Words and photos by Vanessa Pollari, who studied abroad with ASA in Florence, Italy, during the spring semester of 2025.
Hi everyone! My name is Vanessa, and I studied abroad with ASA last spring. I’m here today to talk a little bit about packing for studying abroad, because this is something people seriously overthink (and overpack).
FIRST STEPS
There are a few different ways to approach packing. One common route is a full backpack, a full carry-on, and two checked bags. The opposite was my route: a backpack with just the essentials, a carry-on with a few things, and one checked bag with extra room to spare. When we landed, most people around me were shocked at how little I packed—especially when they were struggling to drag two huge suitcases through the airport.
When it was time to leave, I could fit everything back into the same bags and stay under the weight limit. Meanwhile, my roommate had friends bring items home for her, shipped things back (which is not cheap), and still had to pay for an overweight bag. A lot of people also ended up buying extra suitcases just to bring everything home.
LEAVE ROOM TO BUY THINGS!
First and most important thing to remember: you are going to buy things while abroad. You’ll pick up purses, jackets, tops, souvenirs, and random things you didn’t plan on. You need to leave room in your suitcase to bring all of that home.
YOU DON'T NEED MORE THAN ONE OF EACH COLOR.
When it comes to jeans, only bring one of each color. You do not need two or three pairs of the same wash. I brought one pair of light wash, one dark wash, and one black pair, and that was more than enough. I also packed a pair or two of leggings, a black skirt, a few pairs of athletic shorts and sleep clothes, plus some linen pants and skirts. One thing I’ll say—my Shein linen pieces were a little uncomfortable and somewhat see-through, so I’d recommend investing in slightly better quality items for those.
TOPS: STICK TO BASICS
For tops, stick to the basics. Bring a mix of neutral long sleeves, layering pieces, and items that can be styled multiple ways. I packed a few sleep shirts, tank tops, going-out tops, and short sleeves for when the weather warmed up. Whether you study abroad in the fall or the spring, you’re going to experience a seasonal change—either cold to warm or warm to cold—so make sure you’re prepared for both.
You will definitely have access to a washer, so there’s no need to bring an excessive amount of undergarments. Just pack enough to get you through about a week to a week and a half.
SHOES
I kept my shoes very simple. Comfortable walking sneakers and Blundstones were my go-tos for walking around the city. Toward the end of the semester, all I was really wearing were my OnCloud walking sneakers—comfort matters way more than you think when you’re walking everywhere, and my apartment was a 40-minute walk from the city center.
TOILETRIES
For toiletries, I waited to buy shampoo and conditioner once I got there, which saved space and weight. I only brought the basics for skincare and makeup, and that worked perfectly. Most things you need can easily be bought abroad, so don’t stress about bringing everything from home. Make sure you have enough of your tried and trues to get you through, but for those four months, I didn’t care too much about what shampoo or conditioner I was using.
LAST THOUGHTS
Overall, packing light made traveling, moving, and coming home so much easier, and I never felt like I didn’t have enough to wear. I know it will be easy to want to bring EVERYTHING, but I promise it’s only four months, and it’s much easier and a great experience to live with less than you’re used to for a little while! Less stuff means less stress—and more room for the things you’ll pick up along the way. Good luck!
Thanks, Vanessa!