I spent a month traveling around Europe. I had a great time, but I wish I had done these 5 things differently.

Although I had a great time traveling around Europe, there are a few things I wish I had done differently.

I recently went on a monthlong bucket-list trip around Europe — I ate pasta in cities throughout Italy, hiked in the Austrian Alps, swam in Croatia’s azure waters, and danced under the sparkling Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Although I’m a seasoned and frequent traveler, this was the longest I’d ever been away from home. After five weeks abroad, I realized there are a few things I’d do differently the next time I take a long trip like this.

From packing lighter to planning better, here are my key takeaways for making an extended-travel experience more efficient, comfortable, and enjoyable.

I wish I had packed more efficiently.

Looking back, I should have brought clothes that could be worn in different types of weather.

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 should have researched my transportation options more carefully.

I had a few transportation-related mishaps.

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.

I didn’t budget as efficiently as I should have.

Next time, I’ll definitely create a more realistic budget.

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.

Next time, I’ll visit fewer destinations so that I can enjoy each one more.

It would have been nice to be able to spend more time at each stop.

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.

It would have been nice to have more days to rest and recover.

I created a jam-packed itinerary for my trip.

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.