Checked Luggage - Will I be banned for life?!

There are loads of folks here who check luggage; myself included. You will (or should) never be shamed for checking a bag.

I like to check bags because I don't want to deal with my spinner at the airport; especially when I'm trying to get into a toilet stall. But keep in mind that checking bags does NOT go against the philosophy of packing light. I still pack light—after all, I'm going to be schlepping bags onto the train platforms and trains, dragging them through the streets of Europe, and up 2-3 flights of stairs at my hotel. There's no way I'm packing heavy.

Even if you check a larger bag, it is nobody's business but your own. If you want to pack more than usual for whatever reason, then do so. It's your trip and that means that you can do what want. :-) And I'm sure Rick Steves would be the first to agree.

If a business ban you for life for this, it’s probably a business you don’t want to do business with. I can’t believe they will ban you

now they aren’t going to help you with the luggage so you do need to be able to handle it.

Thank you, that is reassuring! I do still plan to pack sensibly, but I also prefer the ease of checking a bag. On the flight home I have a layover at CDG and really don’t want to fuss with a bag there! Everything I have read about RS tours really emphasizes the use of carry on only, but with this tour and the availability of elevators, I think I’ll be okay.

I think the point is, you need to be able to manage your bag by yourself. If you can do so, fine. If you are going to have a bit more than you can handle, there may be other options. You do not indicate your whole Itinerary, but if the cruise arrives in Barcelona, you can look into a luggage storage service, or some hotels will hold luggage until you return. That of course is if you intend to return to Barcelona after Madrid.

PS: For everyone else: I believe the quip about banning for life to be a joke.

In seriousness, I have never been on a RS tour, but from what I read here the luggage isnt such a big deal. Its a recommendation to make your life easier.

Personally, I pack for the trip. Sounds like for you to enjoy and get the most out of it you need a little extra. Go for it. Enjoy.

This post makes me laugh. You do whatever works for you! There are times when my family travels with a semi-large checked bag. There are many reasons for this. Every trip is its own thing which means many different ways of packing. Different people = Different trips = different bags = different packing systems.
Have a great time!

The bottom line is you have to be able to handle your own luggage, including the walk to the hotel.

Ok, yes - the quip about being “banned for life” was made in jest. I am a fit and capable individual, and I’m reassured by your responses, and I thank you all for your help!

I agree with other posters in that bringing a larger bag (which of course you handle yourself) should not be a problem. But one additional consideration on this particular tour is that instead taking a tour bus between cities, you will be taking the high speed train. So again, the consideration would be that you can handle your own luggage for that leg of the trip. The transatlantic cruise followed by this tour sounds fabulous! Enjoy your trip!

You bring what you can manage yourself. I’ve been on 3 RS tours and only managed carry on for one of them. Nobody shames you. We have had 1 or 2 hotels where there was no elevator, and we’ve encountered serious cobblestone streets and buses that can’t get close to the hotel. Those are some things to consider when packing. As long as you can manage yourself, you are good!

On the two RS tours we took last year there were some pretty good-sized bags. On our My Way Spain tour one lady had something between a 26-30” that her husband managed to successfully get on the AVE train from Barcelona to Madrid. I have a vague sense there were some other bags bigger than a carry-on but it’s vague because nobody else cares. Same situation on the Best of Basque Country because some were doing an extended Camino walk after.

Oh yes, I understand the "jest". I assure you, Mr. Rick will always (gladly) take your money. The Barcelona - Madrid Tour is an excellent one, and I have confidence you will have a wonderful time. Regarding your luggage, a potential problem for you could be "airport to hotel" and "hotel to airport" transfers. When I took that tour (2018) several public transportation options were available in both cities far less expensive than taxi services. However, I'm guessing those options will not favor large luggage travelers.

We were on an RS tour where two of the couples were on extended trips that the RS tour was just one part of. A a result they had more than one bag each. They stowed the extra bags under the bus and left then there until end of tour.

I've been on RS tours where people brought bags bigger than me. It's all up to you and your abilities.

You'll need to move your luggage around more than just inside two hotels. I took the best of Spain tour that takes the train between Barcelona and Madrid, so I can describe what we did. First, we walked a few blocks with our luggage from the hotel to a private bus that drove us to the train station. Depending on the location of your hotel you could walk the whole way, take a bus, take public transit (could involve stairs), or a combination of all three. At the Barcelona station we went through security, ticket check, and then walked down to the train platforms (lifts and escalators available). Then you have to lift your luggage up the train stairs and put it in a luggage storage area at the end of the train which could require lifting. When you get to Madrid you'll repeat the same process in reverse, potentially walking with your luggage to the hotel or some other arrangement depending on the tour itinerary.

The Man in Seat 61 has a good overview of the route and what the trains and station look like so you can see what's ahead for you. Not sure what trains RS uses these days as there are more options than when I visited, but it's likely an AVE train. Again, this is just my personal experience, YMMV.

I appreciate everyone sharing here. I hadn’t thought about managing my luggage on the train from BCN to MAD, and now I’m thinking that a large bag is not the way to go. I think I’ll do a small wheeled bag and a backpack.

I’m looking at the RS backpacks, but I’ve heard great things about the Cabin Zero bags too. I don’t leave until the beginning of May so I have time to research this.

I am so glad I came here for advice! Your input has changed my plan.

I think I’ll do a small wheeled bag and a backpack.

Junebug22 that sounds like a good compromise. On the train you might be able to stow one (or potentially both) above your seat. Depending on the airline and their requirements, one of them could be used as your return carry on bag. MANY options for backpacks, troll through the forum for ideas. Good luck!

I see you have decided to go smaller. Good choice. I'll add this comment in case there are others reading this and deciding about luggage on the Barcelona-Madrid tour. Yes, you can take whatever size you can handle. When I took this tour in 2023, the arrival in Madrid had us walking a very long way still inside the train track area. Of course, this will be different depending on what track the train arrives on, how many cars on the train, and which car you are disembarking. But we walked I believe for about a mile within the track area before even getting to the station proper. We (tour group) were making jokes about the distance as we walked. I was very glad to have small, wheeled bag.

Some people on tours that I've taken had huge suitcases. They just had to move them around without help. Another time, since we kept the same bus, people who were going to take a cruise were allowed to leave their big suitcase on the bus until the last stop.
Basically you can bring whatever you want but you have to move it around yourself.

To add on to the previous post, there is what RS Tours calls "deep storage" -- luggage and other items that remain locked underneath the bus for the duration of the tour until the bus is no longer needed. So although nobody will care if you bring checked-size bags to your room you do have that option with your transatlantic cruise clothes and other items. You can call the RS office and ask if your tour has the same bus the whole trip.

Everything I have read about RS tours really emphasizes the use of carry on only

I believe that's a misconception - the emphasis is on a carry-on sized bag, following the philosophy of packing light and being able to handle your own bags. But no requirement against checking a bag.

No one is going to “shame” you. It’s always courteous though to help the coach driver unload a larger bag and not complain about hauling it to your hotel. :-)

Edit: if this tour is train travel versus bus between cities, I would highly advise packing light if at all possible. We used trains exclusively in Switzerland last summer where we watched many people trying to lug large suitcases over gaps, up cramped steps and down narrow aisles because luggage space was full. It was excruciating to watch.

To add on to the previous post, there is what RS Tours calls "deep
storage" -- luggage and other items that remain locked underneath the
bus for the duration of the tour until the bus is no longer needed.

Just to clarify the OP is on a tour that goes between two cities by train - no deep storage opportunities as they are not going by coach. For other tours this could be an option, but as advised checking with the RS office to verify is a good idea. And FWIW on my most recent Best of Turkey tour one couple had been traveling 4 weeks prior to the tour. They had three enormous bags in deep storge on the bus, but used a small spinner for the bulk of our tour. There was plenty of room but I wouldn't assume that rings true for every tour.

We went two tours to Greece and Italy with a group of friends and very few of them did carry on only. One reason was because these were hiking trips and many of us carry hiking poles. We normally do carry on but not under those circumstances. Do what is best for your needs and vacation enjoyment.

It’s just up to you to deal with your bag. So if you can lug it- you do you. This is coming from a regular RS tour member , who buys an extra large bag on EVERY trip so far (3) to lug home all my souvenirs;) I get some chuckles but b/c I’m the one dragging it around nobody cares!! Never been banned.

Nobody on your tour will know if you check your bag on the plane over unless you tell them. If you bring a full size suitcase, that’s ok, just know that occasionally you will stay at a hotel without easy elevator access and you’ll need to carry it up stairs. If you can do that, then you’re golden.

On my last tour, I checked my smallish suitcase on the plane, but packed a large duffel inside it for my souvenirs. I was planning to buy a lot of woolen goods. Nobody said a word when I suddenly had a second bag midway through the tour. I carried both pieces of luggage up lots of stairs to my room and it was fine.

I agree with others who have said no one on a Rick Steves tour cares if you check your bag on the flight....what matters is that the bag is a size and weight that you can handle on your own within hotels, on trains, and in walking to the bus (which for your tour you won't have). I am going on the Basque tour in May 2025 and will be taking the same carry on sized bag I always take on Rick Steves tours...except for the Basque tour I'll check my bag because I'm packing a hiking pole.

When I did the Barcelona-Madrid tour in 2018, I remember that our guide gave us very specific instructions about boarding the high speed train in Barcelona and exiting in Madrid. I wouldn't go so far as to say we were rushed, but we definitely were boarding and exiting efficiently. I would not have wanted to be struggling with a large or heavy bag.

Yes, it’s the information shared here on the high-speed train from BCN to MAD that has me rethinking a large bag. I will be a solo traveler, and although I am a fit and active woman, I just don’t want to worry about managing that on my own.

So, I will have a medium carry-on spinner bag and a travel backpack, and I will practice the Less is More philosophy. To be honest, I usually cruise for travel and tend to bring along all the creature comforts, since I unpack once on the ship and put the bag away until the trip is done. This will be a new experience for me, doing a land tour, and I’m hopeful it will be the first of many. I might as well embrace the things that will make traveling easier!

Thank you to all who have shared their wisdom, advice and experience.