Couple Regrets Overpacking for Three-Week European Trip
A couple on a three-week European vacation encountered significant challenges due to overpacking, regretting their decision to ignore seasoned travel writer Rick Steves' advice for minimalist packing. They found themselves burdened by two near-50-pound checked bags and two overloaded carry-ons while navigating multiple destinations, cobblestone streets, and large crowds. The extensive luggage, which included numerous outfits, electronics, and a camera kit, made frequent city-to-city transfers and walks to hotels arduous, diminishing their travel experience. They acknowledged that their heavy packing contradicted their prior travel experience and pre-trip intentions.
During a three-week trip across Europe, a couple experienced considerable difficulties attributed to excessive luggage. They packed two checked bags, each weighing close to the 50-pound airline limit, along with two heavily loaded carry-on bags. This decision ultimately led to significant regrets, particularly as they navigated multiple cities and destinations.
The packed items included two sport coats, four pairs of shoes, two neckties, an overcoat, and a clothing steamer that remained unused throughout the journey. For work, they brought two laptops, an iPad Pro, various chargers, adapters, and a "mini studio" setup consisting of a tripod, portable microphones, a headset, and a camera bag filled with multiple lenses.
Their itinerary spanned approximately 10 destinations, including Amsterdam, Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, Avignon, Porto, the Douro Valley, Toledo, Sevilla, Madrid, and Segovia. The heavy luggage proved challenging, especially on cobblestone streets, making even short walks to hotels arduous. In Amsterdam, they unexpectedly encountered SAIL Amsterdam 2025, a large festival, which further complicated navigation with their bags.
The constant effort of packing, moving, and unpacking their belongings every few days began to feel like an eviction process. The physical strain became particularly noticeable in cities with hills and ancient streets, such as Porto, where the effort of transporting their bags significantly detracted from their ability to enjoy the trip's planned activities. They observed other travelers moving with light backpacks, highlighting their own logistical misstep.
The couple admitted to previously traveling to Europe and initially intending to follow travel writer Rick Steves' advice for minimalist packing—fitting everything into a single carry-on bag per person. However, they ultimately disregarded this guidance, resulting in an experience largely defined by the weight of their possessions. (Source: Business Insider)
