With this trip being my first time abroad, I had no clue what to pack for a month in Amsterdam and Copenhagen. Now, I realize some things I *really* should have brought with me and some things I **really** should have left at home.
Starting with the Dos:
DO pack an umbrella or rain jacket! I cannot stress this enough!
DO pack a change of clothes in your carry-on. One of the students on my program had her luggage lost and the airline shipped it to her home two weeks into the trip.
DO pack layers! The temperature fluctuates a lot more than you’d expect and a lot of the places we went did not have air conditioning.
Time for the Don’ts:
Don’t bother bringing more than maybe two to three pairs of shoes. I only wore two pairs the entire trip and the others I brought just wasted space in my suitcase (which was already difficult enough to zip).
Don’t forget to pack a reusable bottle for water! I was surprised that many of the restaurants we visited did not offer free tap water, so it was great to have bottle to carry around!
Don’t forget to pack some sort of bag to carry things for everyday use. I chose to bring a belt bag and, on occasion, used a tote bag to carry things as well.
Finally, do not overpack! Carrying heavy luggage on the metro and dragging it up and down stairs was NOT great.
Overall, I had an amazing time abroad and I am so thankful for this wonderful experience! However, next time I travel, I will definitely pack better!
