In a January 14 interview with Emill Moffatt on KNKX, Rick Steves said: "Nobody gets on a Rick Steves tour with more than a 9 x 22 x 14-inch carry-on airplane sized suitcase. You're not allowed. Literally, that is the limit."
I knew that tour members have to carry their own suitcases and that carry-on suitcases are very strongly encouraged. But I did not know it was an absolute rule. Did RS get carried away and misspeak?
I’m thinking he misspoke. I have Never ever seen that be the rule. Highly encouraged but up to the tour member.
It’s been a few years since i took a tour but they encourage carry on only. At the time you could bring whatever you wanted. As noted you have to manage your bags yourself. I’ve always brought a larger checked bag. Enjoy your tour!
In his tour conditions: https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/tour-conditions RS Tours strongly suggests that sized luggage, but does not require it.
We’ve had several tours where people brought VERY large suitcases. They’ve always managed them themselves. I don’t remember anyone asking or expecting help, I’m just glad I wasn’t navigating a larger bag.
https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/tour-member-expectations
Listening to RS on some of the Monday night zooms lately, he seems to say what he wants and I can just imagine some of the staff cringing at the clean up they may face.
But on the other hand, I did just read that particular comment so maybe changes are being made for 2026.
Did RS get carried away and misspeak?
hyperbole
A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect, as in I could sleep for a year or This book weighs a ton.
(Perhaps?)
This is absolutely untrue. I’ve been on 12 tours and there are always some people with larger bags. No one blinks. I did 3 tours in 2025. Last one in October. He had to be joking. Frequently the tour guides have larger bags!
I'm going to throw myself under the bus right now...literally under the RS tour bus with my large suitcase, where it is stored! I've brought it on 3 RS tours, and will again this year. I take seriously the oath of "no grumps", but also include my own "never complain, never explain" when it comes to my suitcase. Nobody cares what suitcase you bring as long as you can manage it on your own. I hope I don't have an asterisk by my name on this next tour.
Listening to RS on some of the Monday night zooms lately, he seems to
say what he wants and I can just imagine some of the staff cringing at
the clean up they may face.
Yes, I suspect the same happens whenever Rick talks about food allergies.
This question has come up before and the answer has always been that you can take whatever size you wish to as long as you can handle it yourself at all times. Additionally, this is what is stated in the FAQ section on this website:
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-help/tours-faq
"Does my luggage have to measure exactly 9 x 21 x 14 inches?
You must be able to comfortably handle all your luggage by yourself at all times. Therefore, we strongly advise you to limit your luggage to airline carry-on dimensions. Our online Travel Store sells carry-on-size rolling bags and backpacks."
"Strongly advise" does not mean "require" so there ya go. If your preferred bag size (and weight) doesn't meet the carry-on requirements for whichever airline(s) you'll be flying, then just check the bag. Some travelers - tour members or not - on these forums frequently do as evidenced in this very recent thread:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/packing-lightly-learner-edition
That said, he did make that statement in the interview and if true, he'd best update this website!
https://www.knkx.org/arts-culture/2026-01-14/rick-steves-writer-travel-guide-perspective
I've been on six RS tours. I take a carry-on size roller bag (I usually check my bag because I have direct flights and it's paid for), backpack, and a personal crossbody bag. I stuff an RS Civita day bag in my luggage if I need a small, foldable backpack for daily use while on tour.
I'm not saying what I do is what everyone does, but I think it's the model Rick is encouraging.
Rick often indulges in hyperbole. But here he said, "You're not allowed. Literally, that is the limit." With those words, he crossed the border of hyperbole. Years ago I took an RS tour, I currently have one scheduled, and I use a suitcase that is bigger than a carry-on, so I wanted to know whether the policy had changed.
And I was struck by another RS statement on a major topic, which is political in nature, that was so definitive and absolute that it clearly was hyperbole. The actual statement goes beyond the scope of this thread, so it is best to thank all who have responded and end here.
A guide probably would need something larger than a carry on. Just knowing all the resources/materials they have with them.
I take a regular suitcase that’s sized for short trips. That’s exactly how luggage companies seem to describe them. I have medications that would take up as much space in a carry on as my clothes take. I’m also the hauler around of my entire party’s souvenirs so they can all have carry ons but there you go. I’ve never had a problem, and, yes I haul my own suitcase!
As someone once said here, bigger people need bigger clothes. It's not a crime.
I think there are two reasons they want you to limit yourself to a carryon: one is to avoid delaying movements because you're handling a large bag, some times up and down the stairs. The other is to encourage packing light as a travel skill.
I don't mind helping someone with a bag every now and then, but occasionally there has been someone on tour who expected it all the time.
Did you know that for many years, RS tours didn't offer a single supplement. If you were traveling solo you had to share a room. This changed when the company realized they were losing business from people who didn't want to share.
As for size of bags, I took an RS tour years ago that had an assistant guide. She worked in the office. She was a shopper. Eventually she had two large backpacks--one in front, one in back--and was also carrying a large shopping bag.
She had more luggage than anyone else on the tour.
Unless the terms and conditions state you are only allowed a certain size bag and you could be denied participation if you bring something bigger, you're fine. I doubt they state this.
Yes, I think he mispoke. Perhaps he was reminiscing back to the days when he ran the tours himself out of a mini-van.
No one has mentioned this and having taken a RS tour previously you know, but I'll just add for folks who have not been on a tour. The bus is a full size 50+person bus with only 24-28 people on it. There are 2 luggage bays so there is plenty of room underneath for luggage EVEN if the bus driver has a good bit of stuff in the 2nd bay. Many of the drivers bring a bike since they are sitting for most of the day or, in the case of one very well-dressed driver, an ironing board, hahaha!! On the longer tours the driver will often have a big box/crate or a dedicated under storage area for bags that don't need to be pulled out every stop so people do shop to their heart's content.
I think FrankII is correct in saying Rick was thinking about his time driving a van load of people and having limited space.
Just like the universe, the synapses are expanding (but not, in this instance, luggage).
If you can lift it and pack it upstairs in some cases on your own, then I think a slightly larger than carry-on is ok. A few people on my tour of the Villages of Italy had larger than carry-on suitcases, and I ended up having an extra tote bag, full of souvenirs, by the middle of the tour. Nobody complained, I carried all my own bags up and down stairs at a couple of hotels, and I was also able to leave my bag of souvenirs under the bus compartment when we arrived at a town for overnights. I do wish I had brought a slightly larger suitcase; mine was under airplane seat size, and I had a mid-size backpack. I will take a small day pack on my next tour, as mentioned, there are many fold-up type that can come in handy for day tripping. And yes, I agree, Rick does say things sometimes that are a bit "questionable", but that's Rick, he's earned the right to do that in my opinion.
So here's the scenario:
Nobody is happy.
(Naaaahhh, not gonna happen)
Sometimes the bus doesn’t get you close to your hotel so a smaller luggage makes it easier when walking along cobblestone streets. It is really your choice but also consider smaller hotel elevators or stairs only.
Phone the RS tour office and ask? If my eye did not catch this in an earlier comment, apologies.
I've seen some really big suitcases on tours. While carry on size is suggested, you can take whatever suitcase(s) you want BUT you have to move them to/from the hotel and bus by yourself.
It really doesn't matter what Rick says. Take a look at the terms and conditions for the tour. You know, the fine print that no one reads. If there is no mention of a size limitation, they can't hold you to it.
It must be in writing.
Luggage Shaming ..... so sad. Thats why we have formed the National Association of Oversized Luggage Owners to fight back against the victimization of travelers simply because of their luggage size. Together we can overcome social injustice. Tuesday evening at 6pm the protest forms out side of Rick's house.
you have to move them to/from the hotel and bus by yourself.
Do you have to load the luggage on and off the bus, or just to and from the outside of the bus?
I’m taking my first RS tour later this year and am trying decide on which suitcase to take. I’m leaning toward my larger one so I can stock up on candy to bring up. I can manage it up and down stairs, just not sure if I could pick it up to load onto the bus. And I wouldn’t want to hold others up while I’m trying to lift it.
If you can carry it upstairs, you can load it on the bus (if necessary), as every bus I’ve ever seen has the luggage compartment at the bottom just a foot or so above the street. If you’re thinking you would have to lift it over your head like an airplane overhead, no, you don’t.
Over 13 tours, I have never had to place or remove my bag from the bus. In fact, most drivers specify want to do that themselves because they are experts at the process.
Luggage Shaming ..... so sad.
I agree, just like "Packing Light" shaming.
But as Frank II said, what matters is the fine print, not a verbal statement.
And as for loading the bus, my experience is that the usually the tour group puts their luggage on the ground by the cargo door, and the driver loads them, arranging them as he sees fit. If not, we toss our bags in. Either way, it's pretty easy to access the big cargo doors.
Last July during the RS Best of Switzerland tour, we had a couple of tour mates from Australia who had bags the size of the Matterhorn. They were on a multi-month vacation in which they sandwiched RS’ fantastic 15 day tour of Switzerland. Our RS Tour guy, our bus driver, our tour mates— everyone had no issues with their large bags.
The two Australians took care of their own bags for the most part though the bus driver stowed and unstowed them under the bus. Folks occasionally would lend a small hand— not that it was needed.
When we got to the alphorn maker shop, our Aussie tour mate, to our surprise, played the alphorn like he had being doing it his entire life. Beautiful!
Based on this, I’ve concluded that folks with large bags from Australia are gifted Swiss musicians! (I like to generalize!)
Happy travels!
Mr. E., Tuesday, January 27? What's the address?
It seems crystal clear based on the company's written policy and the comments above that during his interview RS got carried away and misspoke. I did the original post because I was shocked over what I had heard.
I normally travel with a medium-sized suitcase--roughly 11 x 27 x 17 inches. I can handle it on trains and going up and down stairs. I find for a trip of any duration, I need something a tad bigger than a carry-on. Total weight is a function of not only the weight of the suitcase but also the weight of its contents, and I try not to stuff the suitcase I bring--the suggestion to pack as light as possible does make sense. And often, the smaller the suitcase, the more people try to put in a backpack or handbag, and navigating with a stuffed handbag and any suitcase can be cumbersome. Anyway, that is what I tell myself to justify what I do.
RJ, et al: its remarkable that anyone would believe for a second that Rick or any person on a Rick tour gives s rat's a... what kind of luggage the other guy has, or is passing any judgment. Okay, naturally there is always the 2% exception. But its important that we keep them around to maintain a clear definition for mad but goofy.
As for people who cant handle their own luggage, last year I lifted no less that 3 carryon bags into the overhead for passengers who could have done it but I knew it would be significantly faster and easier for me to do it. Standard procedure for me upon arrival since I sit on the asile is to step into the asile and pull down the luggage for those sitting around me.
Last bus trip I pulled my bag and another passengers bag out from under the bus. She was short and would have had to struggle to reach it. I also open doors for those that can do it themselves, stand on the metro if even one old or female is standing, and help people cross icy streets ... we both fell and sat in the center of the road and laughed until the light changed and we had to run or be run over.
Where I grew up this was SOP. It's what human people did with and for other human people. So if I see you on a RS tour and you need help with that 27" spinner, just give me the please look.
"Literally" actually now also means "figuratively".
Is it ever okay to use literally to mean "figuratively"?
F. Scott Fitzgerald did it (“He literally glowed”). So did James Joyce
(“Lily, the caretaker’s daughter, was literally run off her feet”), W.
M. Thackeray (“I literally blazed with wit”), Charlotte Brontë (“she
took me to herself, and proceeded literally to suffocate me with her
unrestrained spirits”) and others of their ilk.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/misuse-of-literally
When he says literally he could be meaning figuratively or he could be off his rocker or he could be exaggerating for accuracy's sake or he could be being funny or he could be simply wrong. The possibilities are literally endless!
I think the best solution is pack light just in case you don't know how to play the alphorn....
Happy travels!
@Carrie: Take whatever suitcase you want. And if you’re loading up on candy, it shouldn’t be too heavy.
Bus: No, you would not have to place your luggage into the undercarriage of the bus. Usually the driver does it or other helpful tour mates. In my opinion it would be more difficult to lug your bag up several flights of stairs, as is sometimes necessary.
The problem with a large suitcase is lack of space in some rooms. It might be different to be a single in a room, vs a couple in a room. We have stayed in tiny rooms on tour, such that one of us could only open “his” suitcase on the bed.
Have you considered a packable duffel or backpack mainly for your “treasures?”
And if you’re loading up on candy, it shouldn’t be too heavy.
I don’t know Carol, those Lindt chocolate balls get pretty heavy when you’re buying multiple bags. :-)
I do have a bag similar to this one that I take on the plane as my carryon.
https://verabradley.com/products/large-miramar-weekender-5012320089
I will be in a single room. So, good reminder about the space, or lack thereof. It will probably be a last minute decision on which suitcase to take.
RS tours advises you to pack light with just a carry on suitcase, but it’s not a luggage restriction. Most of the tour members do follow it, and if you bring a 29” or even 25” suitcase, you’ll stand out.
For me, I find the 21” suitcase is easier to roll around hills and easier to carry up 3 flights of stairs, based on my experience in Paris, even Costa Rica.
@Carrie, take a packable zip topped bag that can be left on the bus in "deep storage" so you don't have to schlep a heavier suitcase all the time. The bus driver will let you add things to the bag as you go along and you can consolidate your purchases into your bag the night before you fly home.
My opinion on this conversation is to consider that Mr. Steves was speaking to the segment of the audience he knows won't enjoy his tours - those with giant bags, expecting luggage porter services, or other white glove service along the way. Regardless of the printed tour conditions, he's allowed to spin his company approach however he wants given his name is on the label. If that doesn't sit will with folks, then they can find another outfit to hire.
I just want to point out that not all tours have the same bus and the same driver for the entire tour. The deep storage on the bus idea works most of the time, but it won't work all of the time.
The real "rule" for a Rick Steves Tour is that you are able to manage your own luggage. If you have a bigger suitcase and you can handle it without difficulty, there is no problem.
My opinion on this conversation is to consider that Mr. Steves was
speaking to the segment of the audience he knows won't enjoy his tours
- those with giant bags, expecting luggage porter services, or other white glove service along the way.
Well if Rick believes that someone needs to tell him what isn't plain hyperbole in that statement is erroneous stereotyping.
EDIT: Sharon, below, good advice. I am sure Rick will be good with that too.
I would advise a bag you can handle rolling, dragging or carrying up hills and up/down stairs. You are responsible for carrying your own luggage. Some hotels don’t have elevators, I know this from being on seven RS tours. Also remember you will be staying at (depending on tour) several hotels. I had a room that appeared to have been the attic and there was no elevator at this hotel. If taking a smaller suit case, practice packing smart. I reviewed Pinterest, You Tube, Instagram, etc. for packing ideas and wardrobe tips. I take a smaller rolling piece of luggage and my backpack.
Some hotels don’t have elevators
Tour members get a list of hotels prior to the start of the tour. So, one will be able to check to see if the hotels have elevators or not.
@Carrie. I know from experience that a hotel having an elevator doesn’t mean that elevator is always working……
Elevators tend to be small and a large group arriving all at once will create a bit of a traffic jam.
My advice is take what you need. Pack thoughtfully, make sure you can handle luggage up two flights of stairs, and don’t worry about this topic too much.
Hi Carol now retired, Yes, that is definitely true about the elevators not always working. I have come across that several times recently.
I always take the same stuff, where I bring my smaller or larger suitcase. For me, it comes down to how much space do I want for treats and souvenirs.
I feel like Goldilocks sometimes. My bigger suitcase is a little too big. And my smaller suitcase is a little too small, with not a lot of room to bring things back. My perfect suitcase would be a nonexistent 23.5 inch soft side Travelpro Maxlite. :-)
I would look over the RS tour rules and see if it says anything about baggage size. I bet it doesn't.
Baggage size varies by person. How could it not? I went to a few of these How To Pack Smartly presentations, some by an RS staff person. Invariably, they are done by a 5'5" 124 pound female whose clothing and shoes are at least 35% lighter and smaller than that of 6 foot 180 pound man. Of course, the man needs more room.
The presenter will then argue that as a female she need to bring more stuff. Maybe so, but does it make up for the fact that she can squeeze three pair of shoes in the space the man needs for two pairs.? That his clothing from underwear to jackets is far bigger and bulkier? Of course, not.
Bring the size suitcase you need just make certain you can tote it about on your own. Nothing is worse than seeing some 5"2" gal enlisting an other lady's hubby to tote her bags up three flights of stairs, while the guy's wife is managing to handle her own luggage without him. I've seen this. The ladies get more upset about it than the men.
I travel with one carry on size suitcase, and one day bag that hangs off the handle of the suitcase. And I am that 6 foot guy with big shoes for my big feet, and bulky jackets, sweaters, etc. all the way to my socks.
Yes, it's tight. And I manage just fine.
Barnstormer, under Tour Member Expectations, it states:
“Bring one main piece of luggage (we strongly advise 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.”
And after 12 RS tours, we’ve seen a lot but never what you have described, although there have been times when as a tour group we have all helped with a tour member having difficulty with a bag at some point.
Ive heard what happens. There is a RS representative with a chainsaw that cuts the luggage to size on day one.
I have been on several RS tours, and there are always a few people that bring larger suitcases and it was not a problem if they carried/rolled it themselves. For my first tour, I thought I would never get everything I needed into a small suitcase, but I did. I also brought a purse/cross body bag and a small backpack. In the backpack I put things I would need just in case my suitcase got lost, but that never happened. However, it will be easier with a small suitcase when you have to walk several blocks to the hotel because the roads are too small for the bus, or when the hotel does not have an elevator, or when the elevator is not working.
The main thing is this: learn how to pack light. Buy travel sized toiletries. if you run out of anything, you can go to any pharmacy and get what you need. Learn how to make a "capsule wardrobe" where everything you bring goes with everything else....black pants, black shoes, black purse, black jacket, etc. and the tops that match them. You can pretty much wear every outfit twice. Plus, the dress is casual for these tours, so bring comfortable clothes. Also, almost every town on the tour has a laundromat within walking distance of the hotel and the guide points these out during walking tours. You will have plenty of "free time" to do what you want, including making a trip to the laundromat - that way you only need to bring enough clothes for half the trip and plan to wash everything once.
After my first trip I sat down and made a list of all the things I brought that I never used so that on the next trip I would have more room in my suitcase. On the second trip I did the same thing, but my list was much smaller. One important tip - when you buy a raincoat, make sure it is waterproof. Last time, I had a raincoat but no umbrella, and a brand new raincoat that I had never warn. You guessed it - not waterproof and I was soaked!!!
