If you're the kind of traveller who panics at the thought of an unfamiliar shampoo bottle, Rick Steves has reassuring news: pack your own toiletries and skip the European shopping trip entirely. The long-time travel writer's advice is simple — bring what you need from home, because buying basics abroad costs both time and money.

His reasoning is practical. Hotels in Europe often provide soap, shampoo and conditioner, but if you have sensitive skin or strong preferences, you'll want your own products. Steves keeps his own toiletry bag stocked with the usual suspects — toothbrush and paste, deodorant, sunscreen, a comb, razors — plus a few extras that earn their space: Band-Aids, a small sewing kit, face masks and hand sanitizer. Prescription medication and vitamins belong in your carry-on, not checked luggage, in case the airline misplaces your bag. His other trick is a pre-packed travel toiletry bag that never gets fully unpacked between trips, so nothing gets forgotten.

The money angle is real. Prices at a corner shop in the US are typically far lower than what you'll pay at a pharmacy near a major European landmark. And Western European pharmacies in particular skew high-end — they stock boutique brands at boutique prices. One writer with years in Spain, France and Italy points out that a tube of Colgate at a chain supermarket can cost roughly $10 less than a luxury Italian brand like Marvis at a pharmacy. That's a lot of euros for toothpaste.

There is one caveat. On trips longer than a few weeks, hauling a full-size shampoo bottle across the continent makes no sense, and buying replacements abroad becomes unavoidable. Even then, Steves and the author agree on the workaround: head to a Carrefour, Aldi or similar supermarket chain rather than a pharmacy. Everyday brands sit on those shelves at everyday prices, and a week's worth of basics will cost a fraction of the pharmacy bill.

For travellers, the takeaway is easy to act on. Pack a compact, refillable kit before you fly, keep meds in your hand luggage, and treat European pharmacies as places you'd only visit in an emergency. If a two-week trip turns into two months, add a supermarket stop to your first afternoon rather than hunting down premium grooming brands. It's a small habit that frees up both budget and luggage space — two things most of us could use more of on holiday.

Thanks to Explore.com for the original story.