Packing Suggestions
Your bag
An efficiently-packed bag is going to significantly enhance your travel experience! We’ll have washing machines in all the places we stay, so you'll be able to pack light. You’ll also need to be able to manage your luggage as we get on and off trains and walk to accommodations.
I use a maximum of a medium-sized suitcase and a medium-sized shoulder bag. A medium suitcase can be packed to the gills and almost certainly not be overweight for air travel. With careful planning, you can bring something even smaller. I also carry a foldaway tote, which can become my carry-on if I need the extra space. But don’t come with full baggage; save some room for shopping!
To stay organized, I like using packing cubes. Mine are similar to these, but you can also get compression cubes like these that allow you to squish all your stuff into a smaller space. With compression cubes, you may be able to either use a smaller bag, or bring more in your suitcase, but remember that that will also add weight.
Your clothing
We can expect mostly warm to hot weather. In the mountains it will be a bit cooler, but you won’t need much for long sleeves or long pants. Be aware, though, that women need to cover their shoulders in most churches, especially in Slovakia.
To help minimize your packing load, make a plan! Bring bottoms and tops that can be mixed and matched to multiply your outfit choices. For example, choose three neutral bottoms and six tops. If most of your tops go with at least two of your bottoms, you could be coming with a dozen or more outfits. Add a dress or two (if you're into that), and you'll have lots of options for the three weeks we're away. You may want to make sure that at least one of those options is a bit dressy, or can be dressed up for a nicer restaurant.
Make sure you have comfortable footwear, as we may be walking several kilometers in a day. There will always be opportunities to rest during those days, and some days will have quite a bit less walking, but you will not want to wear your feet out in the first few days, and then not be able to participate for a while because everything hurts. Again, to keep your luggage as light as possible, I recommend two pairs - maybe one for daytime walking and one for the evening - or a maximum of three. Remember that you'll be wearing one pair on the plane!
Also, I strongly recommend wearing a pair of compression socks while flying. Discovering this was a game-changer for me. Instead of arriving in Vienna with painfully swollen feet that no longer fit into my shoes, I could walk comfortably off the plane and into the first day of my trip.
Equipment and gadgets
Make sure you bring sunscreen and a hat. I do my best to stay in the shade, but there will be times when we can't stay out of direct sun.
Bring a compact umbrella or buy a cheap one when you get to Vienna. We’ll watch the weather, of course, as we plan our days, but we are unlikely to avoid rain completely. Your umbrella can double as a sunshade, too!
Bring an empty water bottle. You can fill this up for free in airports after security so you don’t have to buy expensive airport water. And, of course, it can be refilled every morning before we go out for the day.
A universal outlet adapter will allow you to plug in and charge any of your electronic communication devices. There are many options available, and some can be used on any future trips anywhere in the world.
Towels will always be supplied in our accommodations for your regular daily hygiene routine. There are a couple of places, though, where we'll need to bring towels, and then a normal, bulky bath towel might not be the way to go. A thin, quick-dry towel packs small, and is something you'll be glad to have for day outings.
It probably goes without saying, but bring travel-sized containers of your toiletries wherever possible. This will save both weight and space.
It may be worth a reminder that we are not going into the wilderness! (I sometimes forget.) If you find you've forgotten something basic, you'll be able to buy most of what you need there.