Travel Europe | Travel Skills: Packing Light
Packing light is essential for happy travel. Learn the importance of being mobile with your luggage. For more information on the Rick Steves’ Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Question by Josh: What is the best way to travel through europe cheaply?
im 18 about to finish school and I want to travel through europe cheaply. I particularly want to go to Spain, France, Germany and the Netherlands. im just wondering if anyone has any advice to offer me. whether it is best to back pack or travel with organisations with Contiki for example.
thanks for the help.
Best answer:
Answer by Ida
join the army and ask to be sent to germany after basic training. get it in your contract.
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Hes carrying his convertible carry on bag.
I always bring a second pair of shoes: flip flops. theyre light and no matter where i am at when and if my feet hurt i put them on
@RickSteves
the bag does not look like the Classic back door bag on the website – this bag looks alot softer and less rigid – could it be another bag ??
having a smartphone makes wonders. just having wifi, can help a lot when walking in a city. this next time i am going to be carrying my camera, and extra memory storage for it, my nook color which i can carry as i walk and i can browse the web or read on the plane. my family thinks is crazy traveling like rick steves.. but it’s such a conformable travel. I like also carrying a durable plastic bag like the ones sold in supermarkets to carry laundry or bring things i cannot place in my bag.
Also, with advancing technology you can pick yourself up a GSM quad band unlocked phone with a 16GB sd card, 5megapixel camera that can act as your travel phone, mp3 player, alarm clock, watch, and camera all in one small hand-held device! Can’t do better than that. Forgo the laptop and other individual gadgets… internet cafes are all over Europe if you need to check email (unless you are on business).
I pack much like Steve – this can work for a woman just fine. When packing for our honeymoon 27 years ago – and my first trip to Europe – my soon-to-be-husband said basically, “you pack it, you carry it”. That cured me fast! We have traveled very light ever since. It’s doable – one just needs a little bit of discipline. Of course the side effect is that I look to be wearing the largely the same things in all my travel photos…lol
@lsusc I am a woman so I understand looking fashionable and traveling light do not seem to go together
but i always tell myself I have to keep my luggage manageable. I always go for a 24+4L backpack (medium) with a small wheeled luggage (like those black ones pulled by two women in the video). it’s great for a non-backpacker like me.
nice computer rick.
@ArtificialSouls That’s the spirit.
@ContrarianExpatriate hahaha totally agree with you.
@lsusc Our travel experts have compiled a packing list for women on our website in the “Plan Your Trip” category.
I can’t believe Rick packs so much! I went with about a third of that. Not to brag though… I have a bad back.
That packing would be okay with me. BUT, how do you pack for a woman? That would never do for my wife.
It would be so cool to be able to travel with this guy
@Shift4g Rick is using the Rick Steves’ Classic Back Door Bag.
What kind of is he using? I’d love to get exactly what he has.
This was great for two friends of mine…..Thank you..
All the stuff I own already fits in 2 boxes.
Then again I’ve been the opposite of a hoarder my whole life.
My motto is, if I don’t use it, someone else should.
So I give away stuff I don’t use to people who have shown any interest in something like it. Even if they don’t need it, at least they may appreciate it more than I do.
Actually, the real reason why everything is expensive in Europe has more to do with the “hidden” ~ 20% VAT tax built into the price of every good and service whereas in the US there are some states which don’t even have any form of sales tax and online purchases are tax free as well. Keep your receipts in Europe… if you spend more than $200 you can get a refund on all the tax you paid at the airport if your a non EU citizen!
@SheOwnsFrodo LOL! well here in england we can find everything we need (;
Another great tip on packing light is only pack the necessities. You only need the necessary amount of clothing for the duration of your trip. Be realistic about what you’re going to wear. Be comfortable and practical! I find that rolling my clothes helps to fit more when needed.
@SheOwnsFrodo
if u ever come to Portugal, my country, dont worry about tampons and deodorant, u can find those everywhere ^^
@SheOwnsFrodo I agree about deodorant though, I couldn’t find solid stick deodorant ANYWHERE in Paris, they only had the liquid roller ball kind, which I hate. If you like solid deo, definitely bring enough for your trip!
@SheOwnsFrodo I didn’t have a problem finding tampons in France, Paris at least had a good selection of female products. They were even in a little corner grocery store (not a big place) right down from where I stayed. They WERE a little bit expensive, but I chock that up to the exchange rate more than anything else. Tampax was about 6 euros/box (which at the time I went, was over $9, although now would be around $7.50ish) whereas the same size box at home, is about 6 dollars.
Toiletries – you can buy almost everything in Europe except tampons and deodorant. Both are difficult to find. It took me three days to find tampons and one box cost more than $10. Toothpaste, etc. is everywhere. Only thing I would add is a water bottle with a filter on it. Very handy, will save you lots of money (especially on trains) and will keep you from getting sick.