10/07/2022
Such great advice!
Pack light, pack light, pack light.
As more and more people are flying at the same time to the same popular destinations — and as airports, especially in Europe, are having trouble with staffing — it’s never been more important to pack light.
The airport chaos we read about is mostly affecting travelers with checked luggage. I make a point to never check bags...and I’ve flown in or out of Amsterdam’s now-notorious Schiphol Airport three times in the last month or so with no problems. It’s smart to do whatever you can to check in ahead of time online, get there an hour earlier than you normally would, and carry on your bags.
Packing light is not a hardship. In fact, it’s a blessing for those of us enlightened enough to realize that — on the road — there are two kinds of travelers: those who packed light and those who wished they packed light. Think about it: You’ll never meet anyone who, after five trips, brags, “Every year, I pack heavier.” With experience, you’ll get serious about packing light.
I have a new tradition of posing for a photo on my deck before each European adventure, all loaded up with everything I’m packing along. And here I am last month, heading to the airport for a two-week trip with my Rick Steves bags — a hardly-full carry-on (9" x 21" x 14") convertible suitcase/rucksack (https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/carry-on-backpack) and my day bag — giddy with joy at the mobility packing light will bring me.
What’s your favorite packing tip?
