Makeup 
• Tampons
• Prescription medicines 
• Basic medicine 
• Tampons
• Extra deodorant 
• Hair spray
• Dry shampoo 
• Reusable microfiber cleansing towels
• Microfiber hair turban
• Big microfiber towel for travel
• Downy wrinkle releaser 
• Contacts and contact solution 
• Face wash 
• Face cleansing brush
• Other skincare 
• Nail clippers and tweezers 
• Travel toiletry bag (for weekend travel) 
• Shampoo and conditioner (only if you are picky! If not you can buy there)
• Tooth brush
• Toothpaste 
• Travel size toothpaste 
• Razor 
• Retainer 

Accessories and Shoes

• Jewelry
• Travel jewelry holder
• Flat iron or curling iron (that works in EU)
• Sunglasses 
• Tote bag for school 
• 1 going out purse with long strap
• 1 fanny pack (I love mine off of Amazon! It is called Telena small sling bag for women leather crossbody fanny pack) 
• Umbrella 
• 1 pair athletic tennis shoes 
• 1-2 pairs of comfy/cute sneakers 
• 1 pair of black boots
• 1 pair of sandals 
• 1-2 pairs of shower/house shoes (slippers or I like the pillow slides that work for both!)

Clothes 

• Rain jacket 
• 2 pairs of leggings
• 1-2 pairs of sweatpants/joggers
• 1 pair of leather pants
• 1-2 pairs of jeans
• 1-2 pairs of flowy pants 
• 1 pair of cargo pants
• 1-2 skirts 
• 1-2 pairs of tights (1 thin pair, 1 fleece lined pair) 
• 2-3 swim suits
• 2 sweatshirts/crewnecks (neutral color)
• 1-2 blazers 
• 1-2 coats (puffer and/or trench coat! Can also buy trench coat there)
• 3 regular bras, 2-3 sports bras
• 7-10 pairs of socks
• 7-10 pairs of underwear 
• 2-3 long sleeve shirts
• 2-3 short sleeve shirts 
• 2-3 tank tops/going out tops 
• 1-2 neutral color dresses
• 1-3 fun color dresses 
• 1-2 collapsible bins (in case your apartment has limited space for clothes) 

A rain jacket and umbrella are a MUST pack!

Written by: Lauren, Spring 2024 Florence student from the University of Arkansas