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Travel expert Cameron Hewitt has guided travelers across Europe with Rick Steves for years — and when it comes to what he packs, one item might surprise you: a small bundle of resealable plastic baggies. It’s not exactly glamorous, but we’d argue it’s pretty genius. “It can be hard to find these in Europe, and even if you do, why buy a dozen when you really just need one or two?” Hewitt explains in a post called “10 Little Things I Won’t Go to Europe Without.
Hewitt’s hack is to bring a variety of different sizes just in case — gallon, quart, sandwich, and snack. “I never know just how I’ll use them … until I do (sticky snacks, wet swimsuit, edible souvenirs with a potential for leakage, somewhere to safely stow my phone when I hit the beach or pool, and so on).”
The humble plastic baggie is a workhorse — from keeping your passport safe from the elements to functioning as an ice pack for sore muscles. They’re also great for storing charging cords, messy toiletries, and protecting your phone at the beach or in a sudden rainstorm. And unlike somewhat obtrusive packing cubes, baggies weigh next to nothing, take up no space, and will always come in handy. It’s one of those budget travel hacks that can easily save some of your daily spending budget.
More European packing tips from Cameron Hewitt
You may be familiar with the things Steves never forgets to pack for a trip to Europe, but Hewitt’s advice is full of new tricks travelers can borrow. For example, bring a roll of duct tape and electrical tape. Again, it’s a non-bulky item that can be useful throughout your trip. Hewitt shares: “I mentioned how I use a little roll of black electrical tape to cover up annoying little lights in a hotel room. I’ve used it for dozens of other things, too: band-aiding a fraying headphone cable, de-linting a sweater, fastening a plug to its adapter so I don’t leave it behind in the socket, and on and on.” Duct tape comes in handy, particularly when Hewitt ships a box of items home while traveling to lighten his load.
He also recommends a collapsible water bottle, like this Vapur flexible water pouch, that rolls up when you aren’t using it. It’s perfect for travel days so you can stay hydrated without taking up valuable space in your pack. It’s handy for getting through TSA, too, since you can’t bring a water bottle on a plane — at least if it’s full.
Another smart staple? Snackable dried fruit, which packs a sweet punch and serves you better than loading up on junk. Hewitt is partial to Trader Joe’s Just Mango Slices, but anything in this category can keep your hunger at bay during longer jaunts. Coffee lovers should also heed Hewitt’s caffeine hack: “A few packets of Starbucks Via Instant can save the day. (I also carry single-serving packets of sweetener and powdered creamer.) This is especially handy if you’re renting an AirBnb-type apartment that comes with a way to heat water, but nothing to put in it.”
