Rick Steves & Adventures With Sarah: What’s in Their Bag?
Last month, we had so much fun attending Rick Steves' European Travels Report that, this month, we attended the Rick Steves' Travel Festival.
These are just two of Rick’s many free annual travel talks, which take place in his hometown (and business headquarters) of Edmonds, Washington.
It was a fantastic way to spend a rainy Saturday in the Pacific Northwest, and great fun to see Sarah Murdoch, from Adventures with Sarah, sharing her travel tips, too.
The Attendees
There were hundreds in attendance, yet this event somehow still felt like an intimate gathering. We were some of the youngest attendees, which was an unexpected reminder of how many people might not travel abroad until later in life.
With travel an important component to lifelong human growth, seeing our elders was a motivator for us to continue traveling (while we can). As the consistent message we’ve heard from those who waited to travel is that they then couldn’t travel with physical ease.
Nobody should have to wait a lifetime to experience the world, only to face such heartbreak.
The Talks
There were so many fantastic presentations at this event that it was impossible to attend every talk. But, oh, how we tried. Each presentation was 1-2 hours in length and full of detail. Here's a list of some of the travel topics that were covered on this day:
Europe Travel Skills
Packing Light and Right
Traveling with a Mobile Device
Austria, Germany, and Switzerland
Croatia and Slovenia
Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland
England
France (a reminder to spend a month in Paris and another on the French Riviera)
Ireland and Scotland
Italy
Portugal
Spain
If I could, I’d share all the details of each talk we attended, but that would be an overwhelming amount of information. So, instead, I’m going to share my favorite.
Packing Light and Right
One of my favorite topics is packing, so I really enjoyed attending this presentation.
Sarah brought her bag fully packed, fresh from a recent trip, then unpacked every single item on stage (which was a fun way to learn more about Sarah, too).
Sarah shared her definition of packing light and right, with the hope that her future tour attendees would pack like this, as well:
choose the right bag; Sarah likes…
backpacks + packing cubes
cross body day bags
a packable tote (for picnics, laundry, souvenirs)
keep bags to the lightest carry-on weight
a manageable weight
she suggests under 16 pounds
take only what’s absolutely needed (she encouraged people to purchase unexpected needs abroad)
follow the 311 liquids rule (if more of one liquid is needed, pack multiple 3 oz containers)
regular clothes can work just fine as travel clothes; choose…
lightweight layers (Sarah weighs each item)
versatile items (more than one use)
items that can be lost (just in case that happens)
similar colors (as they might have to wash in the same load)
a little dressier (Europeans tend to dress nicer)
skirts and dresses (nicer than shorts; can be dressed up or down; can be layered in cooler weather)
at least two shoes
one walking shoe
one lightweight (sandals in summer)
ensure they’re broken in
ensure they’re comfy
bring band aids/moleskin
keep electronics minimal
one device that meets multiple needs
longer charging cables
an adapter (for the prongs)
a power strip (as there are fewer outlets)
(she doesn’t encourage: lots of make-up, perfume, full-size toiletries, current converter, hair dryer)
pack at least a week before departure day
go through it all, again, a few days before departure day
verify the bag is easy to carry (take it on a walk)
carry-on all bags to the destination (don’t check them)
it’s okay to check bags on the way home
Then Sarah told us Rick’s bag is even lighter.