ATTENTION ALL FIRST TIME TRAVELERS!
When backpacking or traveling in Europe, you will leave your suitcase or backpack in your hotel room and take your valuables and personal items with you in your front pocket, a money belt or daypack.
Besides clothing and toiletries, I only take a passport, camera, credit card and ATM cards. LESS JUNK = LESS PROBLEMS! ( NO phone & NO lap top)
Pack light so you don’t have a bunch of stuff you will not use.
If your daypack has a bunch of stuff, dump it out on the dresser when you arrive at the hotel and only take what you need for the day. Be sure you have water, snacks and proper clothing. This way you won’t carry 20 pounds of crap around while you visit the sites and hike hundreds of stairs. HEFTY brand “freezer bags” are a great way to sort your stuff in your daypack, like pens & markers, your journal, ticket stubs, brochures and receipts.
Leave expensive jewelry at home.
Empty out your purse & wallet at home.
You do not need your library card or health club card in Europe.
If staying in a hotel or B&B;
Most places you will stay in Europe, do not have elevators/lifts. Don’t bitch or complain, PACK LIGHT so it won’t kill you to hike up 6 flights of stairs.
Always make sure your doors are locked when you sleep and depart for the day. You may also want to prop a chair up against your door at night.
If on lower floors or connecting balconies, lock your windows.
Never leave personal or valuables in your room. Use the safe or carry them with you.
Never leave clothes on your bed or on the floor. Housekeepers will move stuff to make the beds and this is when stuff is misplaced, lost or stolen.
Leave the room as you found it. Put all trash in can or ask for a trash bag if you have made a mess. Respect the hotels like it is your home or maybe Grandma’s home.
Shake out your sheets and look under your bed, hanging hook on back of doors and showers for forgotten & misplaced items before checking out.
Don’t forget to check for your electrical converters and adapters. I make a large yellow laminated tag that says (Converters/Adapters) If I use the items to charge batteries, I take the sign off the charger and hang it on my luggage handle so I won’t forget.
Check with front desk, most budget hotels lock the front door at midnight for security to keep out drifters and thieves. They will either give you a key or show you location of a doorbell for the night staff.
Most small hotels require that you leave your room key which is usually attached to a large or heavy key bob. This is mainly done for security and also in case of fire; they can see which rooms are occupied.
Be nice to the staff and say hello, goodbye, please and thank you in their language.

If staying in a HoStel;
Print out your hostel confirmation and bring it with you.
Print out a map on location of hostel and directions from airport, train or subway.
Know when the hostel is available for check-in and if they have a place to lock up your luggage in case of early arrival.
Does Hostel have a lockout = (when they close to do cleaning and management gets a short rest.) You don’t want to waste valuable time and show up at noon when the hostel is closed and you sit on the steps till 5pm. (HaHa, bad planning on your part).
Don’t trust your roommates. Many travelers think these fellow backpackers are cool people, but once you leave your guard down, someone may take advantage of you and it may be someone from another room or staff that may ruin your first trip to Europe.
Most modern hostels have lockers for each bed, but you bring your own combo lock. Read up on hostel web site. A key lock will suck if you lose your key.
Do NOT show off your valuables or expensive electronics to others.
Do NOT leave any valuables on your bed as you step out for a shower or run to the toilette. It only takes seconds for an item to be stolen. It is NOT your private bedroom at home.
Be considerate of your roommates when entering after hours or departing very early.
Do NOT turn on the light as you look for items. Take your bag out into the lighted hallway or use a mini flashlight.
Do clean up after you use the shower or toilette. Don’t be a pig!
Be nice to hostel staff – Dealing with the public and answering all the stupid questions because people don’t read is exhausting.
Say hello and Do meet everyone you can at breakfast, dinner and at the bar. If travelling solo or in a small group, ask others at breakfast if they want to join you to visit a few sites. Have a list and get a map from the front desk. Works great if you are single guys and want to meet all the girls and the other way around. Enjoy, Be Happy and see all you can see in Europe!

Backpack vs small suitcase on rollerblade type wheels and a daypack or shoulder bag.
Hundreds of posts have been written about this. No reason to write it again. Do a search and you will find many articles. In my personal opinion, Your trips are short, you most likely have a small suitcase on wheels. Do NOT go larger than 24” tall by 16” wide 8-9” deep. If you do, your trip will suck trying to carry too much crap in a large bag and it will suck lifting it on and off trains, lifting it in the overhead racks and rolling it down narrow aisles. If you have a good rolling suitcase, save your money and spurlge in Europe on sites and food. Check out clearance shops in town, ROSS, T.J.MAx and others, My rugged Samsonite was $39.00. Backpacks are from $100.00 to $300.00 Personal choice.