Pack
Light
It CAN be done!
We were very skeptical. We felt good about the the dimension of luggage we could carry on, but then this whole must be under 17 pound thing happened. Our shoes weigh more than that (Ben has huge feet and Anne... likes shoe options). We purchased a Rick Steve's convertible backpack with our store credit when we booked our trip. We had a small rolling carry-on that we liked, but after realizing how much that weighed, we ordered another backpack.
Shoes really were our biggest concern. We went in the early Fall, so rain was likely and many of the sites are outdoors. Finding something comfortable, stylish (pictures last a lifetime people!), lightweight and water resistant took some energy. After ordering and returning thousands of dollars worth of cute fall boots/booties from a major online retailer, we each landed on two pairs total to bring. Fine, Anne had to order thousands of dollars worth of shoes to find the perfect pair.
Neither of us regretted any of our choices nor wished we brought something else. AT ALL.
Click here for our full packing lists.
Get There & Back
East Bound: O'Hare - Vienna - Prague via Austrian Air
Due to work schedules, we were only able to arrive in Prague the day prior to the tour starting. Traveling on Austrian Air from O'Hare to Vienna meant our passports are stamped with a someday destination.
We only had a one hour delay in Vienna, so naturally we sweated over (and over and over) about making the connection. Going through customs took less than three minutes and the directional signage at the airport was great. We had so much time we almost fell asleep waiting to board the next flight... bad bad bad.
A quick hop over to Prague landed us in town around 10:30am. We had a lovely transfer service take us from the airport to the same hotel we were staying at for our tour which we booked for our extra night. They take American dollars so it was really convenient.
West Bound: Budapest - Zurich - O'Hare via Swiss Air
Sadly, we were not able to extend our trip on the back end either. When it came time to depart from Budapest, our Guide arranged for car service to take us to the airport. We flew home through Zurich on Swiss Air, so again, our passport is stamped with another someday destination.
What we learned Shoes sould be completely flat for walking on cobblestones Packing light means fabric too - easier to hang dry and weighs less If you use something everyday just bring it and sacrifice something else Packing cubes are your friend to keep organized
What we learned They serve so much food on international flights If the airline says you can make the connection, you will make it