I love to dress up, and if I could have, I would’ve packed my entire wardrobe for this trip.

Although I did my best to stick to a neutral collection of items that could be re-worn, I packed some statement pieces that only got one or two wears. Sure, they made for aesthetic Instagram pictures, but these pieces ended up being an inconvenience to carry around with me.

I also wish I would have packed items to accommodate a wider range of weather conditions. For example, I instantly regretted not packing more practical rain gear when all I had to wear on a rainy day was a sweatshirt.

Next time, I’ll stick to versatile basics so that I have more styling options and fewer items in my suitcase.

I may or may not have cried to a railway operator after missing a train in Munich.

I also ended up spending a full 24 hours traveling to one destination when I could have gotten there in an afternoon.

In hindsight, I wish I had done more research before the trip so I felt more confident navigating my way around, especially in areas where I didn’t understand the language.

Although I had all my tickets booked ahead of time, understanding the train systems, taxi fares, and various airports would have saved me time, money, and stress.

Let’s be honest — nobody’s going to Europe for a month and not splurging on a few items and experiences. However, I wish I had planned for a more realistic budget.

For example, I don’t regret buying my first designer bag, but I do wish I had properly prepared for just how much a trip like this can cost.

Although I saved a significant chunk of cash for this adventure, I could have budgeted more efficiently and planned ahead of time to find the best deals on flights and accommodations.

If I travel abroad for a month again, I’d like to spend more time in each destination. Although hopping from city to city every couple of days made for a memorable adventure, I didn’t get to fully enjoy or soak in the culture of each stop.

It was exhausting to unpack, repack, and transport my luggage via plane, train, or ferry (or all three).

At times, this diminished the wonder of seeing a new locale, especially after I dragged my 50-pound suitcase across cobblestone streets and up narrow stairways.

Looking back, it would have been worth taking some destinations off the itinerary in order to stay in others longer.

When planning my trip, I overestimated my stamina and underestimated the jet lag I’d experience.

I jam-packed my travel itinerary in an effort to get the most out of my trip. This made sense at first, but by the end of the trip, I crashed.

Next time, I’d include dedicated rest and recovery days to ensure I felt my best throughout the entire experience.

Whether that means splurging on a spa treatment, laying by the beach all day, or even staying in my hotel bed watching Netflix, I learned that rest days are crucial for staying energized over time.