The One Simple Rule Rick Steves Advises Everyone to Follow When They Travel
Long-time travel writer and TV host Rick Steves is your man for all things European travel. Not only can he tell you where to go and what to do there, but he can also give you tips on anything from health and hygiene to safety when traveling. And out of his entire library of travel wisdom, there is perhaps one piece of advice that he considers most important: pack light. In a video posted to his TikTok (@ricksteveseurope), Steves says you'll be better off if you can limit all of your belongings to a carry-on-sized bag—that's 9x22x14 inches.
Yes, he means everything. This includes your toiletries, shoes, chargers—try to get everything into that one small bag. The reason for this is that travel, especially international, often requires walking long distances (sometimes in the heat or on uneven terrain) while lugging your baggage, and doing so will be a heck of a lot easier if you pack light. Steves makes a good point by saying, 'You'll never meet a traveler who brags: 'Every year, I pack heavier.'' As a former world traveler myself, I can't attest enough to the truth of this; you will never regret packing less.
Related: We've Got Your Vacay Covered With the Ultimate Packing Lists for Every Type of Trip
Although it may give you peace of mind to bring anything you could ever need and more, the reality is that you won't end up needing or using most of it, and it will just add extra pounds to your bag that you'll wish you didn't have to carry around. What about a small bag and a personal item? More bags still mean more space taken up, whether that's when you're pulling your luggage through tight, crowded city sidewalks or storing your stuff on the floor of a hostel room. It's best to have everything kept together in one spot. If you prefer to bring a carry-on-sized roller bag, that's okay, but Steves carries it all in a backpack. I, too, have always found backpacks to be best for serious traveling.
To test out your limits, Steves recommends packing up everything you think you need in the size bag you think you need it in and either walking around your house carrying it all with you for a while, or even going into town to carry it around for a few blocks. It's very likely that at some point on your international travels, you'll have to spend some hours carrying your luggage around in between flights/hotel check-ins, etc. If it's not comfortable to have it all with you while sightseeing, you should scale back your belongings.
Related: 45 Travel Essentials, According to Flight Attendants, Professional Packers and More
What you absolutely need to bring will depend on where you're going and when, but it's always best to stick to the bare essentials. Creating your own sort of travel capsule wardrobe is helpful for this; bring clothing items you can mix, match and layer instead of bringing multiple full outfits. Of course, having fewer clothes means you'll need to do laundry more often, but this is not the end of the world. Pro tip: bring a travel laundry bag to separate your dirty clothes from the clean ones and easily tote your laundry to the laundromat. The same goes for cosmetics and toiletries; the reality is that you can often find what you need once you get to your destination, so you don't always have to bring everything with you from home.
Bringing only a carry-on also reduces the risk of your luggage getting lost or stolen. And, of course, you'll save money! 'It's not a hardship to pack light, it's a sort of enlightenment,' Steves states.
Related: I Traveled the World for 2 Years With This Backpack and It Still Looks Brand New
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
12 hours ago
- New York Post
Emirates airline boss sees positive progress at troubled Boeing
The head of the world's largest international airline, Dubai's Emirates, said on Sunday there were positive signs of progress at Boeing, having previously voiced frustration over delays in delivery of new jetliners from the planemaker. Emirates President Tim Clark said he was seeing a greater degree of determination from Boeing to resolve its many issues under a recently appointed CEO, and management had indicated cautious optimism over its recovery in discussion with Emirates. Boeing is trying to stabilize and ramp up production after a quality crisis and then labor strike shuttered production of most of its aircraft last year. 3 Emirates President Tim Clark said he was seeing greater determination from Boeing to resolve its issues. AFP via Getty Images Boeing is also awaiting certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration for its 777X wide-body plane, of which Emirates has 205 on order. Deliveries of the 777X are set to start in 2026, six years behind schedule. Emirates has been told it could receive its first 777X any time between the second half of 2026 and the first quarter of 2027, Clark said, adding that he was sensing a more positive tone from Boeing on the plane's progress. Boeing and European planemaker Airbus are months and years behind on new plane deliveries, frustrating airlines that want to upgrade to more fuel-efficient aircraft and launch new services. Speaking at a news briefing on the sidelines of an International Air Transport Association summit, Clark said the industry was still facing chronic aerospace supply problems and challenged planemakers to take responsibility. 'I am pretty tired of seeing the hand-wringing about the supply chain: you (manufacturers) are the supply chain,' Clark said. Last week, sources told Reuters that Airbus has been warning airlines it faces another three years of delivery delays in working through a backlog of supply-chain problems. 3 Boeing and competitor Airbus are months and years behind on new plane deliveries. via REUTERS Clark said the pandemic was no longer an acceptable excuse. 'It's a highly consolidated industry…I don't think they've managed to strip out the inefficiencies of the smaller units they brought together,' he said of the largest aerospace firms. Emirates has not yet seen a shift in demand patterns as a result of President Trump's tariff war, Clark told an annual meeting of the IATA. Clark said he expected U.S. manufacturer GE Aerospace, which makes engines for some of Emirates' planes, to absorb a lot of the impact from tariffs into its own margins. 3 Emirates has not seen a shift in demand due to President Trump's tariffs, according to the head of the carrier. REUTERS GE is Emirates' main engine supplier. It has said that it is passing along tariff costs to customers in the form of a surcharge. Clark has previously expressed frustration with its other engine supplier, Britain's Rolls-Royce RR.L, because some engine models have struggled with maintenance problems when operating in the world's hottest climates. On Sunday, Clark said opportunities still exist in the Gulf region for Rolls-Royce if it can deliver the required performance. He left open whether a potential deal for Rolls-powered Airbus A350-1000 jets, which faltered over the durability of their engines at the Dubai Airshow in 2023, would be ready in time for the next edition in November this year. 'I am not sure about that,' he told reporters.
Business Insider
a day ago
- Business Insider
European travel to the US slowed down this year — but travel companies say a summer rebound is already underway
Despite political tensions and growing anti-American sentiment, US travel is holding steady among European tourists — especially when prices drop. From January to April, several major travel platforms observed a slowdown in European bookings to the US. Thomas Cook reported a dip that exceeded typical seasonal fluctuations. "We did observe a softening in bookings to the US between January and April this year — a dip that goes beyond the usual seasonal adjustments," Nicholas Smith, holidays digital director at Thomas Cook and eSky Group, told Business Insider. However, by May, things began to shift. Smith said aggressive pricing strategies, including hotel rate cuts of around 25% and deposits of just over $1, triggered an uptick in bookings. "This has, in turn, helped stimulate demand, particularly among UK travelers adept at spotting good deals," he said. "We expect this rebound to continue into the summer months." Other travel firms echoed that optimism. TravelPerk, which serves business and corporate travelers, said bookings to the US from Europe rose 1% year over year in April, while US to Europe bookings climbed by 14%. Cancellation rates remained stable at 7 to 9%. Etraveli Group, which analyzed bookings through April, found that while demand for flights from the EU to the US declined by 7%, overall trip orders to the US from Europe jumped 19.5% year over year. However, bookings to other intercontinental destinations grew even faster, up 24.3% overall, 29% for Africa, and 25% for Asia. Shorter intra-European trips surged by 29%. Tariff backlash These shifts are unfolding against a politically charged backdrop. President Donald Trump's escalating trade war, with tariffs on EU imports swinging from 20% to 10% and now potentially rising to 50%, has triggered grassroots consumer backlash across Europe. Apps like Brandsnap in the Netherlands and Detrumpify in France are helping Europeans identify US brands to avoid in supermarkets and online. In Denmark, major retailer Salling Group labelled European-made products with black star labels, while Norway's largest oil bunkering operation company, Haltbakk Bunkers, made headlines for briefly refusing to refuel US Navy ships. Meanwhile, high-profile American brands like Tesla and Coca-Cola are already seeing a fallout. Tesla's sales in Europe dropped by 46% between January and April, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, and McDonald's reported a global sales dip linked to "anti-American sentiment," especially in Northern Europe. This behavior may reflect more than a passing political reaction. In its March Consumer Expectations survey, the European Central Bank found that 44% of about 19,000 respondents preferred to switch away from US brands, regardless of tariff levels. The bank warned that this suggested a "possible long-term structural shift in consumer preferences away from US products and brands." It may not be a long-term shift French hotel giant Accor added to the concerns last month. CEO Sébastien Bazin told Bloomberg that summer bookings to the US from Europe were down 25%. Yet, travel industry analysts cautioned against assuming this signals a long-term shift. "While there is evidence of a temporary slowdown at this stage, the combination of price adjustments and strong interest in iconic US destinations suggests the market is poised to recover momentum," said Smith of Thomas Cook. Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, director of the European Centre for International Political Economy, told BI that politics isn't the only factor deterring travelers. "Some of it is a genuine disinclination against spending your holidays in the US," he said, "but much of it is the fear of harassment at the border."
USA Today
a day ago
- USA Today
GoGordian Real Estate Offers Maisonettes and Villas for Sale in Paphos, Ideal for Summer Living and Retirement
GoGordian Real Estate has announced the availability of a new selection of maisonettes and villas for sale in Paphos, Cyprus, further expanding its portfolio of residential properties in the region. Known for its picturesque landscapes, rich historical heritage, and consistently warm Mediterranean climate, Paphos continues to draw significant interest from both local and international buyers seeking properties suited for seasonal retreats or long-term living. The newly listed maisonettes and villas are situated in prime locations across Paphos, offering a balance of privacy, convenience, and proximity to essential amenities. Many of these homes are located near the sea, nature trails, and key urban centers, making them particularly attractive to those looking to settle in Cyprus or invest in holiday homes. The expansion aligns with increased demand in the local real estate market, especially among retirees from Europe and individuals seeking a second home in a sun-drenched location. Paphos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has long maintained a reputation as one of the island's most desirable residential hubs. Its combination of archaeological sites, scenic coastlines, and laid-back lifestyle continues to position the city as a preferred destination for foreign nationals interested in relocating to Cyprus. The properties now available through GoGordian Real Estate include both new developments and carefully maintained resale homes. Maisonettes offer a practical option for small families or couples, while the detached villas provide larger living spaces, often accompanied by gardens, private pools, or panoramic views of the coastline. These features appeal to individuals seeking both tranquility and year-round enjoyment in a region that offers over 300 days of sunshine annually. According to a spokesperson for GoGordian Real Estate, Paphos experiences a continued interest from prospective buyers in key European markets. 'There has been a clear and steady increase in inquiries from clients looking for well-positioned homes that can serve as permanent residences or seasonal getaways,' said the spokesperson. 'Paphos offers the right mix of infrastructure, natural beauty, and affordability, making it an ideal location for those planning for retirement or looking to enjoy summers in Cyprus.' The real estate firm has also noted a shift in buyer preferences following recent global lifestyle changes. Increasingly, individuals are seeking homes that accommodate flexible living arrangements, with a focus on outdoor space, home office setups, and proximity to local services. Properties in Paphos cater to these needs, offering adaptable layouts in quiet residential areas that remain well connected to healthcare, retail, and leisure facilities. GoGordian Real Estate's continued investment in the Paphos region also reflects a strategic response to the urban development plans and infrastructure upgrades currently underway in the area. Road improvements, enhanced public spaces, and initiatives promoting sustainable tourism have contributed to the city's long-term appeal. As a result, residential property values have remained stable, with signs of growth in high-demand locations, especially those near the coast or within heritage zones. The newly available properties are spread across several sought-after neighborhoods, including Agios Theodoros, Geroskipou, Pegeia, Neo Chorio and Latchi. Each area offers a distinct living experience, from vibrant seaside activity to quiet hillside retreats. Prospective buyers will find a diverse range of architectural styles, from contemporary minimalist villas to traditional Mediterranean-style homes, with options tailored to various lifestyle preferences and budgets. GoGordian Real Estate has reinforced its commitment to facilitating smooth and transparent transactions for buyers. Legal and administrative support is provided to assist foreign nationals throughout the purchasing process, ensuring that all regulatory and documentation requirements are met with precision. This level of guidance is particularly significant for retirees who are new to overseas property ownership. While demand for properties in Paphos remains strong, GoGordian Real Estate emphasizes the importance of early planning for interested buyers. The real estate market in Cyprus has become increasingly competitive, and high-quality properties in strategic locations are often sold quickly. The company encourages potential investors to reach out for updated listings and professional consultation to explore the available options. GoGordian Real Estate's broad property portfolio in Paphos responds to the growing demand for residential opportunities available across Cyprus. With an increasing number of people considering the island for seasonal living, semi-permanent relocation, or retirement, the focus remains on offering properties that meet practical, aesthetic, and long-term value expectations. As Cyprus continues to attract attention as a destination for quality living in the Mediterranean, GoGordian Real Estate remains positioned to play a central role in supporting that transition for homebuyers.
