Packing

Pack light! Closet space in Spain will be limited, and there are plenty of affordable and fun clothing stores where you can purchase some of the styles that your Spanish peers are wearing. The Madrid winter is wet and cold. Indoor heating is often inadequate, so bring warm, lightweight clothing you can wear in layers. You can purchase almost any item of clothing in Spain, although some are more expensive there than in the U.S.

Spanish students dress much like their peers on U.S. campuses, except that they do not wear pajamas, or baseball hats to class; they dress slightly more fashionably. Otherwise, plan on dressing in the same style comfortable for you in the U.S. One semi-formal outfit is recommended for special occasions like dining out in a nice restaurant.

Packing Suggestions:

• Clothing that is easily washed and drip-dried (Dryers are NOT common in apartments.)
• Warm winter coat, winter boots, raincoat, gloves, scarf, travel umbrella
• Sports clothes for the activities you enjoy
• Sturdy shoes (You’ll do lots of walking.)
• Slippers (or indoor shoes), robe
• Swimsuit
• Toiletries (only if you are particular about American brands, or prefer antiperspirant deodorant to more basic deodorant found in Spain)
• Your laptop and a USB flash drive
• An adaptor plug for Spanish outlets for your laptop, phone chargers (providing that they are set up to convert to the 220 voltage). *See note on electrical appliances under section of what NOT to pack.
• Journal or diary
• Small items you can use for gifts
• Money belt or money neck pouch
• Locks for luggage and backpack
• Latex condoms and other birth control supplies
• Copies of prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses (extras, if possible)
• Prescriptions for medications written clearly in generic (not brand name) terms, with the chemical composition clearly written

Do not pack:

• Bedding or housewares. In Spain, bed linens are provided in many but not all of the housing options. You will probably need to buy them in a student apartment, but know there are varying sizes of beds (completely different from beds in the U.S. You may purchase them in department stores when necessary.
• Electrical appliances. The U.S. operates on 110-volt alternating current (AC), whereas Spain (and much of the rest of the world) runs on 220-volt AC. Check your electronics to see if the voltage is compatable.