How to plan a two-week European trip for the older traveler
We’re traveling to Europe in July. Every destination will be one that we have not previously visited, so we’re relying on research to pave the way. We foresee this being the only time we’ll visit these places, so the thought of missing anything is unfortunate. but in order to enjoy the trip, we must savor the trip - which means slowing down.
📍 Utilize points for booking as well as our favorite hotel sites to earn rewards
📍 Fly from our closest regional airport, Knoxville, avoiding the Atlanta airport craze if that’s important; otherwise, we have become comfortable navigating the ATL
📍 Travel between countries via train (Eurail)
📍 Only carry a personal item and carry-on each, and must be able to manage both pieces without assistance; also, remember one small carry-on rather than a large case. Cobblestones are lovely but brutal with luggage in tow.
📍 Strategically staying in hotels within walking distance of a central train station
📍 Slowing down and not jamming activities into our limited time in each city
📍 Produce excellent content for assignments (and inspiration) incorporating all these elements (and more)
Easy, you say? We try to commit to these ideas each time we travel (with the exception of totally traveling via train) - especially internationally, but as we get closer, and packing begins, the old story of overpacking becomes inevitable. Same story, different chapter. And what items will we need without a grocery right around the corner? Here’s our plan.
Don’t pack like you’re moving!
Make a list
July in Europe. Hot is an understatement, they say. Feeling comfortable during long days of walking is a priority. A travel capsule (I honestly hate that label) for clothing has become a priority for me - choosing a color palate of white/black/neutrals so that each piece will go with every other piece.
Here’s a rough draft of what’s inside my carry-on:
✅ Two pairs of shoes (wear one, pack one; sandals and close-toed)
✅ Three pairs of pants/shorts (white, khaki, beige - cotton)
✅ Five cotton t-shirts or shirts (white, black, beige, navy, cream)
✅ One sweater (wear on the plane)
✅ Personal items, underwear + bras + sleeping shirt
✅ Two or three dresses (lightweight and thin)
✅ Toiletry kit (meds + emergency kit + plus all that I use everyday)
✅ Detergent sheets
✅ Makeup
✅ Just in Case backpack + Foldable Tote (both Tumi, for the daily adventures and for the extra items to bring home)
Put all travel plans in TripIt
Lots of travel apps have caught my attention, but TripIt has become our go-to for the itinerary at my fingertips. Simply forward all your reservations from your email, and the app creates a trip, organizes it, and puts all necessary information in one spot. I began using Wanderlog (a great alternative but too busy for me) for this trip, but it soon became filled to the brim with information and options that I went back to the simplicity of TripIt. However, I do find myself utilizing both.
Since we’re concentrating on rail travel, we have also checked train schedules and know when we have to be at the station, how often the train leaves, and what happens if we miss the train. All of this is in our Eurail app. We’re finding that the summer is a busy travel season, and some seat reservations are required for 1st or 2nd class passes. Book early for these seats.
Choose the carry-on and personal item
Our go-to carry-on is the Tumi International, purchased years ago, and it has yet to let us down. It’s lightweight plus expandable if the souvenirs mount up. Also, durable and tough. In fact, I just had someone stop me in the Delta Sky Club lounge and ask about my luggage. I raved, and she said that her son had told her to stop wasting money on luggage that will be destroyed after a few trips. Invest in Tumi and it will last.
I had hoped to try a new bag, Nomad Lane and Bento Bag. Full disclosure, I carried it on a recent international trip and wasn’t impressed. I was so disappointed. The zippers ripped my fingers. The trolley sleeve was difficult to slide over my suitcase handle. Although it is a good size, having all those organizational pockets and features can be deceiving. I overpacked. WAY overpacked, and I felt myself complaining more than I should. This I’ll go back to the tried-and-true, my Tumi backpack.
Don’t do everything
Slow down on your trip. The slow travel trend is hot this year, but shouldn’t we have been doing this all along? We’re making of a list of the MUST-DO things and leaving the downtime for exploration or napping. Stay refreshed so that you can enjoy moments in a new country. We’re there for 14 days, and these are our must-dos:
✅ Research Len’s father WWII footsteps in Lamormenil, Belgium; Len’s father was awarded the Silver Star in this tiny town and it has always been a dream for Len to go there. This story will be one of the best.
✅ Paris (Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre Dame - and the rest is icing on the cake)
✅ Normandy (Get Your Guide full day tour with guide)
✅ Provence and the lavender fields (working with our travel advisor, Nicole Kirksey)
Book hotels in advance
Knowing the end-game for each day makes the day go smoother. As long as I know where I have to end up at the end of the day, I can plan accordingly. We always try (especially in Europe) to arrive at our lodging ahead of darkness. If at all possible, we avoid staying only one night in a hotel. We also take into consideration where our booked tours depart; we try to book a hotel nearby so that there’s not too much thought about where and when on the day of the tour.
✅ 9Hotel Central (arrival in Brussels, one night to catch up on sleep, through Hotels.com)
✅ At Home (Airbnb in Dochamps for Belgium research)
✅ Hotel De Sers (Paris, #hosted)
✅ Grand Hotel du Luxembourg (two nights in Bayeux for Normandy visit, through Hotels.com)
✅ Hotel Le Bristol Avignon (Provence, through Hotels.com)
Book day-long tours in advance
We know the major excursions we want to take, so we have booked through Get Your Guide (Skymiles shopping) and through our travel agent, Nicole Kirksey. We work through press and tourism partners whenever possible, but not all excursions can be hosted by partners. For our Normandy tour, we utilized Get Your Guide, booking months in advance since this is an anniversary year. For the lavender tour in Provence, we worked with Nicole to get the best price and options.
Follow us in July as we discover new destinations that will inspire your future travels.
