Rick Steves Home > 2009 Tours > Tour Planning Essentials

Planning & Packing

Counting your Tour Days

When counting the number of days in your tour, we include the afternoon when you first meet your group as Day 1, and count the morning of your last breakfast with the group as the final day. These beginning and ending days are a mix of group time, personal sightseeing, and travel time for you. Like other travel companies, we count these as "tour days." Doing so makes it less likely that you will mis-schedule your flights.

Reading and Viewing

Those who prepare get more out of their tour. For starters, visit the web pages covering your tour at www.ricksteves.com where you'll find a link to a reading/viewing list prepared by our guides. Your local library can also make suggestions for your upcoming adventure.

Rick Steves Books: Most of our tours include a free Rick Steves guidebook. For more general background reading, we recommend Europe 101: History & Art for the Traveler. Rick and co-author Gene Openshaw give you an informative (sometimes irreverent) overview of European history.

Rick Steves Travel DVDs: For a fun, informative preview of your next tour destination, watch a DVD from our "Rick Steves' Europe" TV series! Our Travel Store has 70 shows available on several DVDs (a generous five to eight shows per disc).

Should I carry on my luggage or check it through?

When you can carry your luggage on the plane, it's less likely to get lost, damaged or stolen. You don't have to worry about it and when you arrive, you can leave the airport immediately. Keep in mind that most airlines limit your carry-on size and weight. Most airlines allow a height, length, and width combined of 45 inches and a weight limit ranging from 13 to 70 pounds. Check with your airline for their specific restrictions. If you do check your bag, make sure you keep certain essentials with you on board the plane: all valuables such as money, passport, tickets, etc. (which should be in your money belt under your clothes); all medications; cameras and film; glasses and contact lenses, etc. It's also a good idea to carry on your toiletries kit (liquids must fit in a quart-size bag if you bring your bag on the plane) and a change of clothes in case your checked bag is delayed. Finally, don't forget to label your bag inside and out with your name as well as the name, address, and phone of your first hotel. Many people also find it helpful to tie a ribbon on their bag or have some unique way to distinguish it from other look-alike bags.

Does my luggage have to measure exactly 9 x 22 x 14 inches?

The above numbers reflect the typical bag size many airlines allow you to carry on.  If you plan to check your luggage, don't panic if your bag is a little bit larger. The main point is that you are able to comfortably handle all of your luggage by yourself at all times and be able to carry it up lots of stairs. We find that soft-sided bags work best. Backpack straps are handy, as you may need to walk several blocks from the tour bus to your hotel. Wheeled bags are used successfully by many of our tour members, just make sure you are able to carry it up several flights of stairs and/or over rough ground and uneven cobblestones. (Some wheeled bags also come with backpack straps.) We sell travel rucksacks and wheeled bags that are perfect for use on our tours. You can find more information about our travel bags at our Travel Store or in our newsletter.

What should I pack?

It is important to pack light!! You are responsible for carrying all of your stuff all of the time. We may walk several blocks or take alternate transport between our tour bus and the hotels. Remember, you can buy almost anything you may run out of in Europe. On all of our 7-day tours, packing light is helpful, but not critical, as you will not change hotels during the tour.

Pack versatile, comfortable clothing that you can layer for warmth or coolness. Expect some rain regardless of the time of year.

For early spring or late fall tours, pack a warmer sweater and socks, a hat, and gloves. While daytime temperatures should be pleasant, evenings can be cool, especially at higher elevations.

Most European churches require respectful dress. This generally means shoulders and knees must be covered for both men and women. In Turkish mosques, women are expected to cover their heads with scarves, and everyone must remove their shoes. On days that we visit these sites, your guide will warn you to dress accordingly. Many find that a light pair of windpants they can pull out of their daypack and slip on, or with zip-on/off legs, provides an easy, quick cover-up. Women could also pull on a light, non-wrinkle skirt over shorts and use a scarf to cover their head and shoulders.

You may want to bring a few items made from the synthetic fibers (CoolMax, Tencel) that are lightweight, breathable, and nonwrinkling. Check catalogs from the following for "travel-friendly" clothing: REI (800/426-4840, www.rei.com), Tilley Endurables (800/363- 8737, www.tilley.com), Travel Smith (800/950-1600, www.travelsmith.com), Ex Officio (800/644-7303, www.exofficio.com).

Your tour pre-handbook will include tips for packing light and creatively avoiding laundromats. Remember that you'll always carry all of your own luggage from the bus up to your room. Some hotels do not have elevators.

For more ideas on what to bring, check out Rick's Packing List. We also have a Packing List for Women.

Suggested Packing List

Each tour member is allowed to bring one carry-on-size bag (approx. 9" x 22" x 14") plus one day bag. Wheeled bags are OK as long as you can carry them up lots of stairs. To many, packing this light is a radical concept. But every year more than 11,000 travelers join us and manage wonderfully. We travel very casually; bring clothing that makes you feel comfortable. Take a trial run before you leave! Carry your packed bags on a walk (and up a couple flights of stairs)... then re-think what you can do without. Shopping for a bag? Rick Steves' carry-on bags (available with or without wheels) are ideal for our tours. Our smaller day bags are also more convenient than a purse for carrying your camera, guidebook, and other daily needs. All of these bags are available through our online travel store. Here are some packing suggestions, which may need to be adjusted depending on the time of year you are traveling and the length of your tour…

Suggested Take-Alongs:

  • Shirts: 1-2 long-sleeve, 3-4 shortsleeve (reverse quantity for early spring, late fall, or winter).
  • Fleece top/sweater
  • Pants: 2-3 pairs (jeans are OK; allow extra time to dry).
  • Walking shorts/capris: 1-2 pairs, or look for nylon pants with zip-off legs.
  • Skirt: easier for moneybelt than a dress.
  • Socks/undies: 5-7 pairs, look for quick drying material.
  • Scarf: to cover head and shoulders in churches.
  • Coat: water-repellent, handy with a hood (Gore-Tex is perfect), layer with fleece/sweater for more warmth.
  • Walking shoes: 2 pair, sturdy, comfortable, well-broken-in (quality walking/ athletic shoes are great; spray with waterproofing). Sport sandals are a good backup.
  • Bathing suit: for unexpected dips!
  • Day bag: ETBD's Civita, Veloce or Appenzell day bags work well.
  • Umbrella: because rain happens...
  • Travel alarm, watch: the bus waits for no one...
  • Camera, new battery & film: it's cheaper to bring film and batteries from home. Airport x-rays for carry-on luggage are safe for 200-400 speed, but stronger x-rays for checked luggage can ruin your film. Digital users will need lots of memory storage or a plan for emailing images or burning photo CDs in Europe, plus adequate batteries, chargers, converters and adapters. Adapter plug is needed, but not converter, for camera accessories.
  • Toiletries kit: our Rick Steves toiletries kits come in 2 handy sizes.
  • Soap: for your body, hair, and clothes — best kept in a small, sturdy squeeze bottle (inside a Ziploc bag).
  • Glasses and prescription: bring a second pair if you have them; if you wear contacts, also bring your glasses and contact lens prescription.
  • Medicine in original bottle: for important medication, also bring a written prescription from your doctor for refills (w/ dosage and generic drug name).
  • Cold/diarrhea/motion sickness remedies: also available in Europe but convenient to bring from home.
  • Ear plugs: free with your tour.
  • Ziploc bags: another useful take-along.
  • Info: any included Rick Steves books, tour itinerary and planning map.
  • Moneybelt: required! Free with tour.
  • ATM card/credit cards: to withdraw local currency in each country; don't forget to bring photocopies with emergency numbers.
  • Passports — valid for at least 6 months after your return date
  • Optional Extras: Flashlight: small, plus extra batteries. Flip-flops: for slippery shower floors and rocky beaches. Hat: for sun and/or chill (add gloves in cooler seasons). Fold-up tote bag: such as ETBD's Hide- Away Tote. Binoculars: small, for scenery or church interiors. Towel: small and thin; very handy for blotting hand laundry and beach use, wash cloth (rare in Europe; our Micronet travel towel and "clean kit" wash cloths dry quickly). Hair dryer: must be dual voltage w/ Europe plug adapter (available from our online travel store). Journal notebook, pens. Novel, cards, MP3 player/ipod with headphones. Address list: on gummy labels saves time; for emails, set up an account and address book on a free, web-based service; bring a printout of email addresses. Postcards and photos of home to show your new friends.

Suggested Leave-At-Homes: Irreplaceable or excessive jewelry. Perfume, aftershave (bad on bus, attracts bees). Unnecessary electrical appliances (instead, consider bringing cordless curling irons, disposable razors, dripdry clothes).