For many in our family, this is our fifth or sixth trip to Europe, and we're glad we've had past travel experience. Switzerland is a particularly daunting trip to pack for: it's warm in the valleys and below freezing on the mountaintops. With unlimited space, we'd all love to pack sandals and snow boots, and sunscreen and heat packs. In the real world, we don't have that luxury. Below are the things we're glad we did in preparing for our Swiss adventure.
Lex: only 1 piece of carry-on luggageWhen Rick Steves strongly suggests to limit luggage to one carry-on and a backpack, he really knows. Even though it is a struggle to fit everything for a 14 day tour in a small carry-on, you will thank Rick numerous times during the tour. Two examples come to mind. Arriving in Paris during a Bastille Day Rally, we had to walk almost a mile to our hotel with our luggage. Another trip, our room in Bacharach, Germany was on the 4th floor of a lovely hotel without an elevator.
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Jill: stay organized with packing cubesI have found that packing cubes and packing sleeves are great assets. They organize, compartmentalize, and compact items in my suitcase. An 8 x 12 cube holds 8 pairs of underwear and a scarf or two. Nine pairs of socks fit into another cube although it isn't really a cube. A small packing sleeve has room for 7+ shirts. The cubes and sleeves have handles and can easily be pulled out of the carry-on. Since we are usually in a new hotel every other day, one item can be removed from the cubes and sleeves without disturbing the others. |
Elyse: hiking shoes are worth the spaceI spent hours agonizing over whether to bring a pair of hiking shoes, which are smaller than hiking boots but still take up plenty of suitcase space. In the end, it was my favorite space splurge. The hiking shoes made me feel more sure-footed and safe while hiking, and they also came in handy for trips to the top of mountains. The shoes kept my feet warm enough and were resistant to snow and water. I would recommend taking a pair on any trip where you plan multiple hikes or walks at high altitudes.
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Rick: dress like an onionRick – The longstanding advice to dress in layers holds true for a Rick Steves’ tour. In Switzerland you are then prepared for the extremes of heat and cold. T-shirt, long sleeved shirt, sweatshirt and light weight jacket with a hood had me plenty warm at the top of the Shilthorn; and I did not have to pack a bulky coat. |
Jody: try the view from the 'panorama seat'Fabian announced that we would be rotating the ‘panorama seat’ at the front of the bus between tour members. In school, this seat was reserved for nerds or those who experienced car sickness (we grew up in West Virginia). We had never considered sitting in the front of the bus. Rick and I were on the bus early one morning and made a beeline for the front. It was like a National Geographic movie. Give it a try sometime and keep your camera ready.
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