There’s a certain way the JE Swim girl travels: effortlessly, stylishly, and always prepared for a little spontaneity. She knows what to pack, what to prioritize, and when to say yes to the moment.
From airport rituals to Euro summer truths, these are the rules we travel by.
- Always bring cash.
- Make one or two must-have reservations and give yourself freedom to try new places. Don’t just eat at places you saw on IG. Ask for local recs, and we always look at where Bourdain ate.
- Always come home on Saturday to give yourself a day to recover before the week starts.
- Fun fact: 10 bikinis weigh less than one sweater.
- Always pack layers. We’re chilly.
- Have an extra bag with doubles of all your toiletries and electronics, so you’re always packed.
- Always pack a bathing suit, a pair of heels, and a cocktail dress. You never know where you might end up or who might invite you on their yacht.
- Don’t take expensive hair tools to Europe. They will die.
- Be careful who you travel with. Some of the people we love most are the worst to travel with.
- Get the butter, gelato, and extra sauce. Four glasses of wine. Euro calories don’t count.
- You can always buy new clothes if you forgot something.
- Don’t buy clothes in stores you have at home.
- If you want to check a bag and overpack, don’t let anyone stop you from living your life. But be mindful of how those bags will be transported and your itinerary. You can always hire luggage porters or your husband.
- Packing cubes will change your life.
- Don’t pass up once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, especially if it involves live music.
- Always bring a cocktail bag, a neutral bag, and a statement bag.
- Designer clothes cost less in Spain and France. Plan time to do VAT at the airport. Your husband will support your designer purchases. It’s boy and girl math.
- Sunscreen is better in Europe. Stock up.
- Never pass on a free bathroom in Europe.
- Be nice to service workers. No one likes an asshole. Kindness is a universal language.
- Traveling in a group in ancient cities and New York City is hard. Keep your circle small.
- Learn a few key phrases of anywhere you’re going: bathroom, thank you, check please, how do you get to, another martini. You know the basics.
- Get a hotel room travel lock and share your location with someone.
- If you drink vodka soda, it’s called something different in every country, and don’t be disappointed when they get it wrong.
- They don’t stamp your passport anymore, but Louis Vuitton will still stamp your passport cover.
