I read that many Rick Steves tours require climbing stairs in hotels (and on streets). Does anybody use or recommend carts or suitcases with three wheels on each side for this purpose, e.g. as shown at https://listamazing.com/best-stair-climbing-carts/
These have to fit in checked luggage, and I also don't want to buy one that is too heavy because of the weight limit (40 pounds) for checked luggage. I also read about TraxPack which you can pull up a staircase, but I can't find it for sale.
The short answer is no. On Rick's tours members are asked to restrict themselves to a carry-on size, or at least a size that they can manage unassisted. Additional bulk and weight from devices like this would be of little practical benefit on a tour. If you cannot manage a small bag on your own, then the physical demands of most tours may be beyond your limitations. And a 40 pound suitcase would definitely be a liability on one of Rick's tours, or for anyone touring about independently, for that matter.
I do agree with the above comment. But, I will just say that some of the tours do not change locations and if you need something like that suitcase, but you can otherwise manage, you could look at one of those tours.
BAD idea.
I suspect it was designed for US code compliant steps ( i.e. 7" rise 11" tread)) and most hotels or streets you may have to traverse in Europe are not likely to fit those dimensions
.
The 1% of the time it might be a benefit will be severely offset by the 99% of the time it will be an ADDITIONAL burden.
A more effective solution is to lessen the load.
Lord no! If you can’t carry it up three flights these tours are not for you or you have way too much packed.
Not related to an RS tour specifically, but stairs in old Italian buildings (and train travel) is one of the reasons I'm limiting myself to a 21" carry on sized bag - even for my 4 week trip next month. I'm not staying anywhere above the 2nd floor (as per European terminology), but that's more about my knee than my luggage choice.
I will say that after 10 RS tours, I have never seen anyone use that type of device on the tour. Nor have I seen anyone on any of the other tours we crossed paths with using that type of device.
With the tightness of some of the stairs I have run into in Europe, these things would be more of a hinderance than a help.
As others have said you must bring suitcases on RS tours you can carry up and down the stairs and along several city blocks on the sidewalk on your own. There is no porter on trains either. The key to the suitcase you should have is small and fast. A small bag you can move fast with.
The interesting thing is, even in Venice where stairs are unavoidable, I have never seen one of those stair climbing trolleys. Yet they would work well on bridges.
I wished that I had had a stair climber when I was helping a friend move half a dozen Ikea Billy bookcases from P. Roma across the Calatrava bridge. That expedition just about killed me.
That looks like a grocery cart.
As others have said, lighten your load so that you can manage it on your own.
For advice on that, go to the Travel Tips on Packing Light. You may want to explore the other tips there as well, especially if this is your first trip to Europe.
There's also a great Travel Talk on packing done by Sarah Murdoch, Packing Light & Right. It's amazing what she's able to pack in a carry-on bag and she's very tall so her clothes are not small.
The forum on Packing is useful and often entertaining. People share lots of good ideas about packing and many viewpoints are represented.
My main bag has 2 large wheels and never weighs over 20 pounds fully loaded. If the stairs I'm going up have high risers (as someone already mentioned is common in Europe), I have to go up or down them one at a time.
Sometimes I lift the bag, sometimes I can roll it up or down the steps on the big wheels. That makes me slower than many. Sometimes someone offers help. I appreciate that and sometimes I take it. But sometimes I don't because I believe that even if I'm slow, I should be able to manage on my own.
For a while we traveled with a small typical luggage cart. My daughter takes her saxophone with her on vacations so she can practice. Where she is actually using the luggage cart it’s great. But when she has to fold it up and carry it it’s a bit cumbersome even though it folds pretty flat and isn’t heavy. We finally got her a backpack carrying case for her saxophone.
All of this is very useful. I did a 4 night trip on a carry-on suitcase (plus personal item) but now it looks like I will need to figure out how to do it for a week. It will work if I can wash clothing somehow. Thank you!
The thing to remember is that nobody much cares if you wear the same outfit several days in a row. Means that you can compromise on clothes a lot.
Quick dry underwear and socks are a key, and a bathroom sink with a little soap. Use a towel to remove excess water, and hang them. Laundry facilities are sometimes available for a fee, but you have to work around their schedule and location. There’s sometimes adopting an attitude of, “There’s clean, and then there’s ‘Travel clean.’”
Not just stairs, but sometimes there are the teeniest elevators, that mean you’re not schlepping up steps, but there’s barely room for you and your bag, so smaller still works better, and hoisting a heavy bag on and off is more work than with a lighter, more compact bag.
I did a 4 night trip on a carry-on suitcase (plus personal item) but now it looks like I will need to figure out how to do it for a week.
Probably easier than you think, unless you'll be facing cold weather or dress-up occasions: wear a pair of pants, shirt, and sandals, and pack a pair of shorts, 2 shirts/t-shirts, a bathing suit (if appropriate), 2 pair of quick dry underwear, and your toiletry kit. And your electronics and cables. Invest in some travel underwear that will dry quickly and can be washed at night in the bathroom sink. That should do you for a week; you may not have everything you want, but you should have everything you need.
