India, May 23 -- As a travel journalist, I've visited Europe more than any other continent, having taken three dozen trips to the region over the years. Yet, to this day, there are still some items that I forget to pack that aren't necessarily available or are trickier to find than on a quick trip to the pharmacy, like an adapter with multiple USB ports or mesh bags for the harvested-that-morning artichokes I want to broil back at my Airbnb.

To help solidify my Europe packing list, I tapped some local guides to weigh in on the travel essentials they think are the most underrated-and important-for American travelers to bring with them. From food-focused items like reusable utensils to comfort-first gel insoles, these are the 12 items to...