I backpacked solo through London, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam for two weeks in 2018 and bought quite a few items on Rick Steves’ website ahead of the trip. Very good quality products, helpful tips and more. And what I couldn’t find there, I (of course) found on Amazon. Below are my personal recommendations of what to do and what not to do. I’m not getting paid for this, BTW, just sharing the info. Enjoy! Here's what I loved and used from the Rick Steves site: Convertible carry on (larger bag pictured at left): LOVE THIS BAG!! So glad I didn't get a bag with wheels or use a traditional roller bag. All the steep, narrow stairs and going from city to city and around train stations would not have gone so well Civita day pack (smaller bag pictured at left): Leave your purse at home; plenty of space and good keep your bag on your front Hideaway tote: for shopping and laundry Universal European adapter: self explanatory Travel aid kit: Used it once, but glad I had it...

So...you think you've got a solid packing list drafted for your upcoming vacation? That's great, but for a truly organized trip, below are some handy extras you may want to consider, just in case. Now, I know this may sound pretty anal-retentive (I'm a list person), and you have to be flexible when traveling because 'shit happens,' but better to be prepared than not. Hope you find this helpful! Prep list: 30-60-90 days ahead Ensure you have a Passport and I highly recommend getting TSA PreCheck/Global Entry too Get travel insurance; also confirm what your credit card and current medical insurance already cover Things to buy: bare necessities only--there's so much you can buy in Europe Vaccinations to get (check https://www.vaccines.gov/who_and_when/travel/index.html to see what you need based on where you're going)  Call your bank/s and credit card/s if traveling internationally Book your lodging, book your tours (but allow some free time!) Print a...