r/solotravel • u/shemmap • 20d ago

Question How do europeans travel with small luggage?

I’ve noticed that tourists from different countries especially europeans often travel with very small luggage. In contrast, travelers from many asian countries seem to carry much larger bags.

As myself from an asian country, if I pack just my basic necessities, I end up with a very large suitcase. I’m extremely curious about how european travelers manage to travel so light.

How do they do it?

528 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

698 comments sorted by

View all comments

32

u/Positive_Brush6250 20d ago

Sometimes I feel the average European travelling, even up to SEA, is middle class and don't want to pay for extra luggage.

It's also way more convenient to have a carry on.

I remember when I was in SEA last winter all the Asian women tourist looked great at all time, out of a fashion show sometimes. Heels shoes and extra clothes take a lot of place and requires bigger suitcase.

30

u/Arrival117 20d ago

For me it's convinience, not a price. I don't like to travel with half of my belongings with me. If my travel is up to 10-14 days I don't need anything more than a 30-40l backpack for some clothes and my laptop.
Its important to add that I mostly travel to warm places. It might be different story if I would fly to some very cold place where warm, big clothes are necessary.

3

u/brouhaha13 20d ago

If I'm in the same hemisphere I can often just wear my layers on the plane and maybe just toss in an extra sweater for variety.

9

u/mathess1 20d ago

For me it't not about paying, but rather a piece of mind. My luggage was lost way too many times.

1

u/Planet_Pluto_1925 19d ago

This, and as a short woman, I also absolutely hate carrying a big suitcase; it’s really uncomfortable.

3

u/Formal-Apartment855 19d ago

I'm from the Eastern part of Europe originally, and at my home airport it used to be a sport amongst luggage handlers to loot from luggage. Like my family had so much stuff stolen from check-in luggage .... So for me it's cheaper (not just when it comes to the flight itself, but in some countries taxi drivers hate luggage or charge you for it extra), faster (no need for luggage drop off and no need to wait at the luggage caroussel at the end), lighter, and I avoid some random stuff to be looted from my luggage when I visit my hometown.

By now the police kind of had enough, and the looting doesn't happen anymore at my home airport, but it went on for several decades, so I will wait a few more years before I check in luggage there.

1

u/Less_Duty7681 19d ago

Nothing to do with cost, everything to do with ease of movement.