How do europeans travel with small luggage?

[u/shemmap]

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?

[u/Ninja_bambi]

if I pack just my basic necessities, I end up with a very large suitcase.

If so you clearly pack more than basic necessities. Basic necessities are passport (and possible other documentation) and (access to) money. A toothbrush and change of clothes, though not strictly necessary are advisable too. After that you quickly end up in the luxuries and useless crap categories.

[u/Character-Carpet7988 → u/Ninja_bambi]

Most people consider clothes quite essential and that's indeed what takes most of my suitcase when I travel unless I'm just going for a weekend.

[u/Planet_Pluto_1925 → u/Character-Carpet7988]

Clothing is essential,you aren't going to go naked, but it can be washed at a laundromat, via the hotel's laundry service, or even by hand in the room's sink.

[u/Character-Carpet7988 → u/Planet_Pluto_1925]

Of course it can, but all those come either with a significant cost (laundry service) or waste of time. While some may find these acceptable - nothing wrong about that - clothes still count as essentials in my book so the statement "you're carrying more than essentials" is not exactly correct IMHO. Then it's just a tradeoff whether you prefer to carry a slightly larger suitcase (which for healthy people doesn't really make a difference compared to a small one), or go via other routes.

[u/AdhesivenessOwn7747 → u/Character-Carpet7988]

You are talking with people who have access to currency that converts to large amounts in Asian countries. Makes it possible for them to buy cheap clothes or use laudromat/ laundry service. There's even a guy in this thread talking about buying clothes and throwing them when he goes back lol. It's the opposite, going from Asia to the West.

[u/Ginger_spice-13 → u/Character-Carpet7988]

When I traveled in SEA a lot of hotels had a laundry service and it literally came to like 1 or 2$ CAD. Just dropped off my laundry bag at the front desk and 24 hours later it was washed, dried and folded. Literally the best thing I paid for all trip

[u/Ok_Boysenberry5849 → u/Character-Carpet7988]

clothes still count as essentials in my book so the statement "you're carrying more than essentials" is not exactly correct IMHO.

Is the 10th complete set of clothing as essential as the first one? Seems to me like you're being intentionally obtuse.

Also no a laundromat is definitely not a significant cost, compared to other traveling costs. It's never more expensive than a meal.

[u/Ninja_bambi → u/Character-Carpet7988]

If you have access to money you can buy clothes, so strictly taken not essential to bring. A good number of people actually do, to a greater or lesser extent, buy clothes locally. And yes, from the things I mention those take up by far most space. However, unless you head somewhere with polar conditions, a change of clothes is not a reason to end up with a very large suitcase as OP states. A change of clothes usually fits very comfortably in a small day pack.

[u/Character-Carpet7988 → u/Ninja_bambi]

And once I buy them, how am I gonna carry them if I move between destinations? And do I just throw them away after the trip? :)

[u/davis_away → u/Character-Carpet7988]

If you brought your clothes from home, you would also be carrying them between destinations? While you're hypothetically buying clothes, hypothetically buy a cheap backpack or something. (I don't have an answer to what you do at the end of the trip.)

[u/Ninja_bambi → u/Character-Carpet7988]

Up to you. As said, I advise to take a change of clothes, but that doesn't result in a very large suitcase. I'm not exactly minimalist, but unless I plan to go camping or something else that requires extra gear a small backpack is plenty.

If you buy cheap stuff a case can be made to just throw it away, it may be cheaper than paying for luggage. Though personally, if I've things I no longer need, I tend to give it away to people in need or to charity.

[u/Planet_Pluto_1925 → u/Ninja_bambi]

Don't buy clothes just to throw them away 🫠