Take your earphones with you.

Have done it for years. Sorry, thought it was common knowledge and never thought about passing it along. Also carry an adapter for the large RCA plug to a mini RCA plug. That is needed sometimes.

PS -- Keep trying to remember what we do. We also carry a spliter (or a "Y" connector) so if one outlet malfunctions we can still hear.

It took me awhile to pick up on that, too, but I haven't been very successful even since I got smarter about it. I've run into audio devices whose jacks didn't match the earpieces I was carrying and devices that had no jacks at all.

Richard,

This is a good point to mention. I've been packing along earphones for awhile when out touring, as the rubbish ear buds that are issued with the HO/HO Bus tours have terrible audio quality.

I have never thought about taking my headphones with me for anything except my iPod. You can use them for other things???

An increasing number of museums now have their own apps which have audio guides of their exhibits built into them.
So having having earphones along with your smartphone can indeed be handy.

I remembered to do this on my last trip and it was so nice to have my hands free as I walked about. It's funny but not alot of people have caught up to this trick!

Too bad we don't have a forum for packing heavy. This is a perfect example. There are so many things that might be handy, but altogether they just make you luggage too heavy.

As I remember, I've used an audio guide only twice in almost 200 days in Europe (about 1% of the time), and then for only a few hours. Maybe you use them more than I do, but I find it hard to imagine someone using them often enough to warrant carrying them all over Europe.

In 10 round trip flights across the Atlantic, on 9 of them, ear phones have been provided free. On one of them, USAir to Munich, 2007, they sold the earphones for $5 (but you could take them with you).

My earbuds weigh 0.18oz/5 gm. I use them daily.

But I can see how that is "packing heavy" so I had better rethink taking them.

Bringing your own ear buds is packing heavy? ROTF LMAO. Mine weigh next to nothing and come in a 2x2x1/2 Inc pouch that sits at the bottom of my purse. I've yet to find a set of airline earphones with decent quality, so for that reason alone (2 8 + hrs flights) they're worthwhile. Then there are hours spent on trains, which always are more pleasant with music to listen to. Or I might want to watch a movie on my tablet at the Hotel before bed. Or follow one of Rick's Audio guides during the day. We'll be adding a Y jack for exactly that purpose for our next trip. We often use audio guides at museums, so if they have a jack that's compatible, of course we'll use them. Even better if the museum has a downloadable audioguide that I can put on DHs phone. I think they're worth the added 0.18 oz. I'm sure my back can bear the added strain.

I never said the earbuds, by themselves, were heavy. I just said that the philosophy of taking everything that might be nice, but isn't necessary, leads to overpacking. (I think I'll take the swim fins, after all I am taking the earbuds.)

I carry earbuds with me at all times. I have a pair on my desk at work for listening to music while I work (I'm an editor for specialty publications) and keep a set in my purse in case I feel like listening to music on the go, and another set by my bed in case I feel like watching something on my tablet at night. I'm not exactly young but I think it's about whether you've fully integrated tech into your life, or if you're still a destination user (somebody who perhaps doesn't have or make much use of a smartphone and only uses the internet on a desktop computer).

Anyway, they're invaluable when traveling. My basic set I carry everywhere offers pretty good noise blocking so I'll even leave them in during a flight to deaden the noise from others. Or if I can't sleep I'll put on white noise (via an app) or Beethoven (Goldberg Variations is like a long hot bath for me). Not to mention museum guides, podcast walking tours, etc.

This will be a silly question, but a poster above mentioned an RCA adaptor? Where could I find one?

another benefit to wearing earbuds can sometimes be smoother passage through urban spaces where there are a lot of uninvited solicitors -- we use this trick in the Bay Area to justify ignoring panhandlers.
I also add some food for thought to street hustlers by not always having something playing even though I'm wearing earbuds --
one late night in the 13th arr. I puzzled a woman who approached me on the sidewalk to share a tale of woe by hearing her with earbuds in -- my hope is that will give them pause when contemplating snatch-and-runs.

To answer the last question asked, you used to get RCA plug adapters at Radio Shack. These days, I'd try Amazon.

And did you know that if you have the Apple earbuds with the volume control/ on-off button on the wire, it functions as a remote shutter button for your iPhone camera or Ipad?!
It works, but not with Android, at least not that I can figure out.

Some of the RS tour guides are using the remote mic/audio systems while in outdoor areas and the Metro. We had this on the Paris tour and I wish I'd had my iphone earbuds rather than the cheaper earbud that came with the system. So, another reason to take your own pair!

To each their own. In all my travels, starting with a trip to Spain in high school where I brought along a Walkman, I have NEVER considered earbuds a "might be nice" to have item. They're as necessary to me as my passport or toothbrush (and weigh about the same as either), even though I have yet to use them for museum audioguides like OP. At the risk of being shamed as a "heavy packer," I'll keep them in my day bag (just as I do in my EDC messenger bag when I'm at home).

Thank you for this tip, and thank you to the other person's reply about using the iphone earbuds as a remote camera! I had no idea. :)

Btw the overpacking responses are awesome. Hehe...

Earbuds drive me absolutely insane. I do have noise cancelling headphones that I use on the plane, trains, buses, and in the hotel room, etc. I'd hate to carry them around every day, every day. And frankly, for me, it is dangerous to be walking and listening as I would pay less attention to my surroundings; i.e., cars, etc. I have found my earphones did not work in RS's whisper system, FYI, it happens. I am not known to use audio systems when traveling solo. I do pack for comfort rather than lightness. I keep the total weight for both items under 30 lbs, and with a wheeled bag, this is comfortable. Easy to lift when going up stairs or over the gap for tubes, etc. Earbuds, of course, are negligible, but they don't work for me. This is a good suggestion...just wish I could wear them.

Wray, I too hate earbuds. But I found two that are comfortable.

1) Bose QC20 noise canceling. (Since you have headphones then this is just for reference.) I've worn these for hours on a plane with no problems.

2) JVC HAF160 Gumy Earbuds. They have a rubber cover so they don't feel uncomfortable. They come in different colors and are very inexpensive. I left mine at my hotel in Bath but was able to find another pair at TK Maxx. (UK's version of TJ Maxx.)

Ear buds are a must. Listening to audio guides or one of the Rick Steves audio apps was great. Or one of my podcasts while on a train or plane.

I take 2 pair in case one breaks. Total only a few ounces. Definitely worth having.

I love my earphones. I never forget to keep them with me no matter where ever I am going. Last week I went to a museum and zoo I was listening to music with my headphones. And For the whole day I was not bored because of music. So I think earphones have become a major part of my life.