Traveling to Europe for the first time was one of the best experiences of my life! Will and I had such an amazing time walking through the streets of London and Paris and visiting SO many gorgeous sights. While our trip was mostly hiccup-free, there were a few moments where I wished I had done something different or realized I should have packed something I forgot. So, to help make your next trip abroad hassle-free, I wanted to share a list of things I wish I had packed and things I would have done differently!

Things I Wish I Packed

**Energy Sticks**

One of the hardest parts about traveling to Europe was the time change! I found myself feeling super sluggish, and I wished I had energy sticks to put in my water to help energize me. The energy drinks are obviously different than in America, and I wasn't a fan of the taste of their Coke and Sprite Zeros. So, bringing these packets would have been a lifesaver for waking me up!

**USB Charger**

Right now, you are probably like, Lauren, why would you put an iPhone charger on your essentials list? Wouldn't you have naturally packed one? While I did pack a charger, I didn't bring one with a USB port, which meant I couldn't charge any of my devices on the plane! My biggest advice is to check what type of outlets your plane will have, and if you can't figure it out, pack a USB charger just in case!

**Wireless Headphones and Cable**

While I did bring my wireless headphones, I forgot something crucial: the cable. Since I didn't have the right phone charger, I could only listen to music on my phone for so long until it died. So, if I had brought the cable to my headphones with me, I would have been able to connect them to the plane and watch the in-flight entertainment. These are my favorite wireless headphones because they stay charged for twelve hours, cancel out LITERALLY everything, and are super comfortable to wear.

**Coloring Book**

While I did bring a ton of technological entertainment for the plane ride, I wish I would have had something different to pass the time. I am a very anxious flier in general, so I wish I brought something stimulating enough to keep my mind off the flight while in the air. Personally, I love using a coloring book to alleviate my worries, and I love this specific book because it's meant for anxiety and stress!

**Crossbody Bag**

When I was packing for Europe, I made sure to pack as many cute bags as I could to match my outfits. However, I didn't think about the fact that purses tend to be small, and a lot of the stuff I needed to carry throughout the day didn't fit in any of my bags. So, I wish I had brought a crossbody bag that was still cute but also functional!

**Portable Fan**

Look. I NEED to be cold in order to fall asleep, and the lack of AC was something I struggled with in Europe. All the hotels Will and I stayed in didn't have any AC, or it wasn't super strong. To help keep me cool and able to rest, I would have brought a small compact fan that would have made my nights way better!

**Pill Organizer**

One of the biggest lessons I learned abroad was the importance of being prepared. From the minute we landed, Will and I were under the weather, and while I brought some Tylenol, it ran out fast. I wish I had brought a pill organizer that had different types of medications (nausea, pain, allergy, etc.) so we could have dealt with our illnesses quickly.

Things I Wish I Did Differently

**Getting Local Currency**

When it came to currency, Will and I were advised to get Pounds at the airport as soon as we landed. However, we ended up not needing any of the physical money we took out, and we actually lost money when we transferred it back to dollars. Our cards were accepted everywhere, and we had no issues when it came to paying.

**Flying Out of Paris**

We split our trip between London and Paris, and people advised us to take the train back to London and fly out of there rather than Paris. Quite honestly, that was the worst thing we did the entire trip. Not only did we have to pay for a train back to London from Paris, but it made our travel day longer than it had to be. Next time, we plan to fly out of whatever country we are in.

**Booking Train Tickets in Advance**

I'm not gonna lie. This trip snuck up on me fast because of our move. While dealing with finalizing our lease and packing, I didn't even think about booking anything in advance. I was very unfamiliar with the train system in Europe, and I didn't book our tickets until the last minute. My last-minute booking increased our total by an outrageous amount of money, but if we had bought them when we purchased our plane tickets, we could have saved a few hundred bucks.

**Packing Less Bags**

While packing, I organized all my stuff into three bags: a backpack for camera/work equipment, a carry-on for clothes, and a medium suitcase for more clothes. What I wish I had done was carry my backpack on the plane alone and put everything else into one large suitcase. Since I was traveling for a work event, seeing Taylor Swift, and filming content, I had a ton of different outfits that needed a lot of space. It would have been easier to put everything together instead of splitting it into two bags.

Will and I truly had the time of our lives in Europe, and I hope this list helps make your trip less stressful. If you're looking for some fun things to do in London or Paris, check out my travel blog, where I talked about some of my favorite things from our trip!