“Wait. So you’re telling me that you are leaving the country with only the clothes on your back and a one-way ticket? Don’t you think security will find that a bit suspicious?” – Moms are looking out for their kids, always.

I hadn’t thought about it looking suspicious but I did expect people to think we were crazy.

And as crazy as it was, we decided to only bring a personal bag filled with necessities when we left home, and opted to purchase our larger backpacks and much of our clothing in the UK upon arrival. This not only saved us on our initial baggage fees but also helped with conserving energy (by only carrying what we needed), and blending in (the clothes we wore were purchased in the countries we visited). To see my full packing list, click here.

It is imperative to know the measurements for “carry-on” sizing on all the flights or transportation you’ll be taking. Over the course of your trip this will save you time, money and frustration. Also, keep in mind that international budget airlines do NOT have the same restrictions as our domestic flights we’re used to. Example: Ryan Air’s included baggage allowance is: 55cm x 40cm x 20cm and under 10k . This roughly equates to 21.65 in x 15.74 in x 7.87 in and 22 lbs.

If you opt for the “crazy” route, make sure to do your research on reputable camp supply/backpacking stores so you know what to expect before you start your search in a completely unfamiliar city. Dublin had several options and we landed on some relatively cheap backpacks on our first day (post Guinness).

After we made ourselves official backpackers, we then hit the local H&M, Penneys, and drug store for everything else and passed out in our hostel– jet lag is REAL.

Even though I preach minimalism, there are a few things I would recommend bringing with you that may not seem necessary but absolutely are, including:

1. Waterproof day-pack: While looking for a collapsible “personal bag,” I came across this and the Mountain Warehouse employee convinced me that I shouldn’t go without it. That man deserves a promotion because it ended up being the most important and necessary thing we brought. I cannot express how much easier to navigate a foreign city it is with your hands free (of an umbrella) and the peace of mind it brings knowing that your belongings aren’t getting soaked and/or ruined is a major plus.
2. Microfiber towel: Not all hostels include towels and will charge you $1-3 per person to borrow one of theirs. This is not a lot of money, but in backpacking terms that is the difference between a beer or snack, souvenir, or better meal in general that day. It will take a little bit getting used to the feeling of it versus a regular towel, but your shower ritual in most hostels will not be luxurious anyway and you’ll thank yourself for bringing it when you can splurge on gelato, instead!
3. Selfie stick: One of my best friends sent me a selfie stick for my birthday and I told myself I’d never be the person to use it in public. Holy shit was I wrong. This thing managed to help us capture lovely photos and videos all around the globe. You can also forget about looking like an idiot with it, because in most of the tourist areas you will be surrounded by other people using their beloved selfie sticks with no shame whatsoever.
4. Tampons: Ladies- unless you are super lucky and can skip your period for 3-4 months, you’re going to have to deal with this while abroad. I read that tampons could be purchased pretty much anywhere around the world, and this may be true. But if you are at all picky about what brand/type/size you’re buying, I would recommend bringing what you’re used to from home. I brought enough for about 2 months and had to purchase some not so ideal ones in Australia (which made for uncomfortable travel and a very unhappy backpacker). Better safe than sorry!

Always fall back on the fact that if there is something you didn’t bring and need, you will be able to buy it or something close to it. And you will never see many of the people you are bumping shoulders with during your travels every again, so do not stress on the outfits, your hair being frizzy, etc. Worrying less about what you look like and only having to carry what you need will help you to focus on what really matters most; your experience.