Thanks, Larry, for sending us a link to an article with the intriguing title, “Why Tourists Need To Be Cautious Of The Clothing They Pack On A Trip To Europe.” Before moving here, we were one of those visitors making an annual transatlantic flight always trying to figure out what to bring and what to leave behind. Once we started staying in holiday homes/apartments with washing machines it became possible to cut in half the sets of clean clothes that we needed, effectively reducing our luggage requirement to just a carry on bag. I saw an ad for a travel backpack that promises you space for 5 days of vacation clothing. Hopefully that doesn’t mean just the “bare essentials” you might require at a clothing-optional resort.

The article opened with, “Cover yourself up in Italy” making reference to the Vatican and other religious sites that require knees and shoulders to be covered and the prohibition of revealing clothing including crop tops. Many cities ban the wearing of bathing suits around town and the equivalent of “no shirt, no shoes, no service” seems to be in place throughout. Croatia has similar restrictions plus many towns don’t want you to wear t-shirts, for example, that refer to or promote illegal drug use.

We spent a week last summer in Greece and never saw these signs, but apparently since 2009 there has been a prohibition at major tourist sites on high heels or other sharp footwear that would damage the monuments. Comfortable walking shoes only, please. Signs that we do see, on the other hand, are at public swimming pools in France that insist on bathing caps for everyone and tight-fitting trunks for men. Yep, that means bring your Speedo, guys!

If you drive in Spain, be sure to wear a shirt but don’t wear flip-flops. Either situation could get you in trouble with la policia. And now that we know what to bring, or not, an accompanying article entitled, “The Complete Guide To Packing Light” had some ideas about how to get the most out of what you’re taking.

Their first tip was called the 1-2-3-4-5-6 rule referring to 1 hat, 2 pairs of shoes, 3 bottoms, 4 tops, 5 pairs of socks, and 6 pairs of underwear. They stress keeping a mix and match wardrobe design in mind that took me back to the oldest travel advice that I could remember for women: that little black dress and several colorful scarves will take you anywhere.

Wear your bulky items, they say. Whether it’s boots, a puffy coat, or a heavy sweater, the more you wear the less you have to fit in a suitcase and it might come in handy later as a pillow or a blanket on a drafty plane.

Packing cubes were next and we can definitely agree with this one. Underwear and socks in a smaller one and t-shirts, pjs, a sweater in another. Zip them in and then use the second zipper to compress the entire package. Everything is organized, compact, and at the hotel you know exactly where to look for your items.

Remember drip-dry and wash-and-wear? If you pick wrinkle resistant, quick drying clothes, after a wash in the bathroom sink you can hang them on a line stretched across the shower. We have a twisted elastic line that requires no clothes pins; just snap the edge of your socks between the cords and come back when they’re dry.

Two more ideas that we would add both start with the same word. Buy lightweight and buy there. When we were flying with checked baggage we had to have a sturdy suitcase to hold up to being tossed about at the airport. Now that we are the only ones who touch our luggage, we’ve traded a 5 kg. (11 lbs.) bag when empty for one that weighs 2.3 kg (5 lbs.). Inside this lighter suitcase goes a thin but warm sweater and a long sleeve t-shirt in case our room is cool or if I want one more layer outside. Double-duty is the word.

Buy there. Instead of trying to pack something for every possible situation, do your best to take what seems appropriate but count on being able to buy something at your destination for the unexpected, unless, of course, you’ll be in a remote location. We’ve had to buy short sleeve shirts for unexpected warm temperatures in winter, a heavy coat when my sweater wasn’t enough, and a bag full of cold remedies at the pharmacy.

Our final bit of advice: don’t fret it. You are probably traveling with people who have similar concerns. Don’t worry about being seen in the same clothes more than once. You are all there to see the sights, not your fashions. Relax, it’s vacation.

Photo notes: Any brand names mentioned above are simply for reference as items that we’ve found useful. These are not advertisements and we do not make any money from the blog.