23 April 2023 · Packing Up and Landing Smooth · Europe
Minimalist Move: The Two-Suitcase Challenge to Europe
Packing Up & Landing Smooth for the Long-Haul Nomad
Every few months my social feeds explode with friends announcing a “big Europe move.” Cue the espresso gifs. But by month three they’re still waiting on a 9-box sea shipment, wandering Milan in hiking boots because all the “good shoes” are somewhere off the coast of Cádiz.
So I set myself a ruthless experiment: relocate to Europe with only two checked bags (23 kg each) and one carry-on. No freight forwarding, no frantic Amazon “Essentials” orders. Just planning, data, and ruthless choice-making—plus a dash of playful rebellion against “more is better.”
What follows is equal parts roadmap and confession booth. Whether you’re heading to Lisbon for tech, Berlin for art, or Tallin for e-Residency perks, these pages will help you step off the plane looking like you meant to pack light.
Why Bother? The Hidden ROI of Minimalist Relocation
- Pull-quote:
“The less stuff I own, the less stuff owns my weekends.”
Aside from bragging rights, slimming down to two suitcases does three things:
- Cuts Cost
Extra baggage fees, storage units, overseas shipping, and scooter rentals to lug boxes—gone. Typical freight for a 1-bed flat EU-bound starts at €1,200. Two extra suitcases? Maybe €150. - Buys Flexibility
Landlord cancels? Job market shifts? A portable life lets you pivot to another Schengen city in a single Ryanair drop. - Forces Intentionality
Every object is auditioning for a slot. If it doesn’t spark genuine utility or joy, it stays home (or hits Vinted).
1. Crafting the Capsule Wardrobe: 33 Pieces, 4 Seasons
Europe’s micro-climates are cheeky. You can fry in Seville at noon and shiver in San Sebastián by dusk. Yet the same core wardrobe can span 10°C swings if you nail layers, neutrals, and fabrics.
My Three-Step Hack
- Set Your Palette
Limit to two neutrals + one accent. I went with charcoal, sand, and rust. Everything mixes. Zero “orphan” garments. - Rule of Threes
• 3 tops
• 3 bottoms
• 3 insulation layers
• 3 shoes
• 3 accessories (hat, scarf, belt)
• x2 for underwear & socks (because laundromats, obviously) - Choose Fabrics Like a Nerd
Merino wool tees stay fresh for days, Lenzing™ modal packs down to a fist, and a waxed cotton field jacket handles drizzle without looking like a hiking ad.
The Actual List (Men’s M, adjust for you)
| Category | Pieces | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| T-Shirts | 4 | 2 merino crew, 1 Breton stripe, 1 pocket tee |
| Shirts | 2 | Oxford button-down + linen grandad collar |
| Sweaters | 2 | Merino hoodie, fine-gauge crew |
| Jacket | 1 | Waxed cotton field jacket |
| Coat | 1 | Packable down gilet (fits under jacket) |
| Trousers | 2 | Slim dark denim, olive chino |
| Shorts | 1 | Lightweight charcoal |
| Shoes | 3 | White leather sneakers, desert boots, Xero sandals |
| Gym/Swim | 1 each | Hybrid shorts double as swim trunks |
| Accessories | 3 | Wool beanie, cotton scarf, full-grain belt |
| Underwear | 8 | Merino blend; rolls tiny |
| Socks | 6 | Same material; dark colours hide wear |
That’s 33 clothing pieces. Stuff the down gilet into its pocket, wedge socks inside shoes, and your main suitcase still yawns half empty.
Quick Laundry Math
Europe’s self-service laundrettes average €4 wash + €2 dry. Doing laundry weekly for a year costs ~€312—cheaper than shipping a third suitcase full of clothes you’ll barely wear.
2. Tech Gear Prioritisation: Only What You’ll Use Weekly
I’ve seen travellers haul studio mics “just in case a podcast happens.” Spoiler: it doesn’t. Your selection must earn its wattage.
Hierarchy of Need
- Work-Critical
• Laptop (≤14″ to fit narrow café tables)
• Phone + dual-SIM (EU eSIM saves roaming)
• 1TB SSD with hardware encryption - Infrastructure
• 2-port GaN USB-C 65W charger
• Universal CE-rated travel adapter (fuse replaceable)
• 1m + 2m braided USB-C cables - Quality-of-Life
• Noise-cancelling earbuds (communal living is real)
• Kindle or Kobo (paper English books cost €12-14) - Dispensable
• DSLR with three lenses? Unless you’re getting paid, the phone cam wins.
• Gaming console. Cloud gaming + decent laptop covers cravings.
A deeper dive on cables, battery safety rules, and carry-on strategy lives in our tech gear flight safe setup guide. Bookmark it.
Data vs Weight: Why a Second SSD Beats a Fourth T-Shirt
Two Samsung T7 SSDs (1TB) weigh 58 g each—lighter than a rolled T-shirt—and can clone your entire digital life. If baggage goes missing, cloud backup latency won’t derail client deadlines. That redundancy made my consulting gigs way more relaxed than those extra clothes ever could.
3. Ship or Buy Local? The 5-Question Litmus Test
Before autopiloting an air freight booking, ask:
- Does the item exceed €150 replacement cost in Europe?
- Is it hard to source to EU spec (e.g., 110 V appliances)?
- Is it sentimental/irreplaceable?
- Will it be used weekly in the first six months?
- Will customs fees + VAT push total cost above 40% of MSRP?
If you tick fewer than three boxes, sell or donate. Here’s how that played out for me.
The Stuff I Shipped
- Electric Folding Bike
At 17 kg and €1,600 value, it still beat paying €800 for a new EU spec. I used BikeFlights + foam wrap. - Tailored Wool Overcoat
Fits like a dream, retails €500+ in Europe. Vacuum-sealed bag inside suitcase two.
The Stuff I Re-Bought
• EU kettle (220 V models start €18 at Carrefour)
• IKEA bed linens (shipping linens? Madness)
• Basic printer (Facebook Marketplace €30)
The Stuff I Let Go
Box sets, cast-iron skillet, unread self-help books (read them? Even less reason to ship).
4. The Real-World Checklist (Printable)
Screenshot this, copy-paste into Notes, or—my preference—slap it in a Google Sheet with check-marks:
Essentials
- Passport (+6 months validity)
- Resident visa or entry letter
- BorderPilot relocation plan (PDF/offline)
- Vaccination record (EU Digital Cert if possible)
- Credit cards with no FX fees
- 20× passport photos (Schengen paperwork loves these)
- Local SIM or eSIM QR code
Finance & Admin
- EU bank appointment booked (Wise or Revolut as stop-gap)
- International health insurance PDF + card
- Notarised copies of:
- Birth certificate
- University degree
- Work contracts
- Two proofs of address (utility bills) if you have them
Tech
- Laptop + charger
- Phone + spare USB-C cable
- 2× SSD backups
- Noise-cancelling earbuds
- Universal adapter
- Portable power bank <100 Wh (IATA limit)
Wardrobe
- 33-piece capsule (see table)
- Workout kit
- Swimsuit (trust me—thermal baths, Adriatic dips)
- Packable rain shell
- Compression packing cubes
Extras
- Fold-flat tote bag (groceries cost €0.25 per bag)
- Mini first-aid kit
- Travel French press or AeroPress Go (coffee queue hack)
- Compact umbrella
- Collapsible water bottle
Print, tick, repeat serenity.
5. Landing Smooth: First 10 Days in Europe
Even with two bags, arrival chaos is real. I borrowed a tactic from our Australia blueprint—yes, the one in Landing smooth in Australia: first 90-day family blueprint. Adapted for Europe, your first week checklist looks like:
Day 1:
• Activate eSIM, WhatsApp landlord, drop pins of local clinic & police station.
Day 2-3:
• Register temporary address if required (Germany, Netherlands).
• Obtain tax ID (Codice Fiscale, NIE, etc.). Take those passport photos!
Day 4:
• Open bank account (bring proof of address; Wise statement sometimes suffices).
• Scout coworking spaces—one-day passes help beat jetlag.
Day 5-7:
• Grocery shop. Learn local recycling rules (they’re… specific).
• Buy minor household goods you consciously left behind (kettle, pillows).
• Map public transport app + bike share.
Day 8-10:
• Submit residency paperwork, register for health insurance, book language trial class.
• Celebrate with aperitivo / spritz / pintxos depending on coordinates.
Print that too. Your future self in immigration queues will thank you.
Frequently Asked “But What If…?” Questions
“I can’t live without my stand mixer!”
Rent a KitchenAid at local culinary co-ops or pay a bakery for dough prep days. Buying a new one is cheaper than shipping a 12 kg device.
“What about European plug types? There are six!”
True, but 95% of mainland Europe uses Type CE/F. The €15 Skross combo adapter handles all and includes replaceable fuses. You’re good.
“Do I need travel insurance AND local health cover?”
Yes. Travel insurance converts into pumpkin at 180 days. A long-stay visa usually mandates local cover anyway. Shop early—premiums spike inside 30 days of departure.
“Will airlines really weigh my carry-on?”
Ryanair will. Lufthansa rarely. Buy an 80 g digital luggage scale; avoid surprise €70 gate fees.
“Should I vacuum-seal clothes?”
Great for one-way trips; just remember they’ll expand on the return leg. Upgrade to compressible cubes instead—lighter, reusable, no sucking required.
Lessons Learned from 12 Months, 7 Countries, 2 Bags
- Wear the Bulky Stuff on the Flight
My desert boots and field jacket shaved 2 kg from baggage. Planes are chilly anyway. - Digital Everything
e-books, scanned paperwork, digital banking—goodbye paper weight and border headaches. - Rent Tools, Own Memories
A €3/day drill hire made hanging artwork possible; photo of the wall art sparks more joy than the drill itself. - Community Over Commodity
Local Buy Nothing and expat groups often give away toasters, hangers, or that one IKEA wrench you forgot. - Iterate Quarterly
Each new season, audit what you didn’t touch. Sell, gift, or donate. Your suitcase diet continues.
Parting Thoughts
Relocating with two suitcases isn’t just a TikTok flex; it’s a freedom multiplier. You’ll dodge shipping delays, slice relocation budgets, and glide through new apartments unburdened.
Want an even smoother runway? Let BorderPilot crunch the data on visas, taxes, and housing so you can focus on which merino tee makes the cut. Start your free relocation plan today—then circle back and tell me what you managed to leave behind.
Safe travels—and may your baggage claim be swift!