Packing for Poland | Pakowanie do Polski

September travel in Europe can prove a little challenging for packing.  It becomes a bit more complicated when traveling to very different climates.  While Diane joined with friends from my parents' first ever Rick Steves tour (and they have been on a number!) after Poland for the Athens & The Heart of Greece tour, Kristen had plans for a three night stopover in Iceland.  We packed capsule wardrobes, but also left room for items we needed in our next locations like swimsuits, water shoes, and (for me in particular) warm, waterproof clothing.  

We follow Rick's philosophy of packing light with only pack a small European-sized carry-on suitcase and ultra-lightweight backpack that fits nicely under and airplane seat.  We have both seen tourists carrying heaving suitcases up multiple flights of stairs or dragging them along cobblestone streets; why make travel difficult?  If we needed something, we could easily purchase it just as we would in the US.  Plus, you never have to worry about your luggage being lost on the way to your tour...and we've seen it!

Kristen snuck in a few things some would consider luxury items like a mirrorless camera and rechargeable electric toothbrush.  Pack in layers and wear comfortable, broken-in shoes with a solid sole; cobblestones are rough on thin-soled shoes.  Contrary to what many websites say, you will see plenty of people in sneakers like Hokas (our choice on this trip); Kristen brought along a pair of light, waterproof hiking boots as well and did not regret it in Iceland!  She focused on packable materials that could be worn in multiple weather conditions from the temperate temperatures of Poland to the coolness of night in Iceland like merino wool shirts/dresses, a cashmere sweater, and a down jacket.  Even though Kristen would have had to wash other shirts, she wore each of wool shirt multiple times thanks to wool's anti-microbial properties. 

Some additional tips: 

• Packing cubes allow for easy location of clothes.  

• Wash clothes along the way reduces what you pack.  You can easily wash them in bathroom trashcans, sinks, and showers.

• Laundry detergent sheets are lightweight and compact.  

• Don't be shy about making use of a travel clothesline that come with Velcro loops on the ends to save yourself some weight and space in that suitcase!

What are we glad we packed?  Laundry detergent sheets, collapsible water bottles (Kristen likes the Vapur brand that can clip onto her day bag for easy access), compression socks, clothes that are minimal weight but versatile for the weather, rechargeable toothbrush that uses a USB-C connection, plug convertor that had 4 slots for USB plugs (no need to bring all of those adapters!), and a ultrawide angle lens to get those wide shots of interiors and large structures.   We are also glad we have bright yellow luggage handle wraps to quickly identify our suitcases when they were unloaded with the rest of the tour's luggage from the bus.

For Iceland, Kristen is glad she packed a swimsuit and water shoes for the thermal pools as well as warm, waterproof clothing. 

What did I bring that I will not pack next time?  If Kristen was not going onto Iceland for the express purpose of delving into her favorite hobby (photography), she would have left her travel tripod at home.  It was a bit of extra weight and if the aurora borealis had been active while she was there, she would have needed it.  See DarkSky International for current places that are certified as very low light pollution areas to get some impressive astrophotography images.

What did we not pack and were glad we didn't?  Sunscreen as it was available in every neighborhood pharmacy on the trip.

Planning Ahead | Planowanie

We arrived two days early and enjoyed free museum Monday when most are closed in Gdańsk and the Museum of the Second World War (free admission on Tuesdays).  The highly interactive museums are full of multimedia and friendly for a number of limitations including visual impairment, use of wheelchairs, etc.  

Before You Go: Planning Ahead & Advice from Others

Advice from Seasoned Travelers: Free to everyone regardless if they are signed up for one of Rick's tours, the Rick Steves' Europe Travel Forum is a wealth of travel information, even for trips in countries the tours do not cover (I even found some solid advice about African safaris the other day). I also recommend watching his full-length specials, which are not only all available on his website, but also free!

Book Your Tour Early: Sign up for Rick's free monthly email to receive word on when the purchasing window opens.  This is especially true if you want to secure a single room, which I highly recommend for solo travelers.  You can research your ahead of time so you are ready when the tours are available for purchase here.

Cell Phones: Check with your provider about charges.  Some people prefer to purchase a separate cell phone to use in Europe while others simply use wifi when they can find it.  We opted to use our cell phones and accept the international fees for the sake of safety and peace of mind; I never regret it when traveling internationally.

Download Guides Before You Go!: You can download free audio guides ahead of time to listed to in various locations with Rick's free Audio Europe app.  I also recommend downloading the hotel and tour agenda from your Rick Steves Tour Account portal, taking pictures of important documents in case if they are stolen or lost, and having the peace of mind that you prepared well.

Hotel Reservations for Extra Days: Arriving at least 2 days early to give yourself not only a buffer in case if your travel is more adventurous than anticipated (delays, cancelled flights, etc.), but also to gives your time to adjust to the new time zone.  Contact the hotels with the email address found in the the tour portal for extra night reservations; each hotel has staff fluent in English that can assist you in making these arrangements without incurring the cost of a long-distance phone call.  Often times, you will be provided a quote and a link to pay for your room.  It couldn't be easier!  Make use of the staff at the front desk as they love to highlight their hometown and can point you in the direction of authentic experiences.  

Photos of You:  Why not offer to take a photo of others on the tour?  They almost always reciprocate and if they do not, simply ask!  W have a pictures in every location I wanted and others we did not anticipate.  If you need to use a timer like I did in some of the photos, make sure you have someone nearby you trust to watch your camera or phone.  It would be a pity for someone to walk off with your expensive device!  I found it made for quick friends with others.

Solo Traveling for Women: Poland has the lowest crime rate in all of Europe and is a great place for women to solo travel.  I never felt unsafe walking around at night unlike other locations I have visited.  There are a few resources providing tips, forums, etc. that I would recommend.  In particular, I do enjoy the advice given in this Facebook group, which was developed specifically for solo female travelers.  They gave me fantastic feedback about my capsule wardrobe as well as what to do during a possible 18 hour layover on my way back from this trip.  

Transportation to/from the Hotel: I would also recommend asking the hotel to arrange for your transportation from the airport to the hotel in Rome.  The airport is about 30-40 minutes away from most hotels in the city center where Rick loves to have us stay.  

Weigh Your Bag: There are plenty of inexpensive luggage scales on the market that you attach to the bag handle to obtain a measurement.  You can also use your bathroom scale (be sure to subtract your weight for more accuracy).  Some airlines are weighing carryon bags at check-in and I have even heard of this happening at the gate, too, for some airlines.  It would be a pity to put all that effort into packing lightly only to have to check your bag unexpectedly!  An airline I will be flying later this year has a weight limit of 17 pounds, which includes the weight of my suitcase.  Most European sized carry-ons weigh around 6-8 lbs like this 6.5 lb Rick Steves' bag (We have extensively used this one for a number of years and across not only the US but numerous international trips).  Whether you bring a spinner suitcase is personal preference, but we found two wheeled ones nice given all of the hill towns we have visited (spinners roll down those steep hills easily).