Why Rick Steves Emphasizes The Importance Of Packing Light When Traveling In Europe

Rick Steves does not just share his travel advice on where to go and what to see. He also shares tips that apply to any trip, regardless of location. Aside from website recommendations for sleeping on a budget or health precautions on long-haul flights, one of the universal travel tips that Steves often discusses is packing light.

Steves is so adamant about packing light that everyone participating in his Rick Steves' Europe tours is only allowed one carry-on-sized bag. It is an official rule people always regret breaking on his tours. "You'll never meet a traveler who, after five trips, brags: 'Every year I pack heavier.' You can't travel heavy, happy, and cheap. Pick two," Steves explains on his website. He elaborates by explaining that heavy luggage puts a damper on your trip. Walking between European transportation hubs and your lodging accommodations can tire you out if you have lots of stuff to carry. Tightly packed buses and trains won't be fun with a big suitcase either. As Chuck Palahniuk wrote in "Fight Club," "The more things you own, the more they own you."

Rick Steves wants you to pack light because of the freedom you'll feel when you don't have to worry about lost luggage. "With flight disruptions becoming more common, I'm more committed than ever to my rule of never checking a bag," he states on his website. "Bag in hand, it's easy to adapt to whatever the airline throws at you. And when you arrive, you can hit the ground running."

Another reason why Steves promotes packing light is the fact that airlines often charge passengers for anything more than a carry-on that can fit in an overhead bin or under the seat in front of you. This is especially true for budget airlines. Take Ryanair, for example. This budget airline could be your ticket to seeing all of Europe in your lifetime, thanks to its affordable tickets. However, bringing more than something that can fit under the seat in front of you will add anywhere from around $13 to almost $70, depending on luggage size and routes you're taking. This might not sound like much, but it is money you could spend on more experiences during your trip rather than even more of your budget going to the airline.

Proponents of light packing advise travelers to pack what they think they'll need, and then take out half of it. Most people have likely packed things they end up never using on their trips anyway. If there are items you think you'll use, Rick Steves says to think about whether you'll use them enough. If there are items that might only come in handy once during an entire trip, it might not be worth giving them valuable space in your bag. Rolling your clothes like a burrito can help you fit more items into one bag, too, as do packing cubes and clothes compressors. Overall, packing light is just one of the clever little things Rick Steves does on every trip. 

If you do find yourself needing anything after arriving at your destination, simply visit a department store or pharmacy and look for whatever you're missing. Participating in this aspect of daily life in a foreign country can actually be a fun cultural experience. Perhaps check out some items sold by local brands rather than globally known ones available in your own hometown. You'll also likely be surrounded by more locals than when you're at a city's biggest tourist attractions.