Maria Unde Westerberg: Pack light for the Mediterranean - and travel longer with less

5 juin 2026

Pure Passion. Knowledge from people who know their thing.

Maria Unde Westerberg has spent many years on rails through Europe. As a travel writer and founder of Within Reach, she inspires people to discover more places by train – from small Swedish towns to the coastal cities of the Mediterranean. Along the way, she has also learned one important thing: the less you carry with you, the greater the freedom to travel.

Here, Maria shares her best tips for packing light for the Mediterranean, making clothes last longer, and creating more space for what the journey is really about – the experiences along the way.

There's something liberating about traveling through Europe by train. The landscapes change outside the window, stations are located in the middle of cities, and the journey itself becomes part of the experience. But for many, a train journey begins with the same mistake: packing too much.

After many years of train travel throughout Europe, travel writer Maria Unde Westerberg has learned that much of the freedom is contained in a smaller bag. Even with wheels on your suitcase, you'll need to lift and carry it up and down stairs, and you'll quickly appreciate your lighter packing.

Moreover, in the Mediterranean, you don't need as many outfits, and most of us end up wearing the same favorite garments over and over anyway. Should you be missing something, you can buy it on the spot and have a nice souvenir to take home.

Build a smart travel wardrobe

The key is to choose a few garments that can be cleverly combined in different ways:

3–4 tops, preferably with a lot of color
1 shirt that doesn't wrinkle, also for cooler evenings
2 bottoms, solid colors that work with everything
4-5 underwear
1 set of ultralight workout clothes
1 dress or a nicer top that works for both everyday wear and dinner
1 pair of really comfortable but stylish sneakers
1 pair of light sandals or flip-flops
1 scarf that can also double as a towel, pillow, and blanket
Swimwear

Often, this goes much further than one might think. The secret is not more clothes – but fresher clothes. Pure Effect Textile Spray has therefore been a natural part of Maria's packing for many years.

"It takes up little space in the bag but makes a big difference, freshens up all kinds of clothes, and allows me to vary my packing at least twice as long as before," she says, continuing:

"With a quick refresh, the top or dress feels ready for another day of travel – and I avoid the hassle of laundry detergent or hair shampoo and wet clothes that never dry in the hotel room."

Therefore, Maria has a few simple routines when she travels:

Immediately after use: spray with Pure Effect's magical spray where odor occurs, then hang up and air the garments
To let shoes and workout clothes dry thoroughly
Remove small stains immediately

The true luxury of travel - when you pack smarter

The best thing about train travel is all the experiences you get along the way. When you pack light, it's easier to be spontaneous, stay an extra night, or hop on a new train to a place you've just discovered.

So next time you're planning a train trip through Europe: pack 40% less than you think you'll need. "Add some bling-bling and gorgeous sunglasses, and you're all set, whether on the beach or for aperitivo. I promise you'll appreciate the freedom" ✨ says Maria.

Buon viaggio!