What I Packed for a Week of Travel in Northern Germany

25.09.2024 - 14:41 / matadornetwork.com

My recent week-long trip to Northern Germany didn’t have just one theme — it was a hodgepodge of activities and destinations. I had several guided cultural visits planned, as well as a couple of hikes and nature-focused outings, a city tour, two nights in a luxurious seaside hotel, some beach lounging, a lot of time spent on buses and trains, and loads of walking — all of which had to be done while working. Not only that, but I was scheduled to spend several days on the beautiful island of Rügen, where the summers are usually sunny and warm, before making my way to Hamburg, where it rains so much that my tour guide called it “Umbrella City.” Needless to say that having to cover all of my bases for this trip made for some difficult decisions when it was time to pack my bags. While I needed a couple of short-sleeved dressy blouses for the museum visits, I also couldn’t go without a rain jacket, comfortable walking shoes, or sunscreen. Of course, I ended up packing too much, but I was never caught without something I desperately needed and, in the end, that’s what matters.

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Photo: Morgane Croissant

The most important element of packing for this trip was, of course, the luggage I was going to put all my stuff in. While a weekender travel bag would probably have sufficed, I quickly dismissed this option for one simple reason: I didn’t want to carry a heavy bag by hand or on my shoulder while walking to and from multiple train stations. To reach my destination, I had a 19-hour journey that involved four trains rides with tight connections, two car drives, and one trip on the Parisian metro, so a rolling suitcase was needed to make it as sweat-free and painless as possible.Sterling Pacific’s 40L aluminum Cabin Travel Case is my go-to luggage for shorter trips. It has four very smooth independent wheels so you don’t need to put in any effort to pull it. Also, it’s super solid so it can take on the cobblestoned streets of Germany or the million steps that make up the Paris metro system. Lastly, it’s slick and elegant — especially the jet black version, which I own. Unlike a weekender bag, my roller suitcase keep my clothes mostly winkle-free, which I much appreciate when it’s time to dress up a little.

Photo: Morgane Croissant

For this trip, I needed a good-size backpack. The kind that could hold not only the daily stuff everyone carries with them on a trip (wallet, water bottle, phone, book, etc.), but also all my work items (laptop, charger, notebook, planner). The pack needed to be practical for all the train travel, as well as the walking and hiking,