Over the years, I have travelled in almost every kind of way. From backpacking in Europe in my late teens, to multi-month trips through Asia and the USA. Since moving to France in 2018, we have become pros at the multi-week European road trip. Making each day a journey and exploration, not just getting from A to B. Here’s how we pack for a road trip and luggage tactics we have developed over the years.
Each year we do at least one multi-week road trip – either spontaneously in the off-season, where you can just go where the wind takes you; or in the shoulder season, where you can enjoy the sunnier days and outdoor dining.
This kind of travel requires a particular kind of packing – because you are in and out of hotels constantly, and don’t always want to be lugging everything everywhere!
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by LEVEL8, however, as always, all opinions are my own. There are luggage affiliate links in this post, which means if you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Packing Tips For European Travel
Choose Your Luggage Wisely
Choosing your preferred luggage is definitely something that evolves over time, just as we evolve as travellers as we get older. I have never been a backpack girlie (as my first big trip reflected), and have cycled through many styles of suitcase and carry-on.
My favourite luggage combos now include:
- Budget local flights – a compact carry-on + handbag
- Longer domestic – an 18″ or 20″ carry-on wheelie case + handbag
- International & long trips – a combo of the above + a 24″ checked case (65 L)
For Europe, with its narrow and cobbled streets, the best idea is super sturdy all-way roller case. If you’re anything like me, backpacks aren’t ever going to be an option, so you want something that will glide, is lightweight and hardwearing.
During our recent trip to Vietnam, my medium checked case was unceremoniously thrown onto the luggage carousel and a wheel and a handle broke off… so I was due an upgrade. That’s where Level8 came to my rescue – but more on that later.
Luggage Hack for a European Road Trip
This is a system I have developed with my husband over many long road trips across the USA, Canada, NZ, Australia and around Europe. It stops you having to drag all your luggage with you to every new hotel.
- Pack one big suitcase for both of you – This holds the majority of your clothing and bulkier items (but no valuables)
- Give each person a carry-on suitcase – Between the large suitcase and two carry-ons, everything fits neatly into the boot of a typical European-sized car.
- Pack 1–3 days’ worth of clothing in your carry-on – Include everything you’ll need for the next leg of your trip, along with any valuables, medications, electronics, and travel documents.
- Only take the carry-on cases into your hotel each night – This makes check-in and check-out much easier, especially if you have to walk from a parking garage or navigate city streets.
- Leave the large suitcase securely locked in the trunk / boot (this only works if you have a parcel shelf, cover or sedan and the contents of your trunk). We only do this when we’re confident the parking is secure—for example:
- Private hotel parking.
- A secure parking garage.
- Parking where we can reverse into a space and up against a wall, so the boot can’t easily be accessed.
- We avoid leaving luggage in the car when parked on public streets for extended periods.
- Keep valuables with you at all times. The large suitcase contains only clothing and other non-essential items, and it isn’t visible from outside the car.
- Every few days, bring the large suitcase into your accommodation. Swap out dirty clothes, restock your carry-on with fresh outfits, and repack for the next few days.
- Be strategic – We plan which hotels will be the best ones for bringing in our big cases for a reorganisation. Places with valet parking and porters, places where you can drive right up the room, or large hotels with plenty of space to reorganise.
- Do laundry roughly every 7–10 days. Once everything is washed, repack the large suitcase and refill your carry-ons to start the cycle again.
This approach means you’re only carrying lightweight luggage into hotels each night, while still having enough clothing for an extended road trip. It’s particularly useful in historic European city centres, where parking can be some distance from your accommodation.
Security
Obviously this doesn’t work in unsafe areas (hello Los Angeles – where we get our car broken into almost every visit), but we haven’t had any issues in Europe. Here are some things we do to keep safe:
- Never leave items visible in the front of your car!
- Park with your trunk backed against a wall or hedge
- Don’t leave valuables in your car
- Follow the below tip:
SECURITY TIP: I have a rule to help when visiting places along the road trip, when you have luggage in the trunk – NEVER open the back of the car when you have arrived at a tourist site – you don’t want to show potential thieves that your car is full of stuff.
Only access your items at the end of your visit when you are about to drive away. It’s a rule I implement when taking groups of people on trips, and has always worked well to protect vehicles full of luggage.
Packing List Tips
Packing is an intensely personal process, so I’m not going to tell you how to do it. But here are some brief packing tips for European travel:
- Pack layers, especially when travelling in the shoulder seasons
- Always have a rain jacket or wind breaker accessible in the car (rather than packed)
- Bring an umbrella, showers are common
- Pack light, there are laundrettes / laundry services everywhere
- Scarves are big in Europe – get in on that trend! They are also useful when enjoying apéro in the evenings
- Bring good walking shoes / sandals – European countries tend to be heavily pedestrianised, so you will get your steps in
- Smaller hotels may not have shampoo & conditioner in the bathroom, so bring your own travel size versions
Our Level8 Cases
We chose the Luminous Textured cases in 18″ (black) and 24″ (blue), and when they arrived I was immediately impressed by the stylish finish. They have a very subtle texture, which creates a matte effect, and I think this elevates the overall look.
I don’t know if it’s just me, but I tend to judge the quality of something by the quality of the zipper. The zips on these Level8 cases are so smooth and satisfying – so that is definitely a plus for me.
You can see the inside configurations are really useful, with mesh compartment closures on both sides, as well as straps. There are also pockets on one of the compartment covers, which I find useful for washing or cables.
I’m yet to fly with these cases, as our most recent flight was with Ryanair, and sadly the 18″ carry-on is 1.4″ too deep for their measurements, but I’m looking forward to trying them on our next larger international flight. In the meantime, our next road trip in France isn’t far away.
Receive a 15% off Level8 luggage with my discount code HHTRAVEL15
The Benefits of Something Light, Yet Hardy
On a recent weekend in Fontevraud in the Loire Valley, we were wandering our way down the cobbled alleyways to get to our chambre d’hôte (bed & breakfast), and I marvelled at how the Level8 case just glided over the cobbles. It has, by far, the smoothest roll of any case I’ve ever used.
Europe isn’t easy on luggage. If you’re not navigating medieval alleyways, old staircases, or public transport, can you really even say you’re travelling in Europe?
Our luggage gets a workout, and I think we’ve finally cracked the code on what luggage and packing systems work for us. It has to be lightweight, sturdy, and have smooth-rolling wheels. We are just too far into our luxury-era to have the hassle of anything less.
Receive a 15% off Level8 luggage with my discount code HHTRAVEL15
Great for European Train Travel Too
Our main international airport is Paris, and we have a direct train from our area in the south-west of France to Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Having taken hundreds of trains to the airport over the years, I can say that having strong luggage that rolls smoothly, sure does make life easier getting from platform to platform.
European Road Trip Ideas
A Month in Italy
Every year, usually in the off-season, we like to spend a month in Italy. We tend to go where the wind takes us, following the sun and the hotel deals. This means we can be in a little hillside hotel on the edges of Lake Garda one week, and up at a spa hotel in the Dolomites the following week.
Our system of only taking a carry-on size piece of luggage up to the room comes in really handy when you are staying in a little old hotel with 4 flights of stairs (and no lift) in Nesso on Lake Como.
And when we end up at a hotel like the gorgeous AC Hotel Torino, set in an old pasta factory, we take our big bag inside and rearrange things in the big suite!
Historic Sites in France
Living in France, we tend to road trip here the most. From weekend jaunts with friends to Bordeaux, to much longer off-season road trips to visit UNESCO world heritage sites – there is so much to explore!
We recently took a road trip with my dad, following the French Compostelle route, through Espalion, Conques, Souillac, Moissac and down into the Basque Country, which had such varied accommodations. From traditional auberge style hotels for pilgrims (with simple rooms and no lifts), to big spacious riverside hotels like the Le Moulin De Moissac, so we had to be strategic with our luggage.
Not to mention we also had to fit 3 people’s luggage into the back of our modest Renault Captur car!
Foodie Adventures in Spain
A foodie road trip around Spain? Say no more! Between Low Emission Zones and impossible fortified old towns, you are likely to have instances where you can’t drive to the door of your accommodations.
In Bilbao, we used a public long stay carpark because our hotel didn’t have parking. We left our large case in the boot of our car and backed up to a wall-side parking spot for added security – making things hard to get to is the name of the game. We also chose a reputable, well-lit and secure car park as a minimum.
Having flexible options for our luggage has honestly made road tripping around Europe so much easier. If you want cases that are built for your lifestyle, then the Level8 options really fit the bill.
How to Pack for a European Road Trip
It’s important to remember that your luggage choices change over time. As your lifestyle changes, your family grows, or your travel style or destinations develop, your luggage has to evolve too.
I have reached my smooth-wheeled luxury suitcase era, and I intend to stay there. It turns out that this aligns with our European road trip plans too!
Level8 cases have a lifetime warranty too (when purchased direct on their website), so that is a great advantage for frequent travellers who want peace of mind for the longevity of their luggage!
Receive a 15% off Level8 luggage with my discount code HHTRAVEL15
Check out my other travel tips + road trip guides!
All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM; and an iPhone.
