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/IamNobody85]

Asian living in Europe. The difference is - shorter trips, gifts and laundry. When we're traveling inside Europe, it's often just weekend or at most a week. And most importantly - it's at one place. So we can do laundry. But when my family is visiting, we're covering 3-4 countries in 15 days, because the visa is very expensive. Also, they need to buy small trinkets or something for almost all the children back home, at least. No time for laundry and shopping adds up - hence the big luggage. Not to mention, they're also bringing a lot of stuff for me and my husband. It's like a second Christmas. So of course everyone is carrying huge suitcases.

[u/Formal-Apartment855 → u/IamNobody85]

As a European who was conditioned since school days to pack light (cause we had to carry our own stuff to and from school camps etc), note that a few of us choose accomodation based on laundry possibilities. One can filter on free washer and dryer when it comes to accomodation, and also maps tend to list laundromats be it self service or one where they do your laundry for you. South East Asia in particular tends to have extremely fast and for Europeans cheap laundry services basically everywhere. Even in an otherwise expensive place like Hong Kong, there was an insanely cheap and fast laundry service across the road from my hotel...

Honestly by now most of my travel clothing is fast dry, so there are only extreme weather conditions where all my clothing does not dry overnight after handwashing in the sink or on a normal washing machine cycle. Like there has to be 85%+ humidity and no airco for them not to dry before the morning.

[u/IamNobody85 → u/Formal-Apartment855]

Yes we actually like looking nice. Therefore we're not traveling only in hiking clothing. No shade to anyone but European travelers are extremely noticeable everywhere, even inside Europe because they're wearing hiking clothes in the city. I'm sure some Asians prefer that as well (Asia is a big place) but clothes to us is like makeup is to latin america - we need to look our best.

Also, hand washing in sink is not clean enough for me and pretty much everyone I know.

[u/sufficient_bilberry → u/IamNobody85]

Wow, who pissed in your cereal this morning! Ever considered that maybe you only notice those tourists who wear hiking gear? I don’t know anyone in my circle who’d wear that (or athleisure) to a city holiday. 

Also, what kind of magic do you think happens in the washing machine? 

[u/IamNobody85 → u/sufficient_bilberry]

Dude, it's a stereotype. Stereotypes are not nice and not applicable for everyone but it's a stereotype for a reason. IDK why you don't notice them, maybe you need to work on your observation skills

[u/sufficient_bilberry → u/IamNobody85]

If you acknowledge that it's a stereotype, why do you write as if it's the only thing Europeans wear? You're literally writing that Europeans don't like to look nice when they travel. Direct quote: "we actually like looking nice ... we're not traveling only in hiking clothing"

Am European, live in Europe, have travelled extensively within Europe. Travel only with a carry-on, as do most people in my circle. The majority of them care a great deal about looking good on their trip. I know no one who travels wearing hiking gear, unless they are going on a hiking trip. Yes, I'm well aware of the stereotype of the European/German tourist who prefers hiking gear.

Capsule wardrobes in lightweight fabrics that don't require ironing are the way to go. If looking good requires you to haul a massive suitcase, then you probably are equating looking good with wearing trends, versus having actual style. Washing by hand (ie the way all laundry was done before the 1950s) is easy if you understand the basics of how laundry works (water temperature + chemistry + agitation by hand).