Packing Tips for Multi-Country Travel

If you’re planning a multi-country adventure, from the sunny Italian seaside to the snowy French Alps, or through Austria, Germany, and the UK, some amount of packing and unpacking along the way will be unavoidable. So, what is the best way to pack and prepare your suitcase to ensure it doesn’t become a cumbersome part of your adventure? And how should you pack for multiple climates? Here are our top Multi-Country Packing Tips:

WHAT TO PACK

a rainbow across the rainy green hills of Snowdonia Wales

Check The Weather Forecast

It’s easy to have a preconception of what the climate will be like in a given destination. Then, you pack, only to find out when you arrive that they are having some unseasonably hot or cold weather. Before you start packing, take time to look up the forecasted weather in your destinations. Then you can focus on packing only what you need.

Pack Versatile Layers

When packing light or for multiple climates, layers are key. Bring versatile clothing that you can dress up or down, that can easily mix and match, and that can be worn as second or third layers depending on the weather. Consider a lightweight jacket that is also waterproof – something you would wear on a cloudless night out but also in a light rain shower.

Consider a Travel-size Steamer

If you’re packing to save space, rolling thinner clothes, and compressing thicker items, then a little travel steamer is an easy way to go wrinkle-free. Just remember you’ll probably also need an electrical converter/adaptor.

HOW TO PACK

A Bag For Everything and Everything In Its Bag

people walking down the cobblestone streets of Bologna with carry-on luggage

Normally, travel gurus tote compression bags as the best way to save space – and they’re not wrong! BUT compression bags and packing cubes serve an even more important purpose when you have a lot of unpacking/ packing to do – keeping everything organized.

Don’t spend time digging through your suitcase every time you need a specific shirt. And don’t unpack your whole suitcase at each destination. Sort your bags/cubes by destination and activity. When you arrive in a new location, all you need to do is pull out one specific bag and leave the rest of your suitcase already packed and ready to go!

Finally, when we say a bag for everything, we mean everything! Think beyond just clothes and get a little bag for electronics, airplane essentials, day-trip items, a compression bag for laundry, a shoe bag, and a toiletry bag.

Ditch the Nooks and Crannies Process

It’s so tempting to try to maximize space by storing smaller items like sunglasses, phone cables, and jewelry in the nooks and crannies left in your suitcase after you’ve packed all your clothing. If you’re traveling to multiple countries and destinations, ditch this method! It’s only a recipe for losing or forgetting things. Keep everything in its proper bag and ensure you put it back in the same place every night. The only exception is socks – they can go in your shoes. Make it easy to see if anything small is missing. 

a backpack with three small bags in order to better organize your carryon

Don’t Forget to Organize Your Carry On

We have a PDF checklist of what should go in your carry-on, but make sure that it stays organized in there as well. You want to ensure your essentials and valuables stay with you, and you can easily reach for what you need without too much digging. 

Create a Checklist for the Most Important Items

When you’re on the go every few nights, it increases the chance you’ll leave something behind. Things like phone cables, passports, medication, jewelry, and wallets should be on your out-the-door list that you check before you leave. Put your hand physically on the item and say aloud, “ I packed my X” to ensure you really have it, and you remember later that you did.


If you feel ready to embark on a fabulous multi-destination adventure – Let us know! We’re always excited to help our clients create the best vacation possible.

Multi-Country Train Travel

Train trips are back in fashion and we think they’re fantastic! They’re a great way to see the scenic countryside, and to easily move between multiple countries and destinations. Plus, they’re an adventure in themselves and eco-friendly! What more could you ask for?

In the U.S. we don’t have as extensive a passenger rail network as you’ll find in other parts of the world, so you might not be tuned in to the beauty of using train travel to your advantage while on vacation. If you have considered train travel, or if you know you’d like to see many countries in one adventure and aren’t sure how yet – this is the perfect beginner’s guide to multi-country train travel.

There are four main types of train travel, particularly in Europe. The first step to your multi-country adventure is figuring out which style of train trip you’d like to take!

Point-to-Point & Night Trains

Best For: Confident travelers or those working with a travel advisor. Flexible schedules or when you have a very specific list of places you want to see.

This is the most complex way to use trains, but also the most flexible. That is because you’re booking multiple specific trains to multiple specific places throughout your trip. You can decide exactly which cities you visit and when with this kind of train trip. This style is easiest when you have your friendly neighborhood travel advisor to help you (ahem – reach out here!).

You can piece your itinerary together by utilizing the local train websites, or your travel advisor can do it for you. On some legs of the trip, you may want to consider a night train. You’ll need to visit specific night-train companies like Nightjet or European Sleeper.

Utilizing night trains will not only save you the cost of a hotel – they’re an efficient way to travel if you’re short on time. Instead of spending a whole day of vacation traveling, you arrive at a new destination after a good night’s sleep!

Popular night train routes:


Munich, Germany – Bologna, Italy
Vienna, Austria – Rome, Italy
Salzburg, Austria – Florence, Italy


Brussels, Belgium – Prague, Czechia
Copenhagen, Denmark – Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm, Sweden – Oslo, Norway

Eurail Global Pass

Best For: Those who want to see as many places as possible in a shorter amount of time.

a red train traveling next to stunning blue lake through a mountainous valley in Switzerland

The Eurail Global Pass is another way to customize your train trip but with a bit more structure and regulation. It is essentially Interrailing for travelers living outside the EU. It lets you hop on and hop off the trains with an all-in-one ticket so you don’t have to buy a separate ticket for each leg of the journey. It’s important to note, however, that during peak times on popular routes you may want to pay extra for pre-assigned seats on certain trains.

There are several Pass options. From traveling every day within a given timeframe (i.e. each day of 2 weeks) to travel a certain number of days on a more flexible basis ( ie. Any 10 days within 2 months).

Popular Eurrail Routes:


European Capitals: London – Paris – Brussels – Amsterdam – Berlin – Prague – Vienna – Budapest – Belgrade – Sofia. (You can break this up into any section to hit just a few of these amazing cities.)

Food and drink adventure: San Sebastian – Barcelona -Lyon – Geneva -Bologna -Graz


Off the beaten path adventure: Helsinki – Tallinn – Riga – Vilnius – Warsaw – Krakow – Budapest

A mix of classic & new: Milan – Verona –
Venice – Trieste – Ljubljana – Zagreb.

Specialty Trains

Best For: Those who want a luxury train trip, where it’s as much about the journey as the destination.

These trains include our favorite luxury trains. They are an experience in and of themselves, and you can consider them a bit like a land cruise. Specialty trains are a single train with multiple stops or countries on its route.

The interior of a sleeping car in the Venice Simplon Orient Express train - couch, seating are and bed with dark polished wood and gold trim

These specialty trains include the Venice Simplon Orient Express. Which goes from Paris to Venice in one night ( a luxury sleeper),

The Eastern and Oriental Express which travels through Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. This unique train journeys through natural landscapes and parts of Southeast Asia that you rarely see in typical travel. The train is luxurious and there’s time to get off and explore at each stop.

And The Ghan, which travels across the continent of Australia from Adelaide to Darwin. A two-day mammoth journey through incredible landscapes.

Pre-Packaged Trips

Best If: You’ve never traveled outside the country before, or if you’re traveling in a large group.

The middle ground between Point-to-point and Specialty trains. Pre-packaged trips take different trains and have more flexibility a single special train, but they are still specific routes on specific dates. They’re a bit like your classic bus tour, only via rail.

There are several providers of these trips – which your travel advisor will work with. They pre-plan a route, hotels, and some activities for you so you don’t have to worry about any of the details. Sometimes they will have a guide who helps you every step of the way. And sometimes they are a bit more independent, without a guide but still with an assistance call line available.

a red train traveling through snowy mountains towards the matterhorn in Switzerland

Whether you choose an escorted tour with a guide or a pre-packaged tour on your own, you get the joy of traveling by train without worrying about multiple tickets, where you’re going next, or how you’re getting there. It’s all taken care of before you go.

The drawback of these kinds of trips is that they have specific dates and schedules already set. As with cruises and big bus tours, these trips have less flexibility and require you to fit with their itinerary instead of the other way around.

Popular pre-packaged trips:

London – Lille- Nimes- Valencia- Andalucia – Seville – Cordoba

Zurich -Lucerne – Interlaken – Zermatt


Rome – Venice – Salzburg – Munich

Madrid -Seville -Cordoba – Granada – Malaga – Barcelona

Zurich -St. Moritz – Zermatt -Basel



Which style of train travel appeals most to you? Once you decide the best style of travel for your perfect adventure – the rest falls into place! If you’re ready to enjoy an epic multi-country train adventure, let us know! We’re always here to help.

Top European Destinations to Visit with Kids

As a family, it can be difficult to decide which European country you want to visit first! You want to minimize the stress, you need it to work within your budget, and — above all – you want ensure that your kids will have fun and want to go back. While every country will bring something special to your family vacation, some are more family-friendly than others. These are our top European Destinations for Family Travel:

Best For All Ages:

Italy

Italy has an extremely child-friendly culture, making it a great place to take your toddlers and young kids. They’ll be welcome in restaurants and cafes. There’s plenty of room for them to run and explore in piazzas, parks, beaches, and castles. And the food will delight even the pickiest eater. Tweens and teens will enjoy Italy’s iconic sites, stunning beaches, great shopping, and incredible museums. The older kids will be able to appreciate Italian culture and beautiful art as they adventure throughout the country.

[Photo Credit: R via Shared Adventures – read about their family vacation in Italy here!]

UK & Ireland

Both these countries are great for families of all ages. The tweens and teens will recognize lots of places that feature in media, films, and TV. They’ll love the shopping and sites from Castles to Great Halls. All ages will delight in high tea and the younger kids will have plenty of wild nature to run around in. Being English-speaking countries, these are also great starting points if you haven’t traveled much as a family before.

Greece

Like Italy, Greek culture is very child-friendly. You don’t have to worry about the noise your littlest ones are making, as they are welcome in all aspects of life. The cuisine varies from simple meats and veggies for toddlers and young kids, to new and exciting flavors for the more adventurous. Older kids will be fascinated by Athens and the ancient Greek ruins, as they see their history lessons come to life. And everyone will be in awe at the beauty of the islands.

[Photo Credit: Saara Sanamo via Unsplash]

Best for Toddlers

Malta

Life in Malta is slower and you can travel at a more comfortable pace with your toddler. This small island nation packs a punch but not so much that you feel you need to rush around and see it all. There are stunning beaches, cute little towns and interesting architectural sites. This is a great place to have a relaxing family vacation.

Portugal

Known for its welcoming locals and positive attitudes around kids, your toddler will be more than welcome in all the hotels and restaurants. The flight from the US is relatively short and the weather is usually sunny.

[Photo Credit: Vita Marija Murenaite via Unsplash]

Spain

With an extremely child-friendly culture, your toddler will be welcome everywhere. There will be children playing around the terraces at restaurants and the locals won’t mind one bit. There are lots of child-friendly places to visit, and adults can enjoy the activities with their kids. The beaches are stunning and the pace of life is easy.

Best for Young Kids

Prague

One of Europe’s most picturesque cities, Prague offers stunning architecture, rich history and a less expensive family adventure. It’s a great choice for young kids because of the huge variety of activities. From interesting museums to nature walks, cool bridges and lots of family-friendly parks. Prague is a perfect city stay for young families as it gives you a classic European city vibe but it is more tranquil and less crowded than other better-known cities.

Norway

Perfect for young kids who love the outdoors. It’s one of the safest countries in the world and has superb air quality. There are world-class playgrounds, open-air museums, and lots of beautiful nature to enjoy. Young kids love taking cable cars up the mountains and enjoying easy hikes through incredible landscapes.

[Photo Credit: Juliane Lieberman via Unsplash]

Copenhagen

With beautiful views, canals, and colorful houses, Copenhagen will delight your little ones. There are lots of green spaces to enjoy in the summer. And plenty of kid-friendly attractions, including the famous Tivoli Gardens. There are great bike tours and long daylight hours perfect for young kids.

Best for Tweens & Teens

Germany

Super family-friendly, tweens and teens will enjoy the fun and charm of Germany. There are fabulous museums and impressive cathedrals. You’ll find stunning Castles and sprawling gardens. Older kids will be able to enjoy the museums, architecture, and history of the country. And transportation from place to place within the country is easy on their train system.

France

Home to some of the most famous museums, arts, and landmarks, tweens and teens will really be able to appreciate France. They’ll enjoy the food and be able to absorb and understand seeing such a different culture. There’s plenty to do, interesting tours, and amazing foodie experiences. And if they can learn and use a few words of French, the locals will be appreciative!

[Photo Credit: Sabrina via Shared Adventures – read about their mother-daughter trip to London and Paris here!]

Iceland

Best for teens and tweens who love the great outdoors. All the amazing natural beauty and outdoor activities are best suited for older kids who can understand the power of Mother Nature. Older kids can enjoy the more demanding activities like ice caves, glacier hiking, and whale spotting. Plus they’ll be able to relax in the lagoons and thermal baths.


Are you and your family ready to embark on an incredible European Adventure? Let us know – we’ll take care of all the details!

Italy with a Toddler

Traveling with a toddler is a unique experience. It will, of course, change the way you travel. But if you’re ready to embrace those changes – it is absolutely rewarding. Liz’s family, including her young nephew, recently visited her in Italy for the holidays and she learned a LOT about traveling with little ones! Here is her top “Toddler in Italy” advice:

Fewer Daytrips and more Overnight Stays

 Liz’s family was visiting her in her small town and therefore they did a lot of day trips to larger nearby cities. Day trips are do-able, and the train rides are entertaining, but she discovered that having a home base that you can go back to for a mid-day nap is incredibly useful with a toddler. It can give you more time to explore and enjoy the city at a slow pace. Cities with a lot to do and see like Rome, Venice, and Florence deserve a few days each.

That being said – don’t fear the train rides. Toddlers ride for free if you don’t book them a seat. And, with the way the trains are set up, it’s easy to keep them entertained while you travel. Much more relaxing than a car ride!

Enjoy the Piazzas and the room to run

One of the nicest parts of Italy is the big piazzas — open squares where kids are allowed and even encouraged to run. Making use of these areas is the perfect way to enjoy Italy with a toddler. Liz’s nephew loved chasing the birds and running around the piazza with his new toddler friends. You’ll often find other kids enjoying the space to run and make noise while their parents sit nearby and sip a spritz.

Venice especially has enclosed campos that are perfect for a toddler to run around. Without the danger of falling in the water or wandering off too far.

For the locals, piazzas are about community. They’re a place to hang out and enjoy the sunshine. And a place where children are expected to run. Our best advice for Italy with a toddler: revel in the piazzas.

Italian Food is Delicious

Italian food is incredibly kid-friendly. In almost every restaurant (even the most specialized) you can find pasta pomodoro (spaghetti with tomato sauce). If your toddler is more adventurous in their tastes, there are plenty of other kinds of pasta, cheeses, and meats for the little ones to enjoy! And, of course, gelato abounds. Liz’s little nephew had a great time at all the restaurants.

Not Every Activity Can or Will Involve the Toddler

Not every activity that you want to do in Italy will be suited for your toddler. If you have a group, it’s nice to have one person watch your toddler chase pigeons in the piazza while the others go to enjoy Michaelangelo’s David. This is obviously more difficult if you’re just a couple, but traveling in a multi-generational group can help spread the child-care burden and make sure that everyone gets a little adult time to enjoy the wonders of Italy solo.

Find out what’s most important to each adult and what the others don’t mind missing. While Liz’s family was on the Parmigiano tour, for example, Liz was able to step away with her nephew when his attention wandered. Having someone who could step away from the tour to play with the toddler was incredibly helpful. And it made the tour all the more enjoyable for her sister and brother-in-law who were the most excited about taking the tour.

Find Kid-Specific Activities – Even if They’re Not Specific to Italy

In Bologna, Liz found an optical illusion exhibition. While not in any way Italy-specific, this was a great highlight for little Noah. Every city will have exhibitions, museums, and activities that are geared toward the local children. Embracing these kinds of spaces can make your trip all the more fun as you watch your little one enjoy and explore. The exhibit was also pretty cool for the adults on the trip.

Much like the illusion exhibition, playgrounds and parks are not unique to Italy. However, taking some time from the museums and sightseeing to let your toddler get some of their energy out on the playground or in a park is a great way to balance your vacation

Slow Down and Watch

This is advice we’d give to anyone traveling in Italy, even without a toddler. To sit in a café and soak up the vibes. To watch the world around you and absorb the culture instead of rushing from site to site. It’s absolutely our preferred way to see and enjoy Italy! And with a toddler it’s even more important.

They are learning about the world and absorbing new sites and sounds all the time. And they get pretty excited about small things (like dogs and boats). Take some time to sit (or stand) and watch the boats go by in Venice. Or the dogs and people pass in Florence — it’s a perfect way to spend the afternoon.

Castles are Great Adventures

Castles, old ruins, and other open-plan adventures are perfect for toddlers. While you delight in the frescos, toddlers can enjoy the freedom to roam and explore interesting new structures they’ve never seen before. The Italian countryside is dotted with old castles. Many of them are in quaint little villages that offer a perfect fairy-tale feel to your vacation.

So while you’re traveling in the countryside for wine tastings and unique meals, stop at a castle for a fun family activity!

Backpacks/Carriers are Key

Italy can involve a lot of walking. A stroller is usually the perfect way to transport your kid. But, sometimes there are spaces where a stroller is impossible. Liz’s family decided to climb the Florence belltower and used a backpack for the stairs between the platforms. It was difficult but effective.

A backpack was also the perfect way to contain and ensure Noah’s safety on the Vaporetto (ferry) in Venice. With all the luggage, having a hands-free way of containing and carrying your toddler will make a big difference.

Are you ready to explore Italy with your toddler? Let us know! We’re always excited to help families make new memories in Europe!

You provided excellent guidance for us. I appreciated that you really had us think about what was most important to us when we were selecting the right cruise – and not to totally focus on what other people had to say. THANK YOU for helping to make this a memorable trip for our family! It really was a trip of a lifetime!

Clare and Mark (family cruise to Alaska)

The level of service we experienced was out of this world (and we did NOT make it easy on Ann). We weren’t quite sure where we wanted to go, when we would be able to go, or what “vibe” we were going for. After asking us some key questions (what we liked, didn’t like, why, etc.) Ann helped us narrow down our trip details and planned the honeymoon of our dreams. She helped book some of our excursions, answered some emergency questions while abroad and was always available/willing to help. I think it’s safe to say we won’t be using anyone else for future travel planning – Ann is a rockstar!

Carli (Italy and Spain)