🇪🇺 Europe & North America Packing List

Europe & North America (Paris · London · Rome · New York) — Anti-theft phone tether and a TSA-approved lock

The most common mistake when packing for Europe & North America (Paris · London · Rome · New York) is assuming you can just buy it there. In practice the local price is often higher, the standard is different so it does not work, or finding a shop eats half a day. To avoid that, this list breaks 11 items into 3 categories. 9 of them are essentials — without them the itinerary itself is affected — and the remaining 2 are optional, to fit the space you have left.

What defines this destination is Anti-theft phone tether and a TSA-approved lock. Reusing the same list for a different country goes wrong exactly there, so it is worth checking per destination.

Essentials at a glance

Full list by category

📄 Documents & payment

  • Passport plus two photocopies Essential

    Keep two passport photos and the copies somewhere separate, in case of loss

  • Travel insurance certificate in English Essential

    Some European borders ask for proof — carry a printed copy

  • Two credit cards for overseas use (Visa and Mastercard) Essential

    Use two different networks so a rejected card is not the end of it

  • Advance authorisation such as US ESTA or UK ETA Essential

    Approval must be in hand at least 72 hours before departure

🔒 Theft prevention & safety

  • Anti-theft phone tether or neck strap Essential

    Defeats snatch-and-run theft on the Paris and Rome metro

  • TSA-approved three-dial cable lock Essential

    For securing a suitcase on trains and for hostel lockers

  • Slim under-clothing money belt Optional

    Keeps your passport and larger notes out of sight

✈️ Long-haul flight & packing

  • Universal travel plug adapter Essential

    Covers UK three-pin, continental Europe and North America in one

  • Compression socks and a sleep mask Optional

    Prevents leg swelling and deep-vein problems on flights over ten hours

  • Compression cubes and a foldable spare bag Essential

    For the extra volume you bring home as souvenirs

  • Shampoo, conditioner and moisturiser for hard water Essential

    European hard water leaves hair stiff and skin dry

Category notes

📄 Documents & payment — 4 items

Losing any of these ends the trip on the spot. Keep a copy or a phone photo separately from the originals, and carry the originals in a bag that stays on your body rather than in your suitcase.

🔒 Theft prevention & safety — 3 items

Where pickpocketing is common, the shape of your bag is itself the countermeasure. Avoid back pockets and open tote bags.

✈️ Long-haul flight & packing — 4 items

These decide how well you sleep on a long flight. Take them out before boarding and keep them within reach of your seat.

The order to pack in

Working top to bottom through a list leaves gaps. This order leaves fewer.

  1. Documents and payment first — without these you do not board at all. Check expiry dates and balances at this step, not later.
  2. Anything that needs charging — charge it all the night before and gather the adapters and cables next to the devices.
  3. Separate what you will use in the cabin — once a suitcase is checked you cannot open it until arrival. Pull those items into your carry-on first.
  4. Everything else into the suitcase — heavy items near the wheels keep it stable when you pull it upright.
  5. Re-check only the 9 essentials at the end — going through the whole list again never happens; going through the essentials does.

Europe & North America travel tips and entry rules

Packing is not the whole job. Pre-registration and local rules can only be dealt with before you fly. Here are 2 guides for Europe & North America.

Packing lists for other destinations

🧳 Check the carry-on and checked baggage rules too · 📰 See all travel tips and entry rules