Packing Tips
Before deciding what to pack, find out the luggage and weight restrictions imposed by your airline. Don’t pack too much! You will have to carry your own luggage, so make sure you can handle it.
Most items available in the U.S. will also be available in Europe. If you forget something, you can purchase it there. Clothing in Europe tends to be of good quality, and is reasonably priced. Wool items are of particularly good quality, but large sizes may be hard to find.
When selecting clothing to pack, keep in mind the culture; women who wear skimpy clothing need to be prepared for comments and attention that can be crude and often annoying (except at the beach and recreational areas where lighter clothing is more common and acceptable).
You should bring clothing suitable for both hot and cold weather. Fall students will arrive to warm weather and leave with cold, while spring students will arrive to cold weather and leave with warm.
Clearly identify each item of luggage on the inside and outside with your name, home address, and the center address abroad. Never leave luggage unattended.
Packing Checklist
Required - Personal First Aid Kit
• Band-aids in multiple sizes
• Antiseptic (Iodine works well)
• Medicine to treat a mild cold, such as a decongestant, alone or in combination with antihistamine
• Pain or fever reducer (one or more of the following): Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Ibuprofen
• Immodium AD or similar to treat diarrhea
• Antifungal and antibacterial ointments or creams
• 1% hydrocortisone cream
• Dramamine or similar, if you get motion sickness
• Sunscreen
• Mosquito repellent
• Any medications, prescription or over the counter, taken on a regular basis at home
• Flashlight
• Battery operated radio (in case of emergency while at remote locations)
• Extra batteries
Essential
• Good pair of walking shoes
• Dress shoes
• Sandals/flip-flops (for the beach or at home)
• Slippers (Spaniards do not go barefoot at home)
• Long-sleeve shirts
• T-shirts
• Shorts (of an appropriate length)
• One good outfit (skirts, dress pants, tie, etc.)
• Jeans/trousers
• Light sweater/jacket
• Rain jacket/umbrella
• Coat, gloves, warm socks, warm sweaters
• Underwear
• Bathing suit
• Toiletries/cosmetics
• Extra contact lenses and contact lens solution
• Day pack (to carry books around the city or to use for a weekend away)
• Spanish/English dictionary
• Italian/English dictionary
• Laptop computer
• Travel alarm clock
• Camera/film
• Extra passport-size photographs (for transportation passes, student ID, etc.)
• Prescription medication (enough to last the length of your stay)
Optional
• Notepaper and pens for the first few days
• An over-the-shoulder purse or bag with a zipper and a flap (will help to guard against pickpockets)
• Calculator (to help with monetary conversions)
• Electronic appliances (hair dryer, razor, etc.)
• Travel converter/transformer and adapter plugs (see Electrical Appliances)
• Beach towel
• Sleeping bag
• Gifts for foreign hosts and new friends (CDs, T-shirts with city, state, or campus logos, baseball caps representing Major League teams, posters, or scenic calendars)
• Photos of home, family, pets
• Ziploc bags
• Vitamin supplements (in original containers)
DO NOT BRING
• Illicit drugs or drug paraphernalia
• Firearms or explosives
• Pornographic material of any kind
• Excessive amounts of cash or anything too valuable to lose such as expensive jewelry or electronics
• Bicycles, surfboards, skis
The limit is normally one checked bag and one carry-on. The weight allowance for the carry-on piece is about 10-kg/20 lb.; the weight allowance for checked baggage is 23-kg/50 lb. European airlines are very strict about weight and if your bag is one kilo overweight, you will be charged an additional fee. You should plan to bring ONE bag that you will check and ONE piece of carry-on luggage. Therefore, you should carefully plan what you pack. Remember that it is always possible to have items sent to you from home to Spain or Italy and to ship items back at the end of the semester.