Forum-Nexus 2019 is almost here, and now’s the time to start thinking about your travel gear and the essentials to pack for your multi-country European adventure. You’ve got this! Check out the list below for our recommendations for what to pack for a summer studying abroad in Europe. Keep in mind that you can also customize this list to your own personal needs and preferences.
Study Abroad Packing Essentials:
Clothing:
- Casual attire for sightseeing and traveling
- Casual professional attire for class
- Business casual attire for professional visits
- Clothing for occasionally cooler weather (ex: 1-2 pairs of pants, a sweater or a long sleeve shirt)
- One nice outfit for the graduate ceremony in Rhodes
- Active attire for swimming, exercising, etc.
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Comfortable dress shoes (can be flats for the ladies!)
- Sandals/flip-flops for the beach
- Undergarments
- Socks
- 1 light jacket (consider a rain jacket for multi-purpose wear)
Pro-tip: There are laundromats in all host cities to wash clothing. Try to pack about a week’s worth of clothes that you can mix and match to create new looks all month long.
Personal Items:
- Toiletries/personal care items
- Sunscreen
- Feminine products
- Any medications/prescriptions that you take, plus an extra supply as well as your written prescription from your doctor
Pro-tip: Toiletries will be available at local markets and stores, and all of the FN hotels offer shampoo/conditioner and body wash/soap. Save room and pack light!
Class Supplies:
- One notebook or folder with paper
- Writing utensils
- Required textbooks (Kindle editions recommended when possible)
- Though not required, we recommend bringing a laptop, table, or iPad – something that you can use to access the Internet for assignments/projects
- International IQ Preparatory Assignment, printed to submit on the first day of class
Miscellaneous Items:
- Converters/adaptors for all electronic items
- Chargers for electronics
- Sunglasses
- Money converted to euros (we recommend bringing 200-250 euros to start with, and using an ATM for additional transactions once in Europe)
- Main credit/debit card and a backup card
- Passport
- Scanned copies of credit cards, IDs, passports, etc. We also recommend giving your family copies to hang onto back home.
Non-Essential Items to Consider Packing for Study Abroad:
- A small fold-up umbrella
- Foldable plastic or cloth bag for grocery shopping
- A hat for shade while walking and sightseeing
- Hand sanitizer
- Camera
- Neck pillow for travel
- Portable charger/battery pack
- Water bottle for refilling
- Travel journal
- Headphones
- Laundry detergent packets
- A portable fan like this one
Pro-tip: Many of these items can found at most markets and stores in host cities.
How to Pack for a Month Abroad:
– Each FN student is permitted to bring one main suitcase and one side bag. You will be handling your own luggage as we move on and off planes, trains, and buses, so it’s important to bring bags that are not too big or heavy.
– Plan to mix and match your clothing to create multiple outfits out of a set number of pieces, and add layers for cooler weather.
– Eliminate anything that is not essential. Focusing only on what is absolutely essential will help you to maneuver your (lighter) luggage more easily.
– Try using packing cubes to organize your clothing and make it easy and convenient to pack and unpack in each city.
– Consider using the rolling method to pack your clothes tightly and conserve as much space as possible. Start with bulky items like pants and jackets, and place those items at the bottom of your bag, followed by lighter items on top.
– Save room for souvenirs and gifts to bring back home. The lighter your bag is at the beginning of the trip, the better!
The adventure of a lifetime awaits you. Feel free to reach out to any Forum-Nexus staff member for additional questions or recommendations. Happy packing!
To learn more about our summer study abroad programs, visit www.forum-nexus.com