Luggage size restrictions on RS tour?

As long as you’re comfortable bringing it from the tour bus to the hotel and back yourself, it’s okay. You probably already know that sometimes that is a few blocks distance.

Thanks for the quick reply Jean. That's what I thought.

My last trip was a safari in Kenya right before covid.

Yep, I know light.

First, your going to have a great trip! The carry on only is just a suggestion, you can take whatever you like as long as you can carry all you own luggage over coble stones and up stairways. My wife and I have been on 9 Rick Steves tours we've seen everything from people taking backpacks only to people with large bags so the choice is up to you. Since your main bag is wheeled you will be fine.

Your going to love York, the main church is magnificent!

We've been on a number of RS tours and there has never been a size restriction per se. As long as you can handle it on your own, bring what you will. Just know that you might have to lug them up to 1/4 mile, and up several flight of stairs.

Thanks folks. I appreciate the quick replies.

I'm still facebook friends with some my fellow travelers from the RS Best of Greece tour 10 years ago. This time I have to travel with a CPAP device and that takes up some room. Such is life.

“Bring one main piece of luggage (we strongly recommend carry-on size 21" x 14" x 9"), plus one smaller day pack or shoulder bag, all of which you will have to carry yourself, no matter how tired you are.” RS tour recommendations

This has been discussed numerous times in the forum. As long as you can haul it over cobble stones and lift it up several flights of stairs at the end of what might be a tiring day. I think someone once suggested that you load up your bags with weight equal to what you’ll be packing and try climbing a flight of stairs several times to get an idea of what you’ll be facing.

Edit: You might also go online and check if any of your hotels do not have elevators. I don’t remember one in Bath and Sheep on Sheep in the Cotswolds did not have one but then RS doesn’t always use the same hotels for each tour. It is a lovely tour.

This time I have to travel with a CPAP device and that takes up some room. Such is life.

You can carry your CPAP on the airplane. As a medical device it is exempt from the only 2 items rule. It should have its own padded case. I would strongly advise not to pack it in checked luggage. If your bag goes astray there are lots of things you could replace. The CPAP is not one of them.

Alan, thanks for that info. I have the padded bag the CPAP came in. I'll dust it off and take it on the flight.

Our tours are physically active! It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. On our tour — among other things — you'll need to happily…
Carry/roll your luggage over uneven pavement (possibly several blocks) and up stairways to reach your hotel, then up several flights of stairs to reach your room.

No mention of a size restriction, just it's clear YOU have to move your stuff.

"No mention of a size restriction, just it's clear YOU have to move your stuff.". That's what I thought. My bag is a bit larger that recommended but not by much. And it's pretty light. I have a 22" spinner bag, but it's a bit tight and I really don't want to bring a spinner. I read up on the bags and per Rick Steves - he'd never bring a spinner on an International trip. Makes intuitive sense to me. I use that when I take the train between Long Island and NYC to dog sit at my daughters apartment.

I'm an active person (the 10,000 steps a day thing) and love to walk and hike. I'm in my late 60's, beginning to deal with age related stuff. No way around that. Meds, supplements, and in my case a CPAP.

From what I remember, it's just a matter of rolling bags between the airport, the bus, and up and down stairs every couple of days. I've learned to pack light, do laundry every few days in my hotel room sink. No cotton, definitely bringing fast drying clothing (and not too much at that), wear layers, etc. The weather in England seems to be very similar to NY (Long Island) right now.

And I have to remember to bring a beard stubble shaver because I'll look like a Q-tip after 2 weeks if I don't.

One other thing that may make it easier is that you can leave bags on the bus. Check with the guide in advance once you're on the tour. Some places may be somewhat difficult with larger bags. You can leave the large bag in storage on the bus for one or more nights and pack what you need in a backpack. You can leave items you only need during the day on the bus overnight - as long as the next day is a bus day, of course.

read up on the bags and per Rick Steves - he'd never bring a spinner on an International trip. Makes intuitive sense to me

That's his opinion. He also doesn't use a bag with wheels. For the last five years, I've used a spinner bag througout the world and I travel more than Rick Steves.

If he's so against spinners, why does he sell one?

If he's so against spinners, why does he sell one?

He is a savvy businessman.

When I saw the "65L" bag, I gasped, because that's 70% larger (!) than the bag I used for my last RS tour (summer 2022 Best of Ireland in 14 Days) plus 3 weeks of self-planned travel before and after.

Having never owned a bag that big, I looked it up. According to REI (where it's now on sale) its dimensions are 26 x 15 x 10 inches and its weight (empty) is 6 lbs. 13 oz. I can't imagine schlepping that huge bag around on an RS tour, or any kind of European trip at all, much less fully packed.

I do carry-on only and limit my bag to 20 pounds fully packed. I'd do that even if I checked my bag because I travel solo, whether on an RS tour or on my own. Anything bigger is not only more awkward but also going to be much heavier fully packed.

I typically travel for 5 weeks at a time, with a 2-week RS tour sandwiched between self-planned time. I have 2 US standard 22 x 14 x 9 inch "large" bags, roughly 42L capacity, one Eagle Creek and one Osprey Ozone. Both weigh less than 5 pounds empty. I haven't used the Osprey yet and I haven't used the Eagle Creek since 2018.

I've managed to downsize my packing enough to have plenty of room in my 2 "international" bags. I've used them on one 5-week trip each so far and both worked well.

My Eagle Creek International 2-wheeled bag is expandable, but I didn't need to expand it. Its capacity is 36L --> 39L, its dimensions are 21 x 14 x 8 inches --> 21 x 14 x 9.5 inches and its empty weight is 4 lbs. 9 oz.

My Osprey Ozone Global 2-wheeled bag has a capacity of 38L. It is not expandable. Its dimensions are 20 x 16 x 8 inches and its empty weight is 4 lbs. 11 oz. Before my last trip I test packed all 4 bags and much to my surprise, this one both held everything and was easiest to pack, largely due to its shape. I was flying British Airways, so the 16" width was not an issue.

As others have said, the RS bag size is highly encouraged because it supports efficient packing and moving around in places where the terrain may be rough, there may be steep inclines and/or stairs, the bus may not be able to get anywhere close to the lodgings and the group may be required to get to and from the bus quickly. I've been on 6 RS tours so far and experienced all those situations. Those who followed the recommendations definitely had an easier time with that than those who didn't.

"When I saw the "65L" bag, I gasped, because that's 70% larger (!) than the bag I used for my last RS tour (summer 2022 Best of Ireland in 14 Days) plus 3 weeks of self-planned travel before and after.
Having never owned a bag that big, I looked it up. According to REI (where it's now on sale) its dimensions are 26 x 15 x 10 inches and its weight (empty) is 6 lbs. 13 oz. I can't imagine schlepping that huge bag around on an RS tour, or any kind of European trip at all, much less fully packed."

I'm comparing to my Travel Pro Elite spinner (carry on). The Eagle Creek is a better designed (imo) bag with tons more room and weighs 1 lb less than the Travel Pro.

YES on sale at REI!! It's only 5 oz more than the RS Rolling bag. It's about 4" taller. No reason to pack "more" than I would in a smaller bag, maybe I don't have to pack quite as tightly. And/or have room for souvenirs at the end of my trip for my kids/friends. Since I check my bag, no reason to get carry on size.

So we have different requirements.

Take whatever makes you happy. It's only the bag police here who will give you a bad time.

Thanks all. I appreciate all the responses. I've received all the information I need.

As has been stated, there are no luggage restrictions on RS tours, only suggestions. I have been on 9 RS tours and nobody cares or comments about your luggage. Just be sure you can manage it without assistance from others. Don’t worry about the “luggage police”, they may be online but are not on the RS tour.

I’m on a RS tour right now and while my bag is fairly small, believe me there are more than a couple people with bags the size of yours doing just fine. As long as you can handle it on your own, no worries. In fact the last tour I was on had a guide who was a self proclaimed fashionista and he carried a bag that big!

I’m on a RS tour right now and while my bag is fairly small, believe me there are more than a couple people with bags the size of yours doing just fine. As long as you can handle it on your own, no worries. In fact the last tour I was on had a guide who was a self proclaimed fashionista and he carried a bag that big!

Enjoy your trip!!!!!