Packing for Different Climates: What You Should Definitely be Bringing

Packing for different climates: How you should be prepping and what to bring on your trip.

When we were heading to Europe, I obviously knew that we were going to be living in a different climate than our own. Well, nothing drastic, but a bit cooler which I loved. I also knew that we were going to be taking little weekend trips while we were there.

Essentially, we booked an apartment for the month in the Netherlands, and spent two of the four weekends we were there exploring Barcelona and Berlin. Not a bad way to spend a weekend, right?

Though the trip was obviously worth it, figuring out what to pack was much more difficult than I expected. Initially, I thought we’d be traveling even more north than we already were (Scandinavia – you are still at the top of my list!), yet we ended up in Berlin and Barcelona, which were quite warm while we were there. I was ill prepared for the 85 degree weather, which now after moving to Atlanta, seems tame.

To help you avoid some packing faux-pas, I’m sharing a few things that you’ll want to think about bringing if you’re traveling to different climates.

The Staples

I needed to fit everything I was bringing for the month into one suitcase and one carry-on. For real. I wanted to bring everything. You know, that fancy dress that I may wear for one dinner, or those shoes that I might don for an evening or two out. However, that’s simply not feasible if you’re trying to travel (somewhat) light.

So, I opted for the staples. Here were some of the things that I brought that I am SO glad I had with me:

• Denim: Black denim, blue denim, and white denim.
• Bottoms: One pair of ‘nicer’ pants (I really love the pixie pants from Old Navy), some activewear, shorts (not my thing, but you might want to bring some!), and dresses. If you’re heading to warm(er) climates, you’ll definitely want some summer dresses.
• Shoes: One pair of Keds (my go-to shoe!), one pair of wedges (find a comfortable pair that you’ll be okay walking in for a bit. The Rockport wedges featured here were PERFECT for traveling. Who knew heels could be comfy?), a few sandals, one or two pairs of flats, and one pair of sneaks in case you plan to do any active activities.
• Tops: I thrive in tees, so I brought a handful of those with me. I also brought a few soft button-downs for our travel days, statement tops for dinners out on the town and weekend excursions, and some limited activewear. Also, bring a sweater! Even if you’re going somewhere warm, who knows – the AC may be bumpin’ in your hotel or you may realize that it gets chilly at night. You’ll be glad you brought it in that case.
• Statement: There were a few things that I brought along that I didn’t necessarily need, but that I was glad I brought with me! One LBD (which I actually wore for a last-minute Flamenco show) and a pair of rose gold wedges that I knew I would pair with the LBD. It was nice to have one ‘fancier’ outfit to wear, without stuffing my suitcase with items that weren’t entirely versatile.

Now, if you’re heading to a much cooler climate, you’ll want to bring one to two jackets. I’d suggest packing one jacket for everyday use, and perhaps one that’s a little ‘fancier’. I like to have at least one jacket that I can wear on evenings out that I’m not using for walking around all day or for when I’m working out.

Also, make sure you leave a little room in your suitcase when heading out for your trip. I was convinced I wasn’t going to shop, and rather spend my money and time exploring local restaurants. However, I naturally came back with a few new skirts and dresses, and was certainly glad it didn’t put me over the luggage limit!

Makeup & Hair Products

I really don’t wear much makeup, yet my bathroom cabinets are completely FULL. Trying to narrow down what I really needed proved a little tough. The best thing I ever did was deciding to bring my favorites, in travel size. I even hopped on over to Sephora and picked up sample sizes of moisturizer, cleanser, perfume (love those rollerballs!), etc. In fact, I have so many darn points with them (blessing and a curse), that I was able to zip right up to the register and ‘shop’ the products that were free based on the number of points you have. Major success with that one.

And, even if you don’t have a ton of points with Sephora or a similar store, still stop by for those travel sized items. While I normally think of Target and nearby pharmacies for travel size products, Sephora came in clutch with the brands that I love using on a daily basis. Didn’t have to compromise there one bit!

Packing for different climates: Here’s how to make it easy

As you prep for your trip, go through your daily routine a few times and jot down everything that you use on a daily basis. I like to keep a little list going on a to-do app on my phone, so I can easily jot my thoughts down right on the spot. I went through my morning and evening routines a few times and made sure I thought of everything I use that I would like to have with me.

And, while you’re doing that, think about outfits that you know you feel comfortable in. The last thing you want is to get to your destination and realize that you’re not actually comfortable in the pants or shoes you brought. What a bummer that would be!

It may sound silly but jot everything down! If you realize it could be really helpful to have a sweater with you, make sure you write it down because it may got lost in the packing shuffle.

Do you have a go-to item that you always need to have with you when traveling? Packing for different climates can be really tough, so share whatever’s been helpful to have on hand while away below!

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