But by the enormity of luggage I've seen in Europe, you probably won't have that problem. Luckily, you can almost always fit several more items in a soft bag than you think you can. They'll just compress--and wrinkle--a little more.
Another tip: Notice that we've included a washcloth. Why? Because you'll seldom get one in the cheaper hotels of Europe. In fact, we've only recently started seeing them in stores. If you are going really cheaply and expect to have to wash out clothing in your hostel or cheap hotel room, I bring one of those one-size-fits-all rubber mats that will stop a drain from draining. (Cheap joints often remove drain plugs to discourage you from washing things out in your room.) Consider bringing a small bottle of Woolite or other cold water washing soap.
One last tip if you like to shop: To make space in your suitcase at the end of your trip, take some old clothing you don't want to keep--holy underwear, jeans on their last legs, a ratty sweater--and toss them at the appropriate moment.
