I recently had a fun adventure to Belgium that involved lots of train journeys, as well as a flight, so here’s a look at some of the most useful things I packed, plus some kawaii shopping picks if you’re looking for something similar.
Obviously, this doesn’t include everything I packed, and I also left out anything that was in my previous Mini Break post.
My top tip for visiting Europe is ‘don’t bring a suitcase with wheels’, as there are so many cobbled streets and stairs. I didn’t have a big enough backpack so I ordered the Memphis 30L carry-on backpack from Cabin Max (UK), which is made from recycled bottles. You can fit in much more than you think as it has so many different pockets and compartments, plus a compression system. Best of all, it was really comfortable, with memory foam padding and a chest strap. I always add a cute keychain to cheer things up – my Hanamaruobake is from ARTBOX (UK).
My favourite thing about train journeys is that you get to see so much of the country so I didn’t want to bury myself in a book all the time. Instead I brought my big headphones so I could listen to music or podcasts. Mine are cheap and boring but if you have AirPods Max, Sonix (US) have lots of kawaii covers and even a Hello Kitty headband with ears and red bow!
You can never bring too many pouches on a trip! The 2 shown in the photo were for my passport and to keep my UK/EU cash together while the other one was in my wallet. I also had more for my cables, mini first aid kit and other bits and pieces I might need to find easily in my big backpack. Looking at all the handmade pouches on Etsy makes me want to do another blog post, but these mesh zipper pouches by NaomisFavourite (UK) are both cute and clever as you can see what’s inside.
I used to never see the point of file folders but they are great for organising documents, especially the tabbed ones. Emma got me a set of adorable Suica Penguin folders in Japan and the A5 size was perfect for various print outs I needed to bring. Cuteness (EU) has a cute selection of file folders in different sizes with San-X, Sanrio and more, including this Shirokuma’s Hometown design that feels like a nice fit for travel.
I didn’t bring a water bottle as I was going to watch Liège-Bastogne-Liège so was almost certain to acquire at least one bidon (functional souvenirs are the best ones) for the return journey. As much as I love trying all the local drinks, a water bottle is best for flights so you can refill it after security. I was also very tempted to buy this adorable Miffy water bottle in HEMA (EU), which even has a removable strap. Instead, I bought a bag of Miffy clips, as I’d forgotten to bring one. They’re great for keeping snacks fresh for later and I can use them at home too.
I said in my Pusheen Box review that the utensil set was perfect for travel and I can now confirm that. For hotel room and train snacks, the chopsticks and spoon were so much nicer and sturdier than disposable ones – plus you avoid the need to ask for one in another language! Eating pasta with chopsticks did feel a little bit silly but these GO OUT cutlery sets at Bento&co (JP) have a full set of utensils in a compact case.
I didn’t actually bring my strawberry Pusheen fan, even though the forecast was super hot. The trains were nice and cool but it would have helped in the hotels at night, and standing around in the sun all day. My fan folds up in multiple ways and you can find similar ones on Amazon, or Plaza Japan (JP) have a few different Sanrio folding fans that come with a strap. At least I remembered a hat! On the opposite end, I brought a lightweight infinity scarf as you never know when you might end up with some chilly aircon or a cooler evening than you expected. You can also tie it to your bag handles for extra security and cuteness. I made mine myself (it’s so easy!) but there are loads of cute handmade ones on Etsy.
You can see I did upgrade to a 6-in-1 rainbow multi-charger from Legami (EU), which was perfect as my hotels had USB ports as well as normal sockets. This was the first time I’ve had a smart(ish)watch (mine is from Decathlon) and it helped any anxiety about sleeping through my alarm for early starts, plus the step count made me feel better about my tired legs at the end of the day. I also recommend bringing shelf-stable snacks if you have a lot of connections, in case you don’t have time to buy something or get stuck on a plane/train. I am never more European than when I pull out a ontbijtkoek (Dutch breakfast cake!) or Babybel cheese from my bag.
Look out for more of these posts over the summer. We have some fun ideas but feel free to suggest more in the comments.
Leave a Reply