Backpack on Family Europe Trip

[Anonymous]

DH & I each carried a backpack for family water bottles, little snacks etc, also to carry souvenirs we got on the way, but I did carried a separate pouch inside my clothes to keep passports and wallets, and wore cellphones on neck. Each family member can just carry one water bottle, so your DH can carry the backpack for other things, and it won’t be too heavy for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One other thought is whether your husband is really gojng to be willing to carry water bottles toe the whole family? I definitely am not so I encourage water bottle slings for the family if we are going someplace we want wayer bottles. Or those cheap nylon string backpacks. But I like a water bottle sling.

A lot of you probably think this is weird or gross, but we carry 1-2 water bottles for our whole family and we share. One for DH and me and 1 for our kids.

How much water do you drink during a hot day?

We carry refillable bottles, so probably go through 2-4, refilling as we go, for 6 people.

[Anonymous]

Leave your passports in the hotel safe. I vote yes to the backpack but don’t put valuables in them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One other thought is whether your husband is really gojng to be willing to carry water bottles toe the whole family? I definitely am not so I encourage water bottle slings for the family if we are going someplace we want wayer bottles. Or those cheap nylon string backpacks. But I like a water bottle sling.

A lot of you probably think this is weird or gross, but we carry 1-2 water bottles for our whole family and we share. One for DH and me and 1 for our kids.

+1, we carried one for our family of three in Italy. There are plenty of fountains to fill it from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a backpack is a good idea. We use them all the time on our vacations, Europe included.

1 vote for your husband…and stop bossing him around.

Dumb American

No no no no no

OP you do not want a backpack
Water bottles why the hell is dh carrying them everyone carries their own

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PS I have also started packing a string type packable backpack also because you get charged for every plastic and paper bag you buy in major European cities and.

.

You are paying for a trip to Europe and you are worried about paying a couple of dollars over a 7-14 days for bags? If it is that big of a deal for you, just get the pocket size nylon bags and carry one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We always bring a couple of packable backpacks when traveling to Europe, and elsewhere. We use them for items of little financial value, but which might be convenient to have with us when out and about, e.g., sun hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, a packable fleece and/or rain jacket if the forecast looks like those might be useful, and water bottles. If stolen, we'd be annoyed, but not much more. Wallets, passports, and anything else of more practical or financial value stays on our persons.

This person travels ^

The backpacks are great first for the airplane rides and then yes, always we bring at least one of them with water bottles on every trip out of the house.

You won't always have access to a water fountain and buying water in plastic bottles constantly is a waste. It's incredibly handy to have.

I've embraced wearing the man purse, it holds all the important stuff like passports, drivers license, credit card and some cash.

Yes you won't always have access to water, but in Paris and London. it will not be that far away. Can you really not from breakfast to lunch without water? If it becomes and issue, grab water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We always bring a couple of packable backpacks when traveling to Europe, and elsewhere. We use them for items of little financial value, but which might be convenient to have with us when out and about, e.g., sun hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, a packable fleece and/or rain jacket if the forecast looks like those might be useful, and water bottles. If stolen, we'd be annoyed, but not much more. Wallets, passports, and anything else of more practical or financial value stays on our persons.

This person travels ^

The backpacks are great first for the airplane rides and then yes, always we bring at least one of them with water bottles on every trip out of the house.

You won't always have access to a water fountain and buying water in plastic bottles constantly is a waste. It's incredibly handy to have.

I've embraced wearing the man purse, it holds all the important stuff like passports, drivers license, credit card and some cash.

Yes you won't always have access to water, but in Paris and London. it will not be that far away. Can you really not from breakfast to lunch without water? If it becomes and issue, grab water.

Four or five hours without water during a heatwave? And then you have to buy the anyway and carry the bottle around?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We always bring a couple of packable backpacks when traveling to Europe, and elsewhere. We use them for items of little financial value, but which might be convenient to have with us when out and about, e.g., sun hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, a packable fleece and/or rain jacket if the forecast looks like those might be useful, and water bottles. If stolen, we'd be annoyed, but not much more. Wallets, passports, and anything else of more practical or financial value stays on our persons.

This person travels ^

The backpacks are great first for the airplane rides and then yes, always we bring at least one of them with water bottles on every trip out of the house.

You won't always have access to a water fountain and buying water in plastic bottles constantly is a waste. It's incredibly handy to have.

I've embraced wearing the man purse, it holds all the important stuff like passports, drivers license, credit card and some cash.

Yes you won't always have access to water, but in Paris and London. it will not be that far away. Can you really not from breakfast to lunch without water? If it becomes and issue, grab water.

My kids drink more water in the time between breakfast and lunch than I did in my entire Gen X childhood, LOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We always bring a couple of packable backpacks when traveling to Europe, and elsewhere. We use them for items of little financial value, but which might be convenient to have with us when out and about, e.g., sun hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, a packable fleece and/or rain jacket if the forecast looks like those might be useful, and water bottles. If stolen, we'd be annoyed, but not much more. Wallets, passports, and anything else of more practical or financial value stays on our persons.

This person travels ^

The backpacks are great first for the airplane rides and then yes, always we bring at least one of them with water bottles on every trip out of the house.

You won't always have access to a water fountain and buying water in plastic bottles constantly is a waste. It's incredibly handy to have.

I've embraced wearing the man purse, it holds all the important stuff like passports, drivers license, credit card and some cash.

Yes you won't always have access to water, but in Paris and London. it will not be that far away. Can you really not from breakfast to lunch without water? If it becomes and issue, grab water.

Four or five hours without water during a heatwave? And then you have to buy the anyway and carry the bottle around?

And then when it is empty you throw it away.

[Anonymous]

At that age, the kids can carry their own water bottles. We use the sling style backpacks that are smaller than a backpack and bigger than a fanny pack. Fits a water bottle and a few extras as needed like sunglasses, raincoat, wallet. I like these because you can wear them on the front, which is nice for protection in a crowded place.

We drink a lot of water, my preteen needs snacks on hand, my teenager has a phone, and it’s good for them to take responsibility for some of their things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We always bring a couple of packable backpacks when traveling to Europe, and elsewhere. We use them for items of little financial value, but which might be convenient to have with us when out and about, e.g., sun hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, a packable fleece and/or rain jacket if the forecast looks like those might be useful, and water bottles. If stolen, we'd be annoyed, but not much more. Wallets, passports, and anything else of more practical or financial value stays on our persons.

This person travels ^

The backpacks are great first for the airplane rides and then yes, always we bring at least one of them with water bottles on every trip out of the house.

You won't always have access to a water fountain and buying water in plastic bottles constantly is a waste. It's incredibly handy to have.

I've embraced wearing the man purse, it holds all the important stuff like passports, drivers license, credit card and some cash.

Yes you won't always have access to water, but in Paris and London. it will not be that far away. Can you really not from breakfast to lunch without water? If it becomes and issue, grab water.

Four or five hours without water during a heatwave? And then you have to buy the anyway and carry the bottle around?

And then when it is empty you throw it away.

If only there was some device you could carry the half filled bottle around in. Would be super convenient if it could be on your back.