How much luggage for 19 day trip for 2 people?

I usually go with a larger (usually 25") suitcase and a large-ish tote for a longer trip. I find little difference between lugging a 25" and a 21" piece of baggage. Others do it only with a carry-on, but I don't see the point and find it more hassle than it is worth.

You still might need to do laundry - do you have 19 pairs of underwear? It can be easy or a hassle. Easy if you stay in a hotel and are willing to pay them to do it. A hassle if you are staying in a 2-star without laundry service and without a laundromat nearby.

Think one small convertible suitcase or rolling case per person, and one carry-on day bag (with the electronics, any medicines and a change of underwear) per person. I've traveled for 10 months with just that. You don't need any more for 19 days than you do for 9, other than perhaps more toiletries and pharmaceuticals, but you can always go shopping for toothpaste and shampoo.

In Europe you will find launderettes, but I prefer to hand wash - that way I don't have to worry about things getting washed in too-hot water. Decant Woolite into a small plastic bottle (or take/buy sachets of powder or even use shampoo), buy a universal sink plug (www.outdoorgb.com/p/universal_sink_plug), and possibly a twisted clothesline (tinyurl.com/ms4lpt). I usually find the towel rails and clothes hangers adequate.

For my packing list see www.wilhelmswords.com/faq

Summer08, May I suggest that you put some of your clothes and some of your husband's in each suitcase, just in case a piece of luggage is lost. You never know...

latedaytraveler's suggestion is a good one. I always mean to do it, but rarely do.

I suggest that you rethink the "two large suitcases"

You have to haul this stuff everywhere. You have to load it on trains etc...

I have downsized my mother to a 24" and me to a 21" (I can't get her any smaller) and it's really too much luggage! Especially that horrid 24"!

lateday and travel -- we usually do that just for space purposes (my clothes and shoes take up a lot less space so we can fit more if we mix and match) but we will be sure to spread things out just to be safe.

OK..the PRACTICALITIES:

WHO is going to be schlepping this luggage on and off the trains?

Do those two suitcases weigh in at LESS than or equal to the 20 Kilos EasyJet allows for BOTH bags combined or are you ready to fork over extra money for that portion?

How many DIFFERENT outfits do you really need? You will be seeing different people on each new day and none of them will have seen you or your clothes before so the clothing will all seem new to them.

Laundry? Are you prepared to do it in the hotel room/pay to have it done by the hotel, etc.?

NOBODY and I mean NOBODY here packs any HEAVIER than I do/did...and I would observe that first set of packing rules..
A. lay it ALL out and then put half of it back in the closet
B. pack it and then CARRY IT..YOURSELF up and down at least TWO flights of stairs and a bit further.

ok, I get the point -- pack light

for practical purposes would it be better for us to have one large suitcase or 2 small?

Think about how you're going to get between train stations and hotels; between airports and hotels.

If you think you'll be taking taxis for all these trips, then by all means bring large suitcases with you (not sure what "large" means for you). As long as your husband is capable of lugging these large suitcases up/down trains, and possibly up/down a flight of stairs, you'll be okay.

However, if you want to take public transport with large suitcases, I can assure you that it will be a pain.

I am a healthy female in my 30s and I do a lot of solo trips. But since I use public transport only (buses, trains, trams, walk etc), I downsized from a 21" to a 19" last year and I haven't looked back since. Since I'm short, the 19" is much easier to manage than the 21".

When I travel with my husband, we usually just take a 21" and a 19". I never expect him or anyone else to carry my luggage for me. I need to be able to handle my suitcase myself.

For 19 days, if you want to go with smaller suitcases, you definitely need to do laundry at least once, if not twice.

For packing tips, do a search for "Therese" - she has started many packing threads here.

Like thursdayd we pack the same whether it's 1 week or 3; doing laundry is inevitable. We take either 21" or 25", both of which have an expandable feature, and a tote or carryon.

Also use the Woolite technique and take a large (2 gal) baggie which we turn into a mini-washer so we won't take up use of the sink. It also serves as a way to keep anything damp that doesn't get dry until our next stop.

If we're going to be somewhere 3 or so days, we wash that first night and find everything dries by the time we leave, and sometimes by the next day depending on the material.

Besides the good idea of packing some of each other's clothes in the other's suitcase, we also make sure we have a change of clothes in the carryons in case both bags get delayed/lost.

<<NOBODY and I mean NOBODY here packs any HEAVIER than I do/did>>

Oh dear. I'm afraid I might, lol.

We prefer taking one suitcase each (we purchased new lightweight suitcases) and one carryon. I can't wheel two suitcases at the same time and then carry them on/off trains and steps.

Laundry is easy to do in all these locations. The options include having your hotel do it (most expensive), taking it to a laundromat where they do it for you (next most expensive but not very expensive and you save a lot of time), laundromat where you do it yourself (takes time but is cheaper than drop off but you can usually put it in, go get a coffee or run another errand, or such) or hand laundry in your hotel sink (works great for underwear, socks, small tops and is essentially free). There are lots of resources about how to pack light. I like http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/packlight.htm. If you went on a 7 day cruise with only carry on you know how to do it. In a 19 day trip would think you can get by with doing full laundry a couple of times and handwashing other times.

take a 22" rollaboard each, you take a larger tote/purse and the other person takes a backapack that has a convertible day pack attached. you'll have to do laundry no matter what. Just expect that you may have to limit your purchases a bit or have them shipped back.

When I went to Europe for 21 days I checked a 21 inch suitcase and carried on a small bag that I also put my small purse in. I did get very tired of my clothes. I laundered clothes, in my room, during the trip using shampoo, a travel clothesline and a plastic pants hanger. I found that inflated balloons work great for drying underwear faster. I also bought fast drying socks and underwear. Since that trip, I have taken a size bigger on long trips and find it easier packing wise. More than two total bags per person will be hard to haul around, especially on the trains. Have a great trip!

I take as little as I can get away with and that means wearing the same shirts & pants over and over - washing them only when necessary which could mean wearing a pair of slacks three times before laundering them in the hotel wash basin.
I can get away with wearing a blouse at least twice and usually hang it up to 'air' while I wear something else.
I don't believe people who say they wear something once and it has to be washed! OK, definitely clean underwear everyday and somethimes I change that twice in a day, but not clothing.
Everything I take is 'wash 'n wear' - no ironing involved at all.

I have always operated under the assumption that I have to deal with my own luggage all by myself (no porters, no hulking partner to schlep for me), and pack accordingly, which means at the most a 21" rollaboard and a tote bag (inside of which at the beginning of my travels is a smaller purse that I will use for daily excursions). I pack the same amount of stuff whether I'm going for a weekend or 3 months.

Take out everything you want to take with you. Then put half of it back. Now pack the bag(s). Leave your house and roam around a few blocks, dragging the luggage. Walk up and down a few flights of steps with it. Pick it up and put it on a high shelf a few times. That's what traveling with that luggage will be like. See how you like it.

I go to Paris for 6 weeks and I take one 24" to check and I also have my laptop case..on wheels..that has all my papers, camera and other small electronics and whatever else room for. This is my carry on. My purse has cell phones, medications etc.

If I take a coat, I wear it. Take it off on plane and fold it up.

My clothing consists of jeans to something for starred restaurants. I always have excess clothing. I do stay in apartments and have washer/dryer.

Take about 1/2 of what you start out with..or less!!

Joan

I also have to carry my own luggage. So I take 2 smalls bags, one rolling computer bag and another hand-carry computer bag.

I returned the last of June from a 20 day trip using those 2 bags. In addition to the clothes I was wearing, I packed:

1 pair jeans
1 black pants
6 tops
2 pairs of short pajamas
underwear
1 pair of Pumas
toiletries
make up
extra cardigan
laptop
vitamins
2 paperback books
junk food for the plane

Yes, I had to do laundry, but this makes getting on and off the train much easier. And all those STEPS at the metro-I have no problem.

Almost forgot, I had to also cram my purse into one of the bags for the flights.

One 19" each. NOTHING else!

It doesn't matter if the trip is for one week or three -- we always pack the same amount -- for one week only.

We each carry a 18-19 inch backpack and my beau carries a 1 small (12") shoulder/camera bag. All is carried on the plane, never checked.

Wash your undies and socks each night and do laundry every 7 days.

Doing laundry isn't such the horrid experience many people make it out to be.

Take your dirty clothes to the laundromat, toss them in the washer, go have breakfast. Return, toss clothes in dryer, go have another cup of coffee or see a sight/monument, etc. Pick up clothes. Easy.

Sure beats schlepping giant suitcases around.

I use one 19 inch bag and one small tote bag and a purse for 3 weeks. I take some clothes that are wearable and look decent and wear them a few days and toss them out. That gives a little room in my bag to bring back small souvenirs.

I always keep a change of clothing, all meds and toiletries in my small tote bag and carry that with me. The 19 inch bag I check in.

Don't weigh yourself down with luggage. The first trip you worry about having enough clothing and on the next trips you worry about being able to take as little as possible.

I'm 73 years old, I often travel solo, and I've always been a weakling. I bring a 22" no matter how long I'm staying, including one trip of three months.

I wear mostly black pants and a black sweater or jacket. Tops are either black or coordinate with black. I wear walking shoes and bring along a pair of dressier sandals. Like dir4848, I wash out my quick-drying underwear and sox, and when I'm staying three days, I may rinse out a pair of pants or a top.

I bring as few toiletries as possible, as they always account for a good deal of weight, even when they're small.

My great weakness is that I carry a bag with a pretty good-sized frame holding my current counted cross stitch project. I'm doing a great copy of a Van Gogh, "Cafe Terrace," right now. I'm going to see if I can put it on a hoop, which would be a good deal smaller.

My sister and I were talking to a young woman in Siena--a trophy wife, we decided. When we told her that we carried only a 22" inch suitcase each, she exclaimed, "I carry one suitcase just for my shoes!" We figured her husband usually took care of the luggage for her.

We (family of four) just spent a month in Europe with one big checked bag, one small bag that can be carry on in size terms but we checked, and one big LLBEAN tote bag (full of beach towels and snorkel gear...). We went to England, France and Italy and I had to work some of those days as well as play so we had a variety of clothes. The two girls and my husband had backpacks as carry on - I just had my purse. We still brought more than we needed.

So I think two large checked cases seems ample and probably too much because of the moving the gear with the weight, especially with your travelling on trains. I'd downsize to at least one smaller one.

And yes as someone said to watch your weight with Easyjet too.

Laundry - we did laundry... I've found in Italy it's delightful to drop the dirty clothes off at the laundrette and have them back all clean and perfectly folded. The first time this happened on a previous trip, my husband was so enamoured with it that he didn't want us to disorder the clean clothes by wearing them! Hotel laundry is super expensive as you probably know but (perhaps because there's four of us) I find handwashing in hotel rooms too much hassle - too much wet stuff everywhere.

One of those never ending questions, carry-on only versus tons of luggage ....and so on.
SyCirq, LOL about lifting one's bags , but that is what I do.I often decide which garment to take according to its weight. I do take taxis some of the time,but it has nothing to do with size of my luggage.
It really gets me when women ask my husband to help lift their bags on or off ..yes, he is 6'3 but his back will hurt for days! If you must have 7 pairs of shoes , take care of your own GD luggage .
Washing undies or tops has never been a problem. If I had to, I would rather take one of those light irons than more
clothing.
I have been traveling since my early 20s( before THE wheels) - the older I get, the lighter my luggage gets.

I'm afraid that I am not a light packer AT ALL, so I'm going to offer a different viewpoint. On Caribbean resort trips, I always take a 30" roller plus small carry on, and my husband takes his own slightly smaller roller and carry on. Yup, I really said 30". It's not usually full, but I can fit whatever I want to take without weeding anything out (including full snorkel gear that yes, we do use), I don't have to lift it anywhere other than luggage carousels, and the luggage is staying put at the hotel for the duration, so it's no hassle whatsoever ... so I figure why not?

For European trips, I take a smaller (but not small) suitcase. We usually go to Europe for a minimum of 2 or 3 plus weeks, and I take a 25" roller plus a small carry on, and my husband takes a 24" roller plus carry on (and that IS packing light for me - I have to weed stuff down and I always wish I had room to take more things!). Even with a 25", I do need to launder things like shirts and socks during my trip - I never go to a laundromat, I just hand wash in the sink. Personally, I don't find schlepping a 25" roller on and off trains or up or down a flight of stairs in a metro or hotel to be a huge issue for me - yes, sometimes it's a little awkward or a minor struggle, but it is only for a few minutes at a time, so in the grand scheme of things I don't mind. However, we are young(ish) and fit so that has a lot to do with it too - perhaps I will have to reconsider when we get older or suffer from diminished physical fitness.

Also, I think if we were changing hotels or taking trains or the metro with our luggage every other day I might feel differently, but we're usually in one spot for at least 4 nights at a time, so a few minutes of aggravation while navigating stairs etc. on an occasional basis is worth it for me to have the "stuff" I want/need in my 25" versus a smaller suitcase. I'm even going to admit - oh the shame and horror!! - that I've taken the 30" roller with me to Europe a couple of times in the past when I've gone on "city" trips (with no metro rides and no car rentals involved) and have been staying put in just one or two cities for an extended period of time, so that the lifting was limited to on / off a luggage carrousel and on / off an airport bus / train to get into the city (in both of those cases, my hotels had small elevators so no lifting the case up a few flights of stairs). In both cases it was because I got aggravated trying to fit something extra into my 25" (like bulky winter boots that I didn't want to wear on the plane) and my husband said, "Oh, why don't you just take your 30"?. Foolish? Perhaps. But it wasn't a problem and I didn't regret it.

I often joke that I would be the happiest if I took only a change of panties and a toothbrush.

remember, since Easyjet is so tough on weight... wear a light-weight coat with lots of pockets. Put all the heavy stuff in it... cell phone chargers, extra batteries, etc. Some people even shove a small foldable bag and once they are done boarding, take it all off and shove it in there. Think about weight also... do you need the large travel books ? If you are reading fiction, get paperbacks and then leave them behind when you are done... someone will be thrilled to find it! (I used to buy and trade at an English language bookstore when I lived in France for a semester).

We also travel with a 21" carry on each for 2-3 weeks. I also have a large purse to hold my make-up, toiletries, etc. and my husband has his "gadget bag"(we can't call it a purse). We started doing this when our luggage was lost for 3 weeks and I discovered that I could live out of a carry on.

We do stay in apts. so that helps with the laundry issue, but I wouldn't change if we stayed in a hotel.

In Paris at night I stick to alot of black----suitable anywhere.

Another tip---they make envelope duffle bags---American Tourister makes one. It's about a 6x8 flat envelope that opens up into a large thin duffle bag. We use it on the way home to check the dirty laundry. This makes room in our carry ons for the things we buy. BTW, the dirty laundy has never been lost.

On a cruise I usually take more as you are seeing the same people every day, but in traveling from city to city who cares? My husband would rather see me in the same clothes than deal with alot of luggage.

Good Luck and enjoy your trip-----trip report to follow I hope.

It really comes down to how strong you are. I have absolutely no problem carrying two 50lb suitcases for the limited amount of distance that one actually needs to carry them - and I'm not especially strong. This includes on and off trains, off the baggage carousel, up stairs, onto buses, etc, etc. I am willing to wager that you will be rolling your suitcase more than 90% of the time, where the difference between a large or small suitcase is negligible.

When you total up the total time lifting a bag, it is miniscule. In a similar thread, I recounted the total lifting involved to travel from my office outside Zurich to Copenhagen. Including lifting onto a train, a tram, a metro, a bus, and on and off a baggage belt, you are looking at less than 2 minutes of lifting time. For this, you are going to wash your undies in the sink every night?

Many here want to make it seem like you will be walking 10 miles up hill, both ways, in the snow, in June with your suitcase and a deer carcass strapped to your back. There may be instances where you might need to travel light, but my guess is that, for a city-heavy trip like this, it may not be one of them.

Think about how much walking you will actually do with your suitcase and then decide what to pack. If you don't find that you will be doing much walking with it (i.e. you tend to take cabs to and from the airport), then why not pack some extra clothes and not have to do laundry as often?

And remember the value of your time. Unless you enjoy washing clothes, then it doesn't take much for a cab ride to pay for itself (esp with 2 people traveling together). And, really, that is often what it comes down to. If you are willing to occasionally splash out EUR 50 for a cab ride, then traveling "heavy" is far, far more convenient than doing laundry en route.

I've heard several people mention that laundry at a hotel is very expensive, but I'm not quite sure what that means? Any rough ideas how much it would cost to have 4 days worth of clothes for an adult cleaned at a hotel in say Paris or London? Knowing the potential costs for laundry would help compare to the airline costs for extra/over-sized luggage, for example.

thanks!

Easyjet is so tough on weight

Easyjet isn't tough on weight. You get 20kg for each piece you pay to check. The prices aren't bad and are actually a fantastic deal if you are checking multiple pieces. Hand luggage is not subject to a weight limit, which is actually generous by European standards.

I once took a 24" rolling bag on a trip to Europe, and while the transit time with the bag wasn't huge, it was annoying enough that I've never taken that bag again. And really, the incremental pleasure (?) of having extra clothing wasn't worth it to me.

For every other trip - including the 17-day trip we're taking this fall, I take a 22-inch exapandable bag. My goal is to not have to expand it until the trip home. In addition, I take a day bag, about the size of a small backpack. DH takes a 24-inch rolling bag (his choice - he will take clean underwear for every day) and a duffle bag. We use the duffle bag for miscellaneous - extra guidebooks, to throw our coats in, camera, etc. It's not full until the trip back home.

I wash clothes periodically throughout the trip (underwear in batches, 2/3 times during the trip, and other stuff as necesary), though I'll admit the clothes are a bit grimey by the end of the trip.

I always have enough room for all the clothes I'll need. I'm not a clothes horse, and I'm small, so my clothes are, but on the other hand, I tend to be cold, so I always take many extra layers. My biggest splurge, and the biggest user of space, is shoes. I take 3 pairs, because I have one everyday, one nicer pair to give my feet a break from the everyday, and one pair of sneakers. I only (even at home) wear sneakers to run in, and running while on vacation is a big thing for me. I'm willing to sacrifice the space.

I use 1 rolling suitcase (22-24") plus an oversized tote as a pocketbook. That's it. I don't pack any more or less accordining to the length of the trip. I take 3 pair shoes and maybe 5 outfits of pieces that mix & match and can be layered. I wash out underthings now and then in the hotel sink using their shampoo. You can find a laundry service mid-trip if you need to. I do get sick of wearing the same thing over & over, but it's worth it to me not to have a heavy or large suitcase to drag around everywhere.

"It really comes down to how strong you are. I have absolutely no problem carrying two 50lb suitcases"

Good for you if you can handle that. My backpack and daypack together weight less than 30 lbs, and I'm certainly not interested in schlepping more than that. But my advice is "no more than you can carry", so if you can carry 100lbs, your choice. Equally, if you're spending the whole trip in one or two places, or renting a car, take whatever you like (or whatever your airline allows).

For my kind of travel, involving a fair amount of moving around by bus and train and local transport (rickshaw, tuk-tuk, etc.), often outside North America and Western Europe, weight and size are very important.

I can't *imagine* hauling 100 pounds (two 50-lb suitcases) around Europe with me... on & off trains, up and down stairs of hotels, etc. Even if you are strong enough to do so, why would you want to?

Ok I just returned from a 17 day trip to Europe and both my husband and I took 24" suitcases, and our carry on tote bags. I brought a messenger type purse also. We did not have any problems getting them on buses, trains, or planes. Ok he may have helped my get my suitcase up on the bus and train, but really it wasn't a problem. We used public transportation to get back and forth from every airport and train terminal so no luxury taxi rides!! I wore everything that I brought with me. And yes, we had to do laundry at least 3 times - it was summer,and hot!! We traveled from Sweden, cold and rainy down to France and Barcelona, hot and steamy. If you are interested this is what I brought to wear:
1-raincoat (only needed in Sweden), 1 pashima, 1 black long sleeve pullover ( think Nike) I used this alot. 1- long sleeve shirt ( I wish that I had brought 2 long sleeve shirts), 5 short sleeve T-shirts, 2 of which were white ( could have used just 4 of these), 1 print tank-top ( I could have used more of these - I wore this shirt alot), 1 daytime type sundress - so glad I brought this it really was comfortable and kept me cool plus it was very stylish!, 1 sleeveless evening type summer dress, 1 bathing suit, 3 pairs long pants (1 pair white jeans, 1 pair jeans, and 1 pair khakis- which I didn't wear that much), 2 pairs shorts ( not short-shorts but more of walking shorts- could have also taken capri's- everyone was wearing them). Also my running clothes. As for shoes- 1 pair brown mephisto sandals- they are so comfortable!, one pair dressier flat sandals for nighttime, one pair Puma walking-sneaker shoes, one pair real running shoes. I know that I shouldn't have taken both pairs of sneakers, but I am a serious runner and had to have my running shoes. We probably ran at least 10 days out of the 17 so at least I got good use out of them, and gained less than 1 pound!! Also, bring more underwear than they say in the books, we had to constantly wash out underwear!! The one thing I would say is to bring clothes that you like and you look/feel good in, then who cares what size suitcase you bring!
P.S. I wish that I had brought my packable summer hat.

Even if you are strong enough to do so, why would you want to?

Because washing clothes for 5-10 minutes per night is a bigger hassle than carrying 100 lbs for 2 minutes on the days that you travel...

The point is that the "hauling" is being way overblown. Where do you folks stay? At Tibetan monasteries? Just how much "hauling" do people do? I mean, the train thing is especially perplexing. Even on the double-decker trains I take every day, you are talking something like 15 steps, and that is if you choose to sit on the upper deck! A normal train has maybe 3 steps. Even 10 flights of stairs would take maybe a minute and a half. The reality is that most won't even encounter that on their travel days.

For my kind of travel, involving a fair amount of moving around by bus and train and local transport (rickshaw, tuk-tuk, etc.), often outside North America and Western Europe, weight and size are very important.

Fair enough, but the OP is going to Rome, Venice, Florence, and Paris, so why not give advice tailored to the actual conditions they will likely encounter? Were they going to Timbuktu, then my advice would be different. Heck, even if they were going to Thailand, I would tell them to pack light, since you can have your laundry washed and folded for pennies per day. Actually, I might suggest packing heavy and just bringing the dirty clothes you have been putting off washing.

YUK!

"carrying 100 lbs for 2 minutes on the days that you travel... " - it's never just 2 minutes. Especially not in Western Europe where I don't take cabs and my hotels often don't have elevators.

"the OP is going to Rome, Venice, Florence, and Paris" - I've been to Rome, Venice and Paris, and I wouldn't have wanted to schlep more than 30lbs in any one of them. I walked from my hotel to the train station in Rome, my Venice hotel didn't have an elevator, and in Paris I had to change metro stations on the way to the hotel. I travel solo on a budget, and I'd rather travel light than come up with the cash for a taxi.

If the OPs were able to do a cruise with just carry-ons they certainly don't need 100lbs apiece for Europe.

"Ok he may have helped my get my suitcase up on the bus and train" - I travel solo and have to do it myself.

it's never just 2 minutes. Especially not in Western Europe where I don't take cabs and my hotels often don't have elevators.

I think you have never actually timed it. Lifting onto the train, for example, should take maybe 5 seconds of actual lifting time. Even assuming that you climb 10 flights of stairs at your hotel, I can't imagine that this takes much more than 2 or 3 minutes. I mean, I just walked down the stairs to my basement, coming to a full stop at each step. It took less than 20 seconds.

FWIW, I don't usually take cabs either and travel all over Western Europe. I sometimes do it with just a carry-on and sometimes with a large bag. I honestly don't find much incremental effort (if any) in taking a large bag.

Note: for Easyjet's baggage allowances and charges see www.easyjet.com/en/book/regulations.html#baggage

Well it certainly takes more than "two minutes" for me to get from...
my friends home in Switzerland, up the hill, then down the street to the train station on foot, thru the station and onto the train, (ride to Venice Italy) off at the train station, down the front steps there, buy ticket and get up on to the vaporetto, boat ride standing with luggage at your feet, off the vaporetto, long down the promonade to hotel, into hotel lobby, up the stairs to my room.

How the heck is that TWO MINUTES?

What about train connections that are very, very tight?

During our last trip, because of a delayed train, we had only 3 minutes to make our connection. We had to switch trains and get to a platform on the other side of the very large station, up and down several long flights of stairs.

We threw our backpacks on our backs and ran. Luckily we're in good physical shape. We entered the train as the doors were closing. There's no way we could have done that with heavy luggage.

That was the last train of the evening. The next one left about 12 hours later the following day.

If we hadn't packed light, we would have had to shell out money for a hotel room in a town we didn't want to be in, losing a night at a place we wanted to be in.

Not worth it to me, anyway.

How the heck is that TWO MINUTES?

Two minutes of actual lifting.

A minority of those that advocate carry-on only actually carry their bag. Most take a roll-aboard, which they presumably roll for most of the trip. 90% of the people I see on the train or at the airport with luggage are rolling. The extra effort to roll a 50 lb bag vs a 20 lb bag is miniscule. Heck, the engineering of the bag is more likely to impact your effort than the weight. Accordingly, I don't see why you should worry about anything beyond the actual lifting, which is almost certainly in the 1-3 minute range for most normal European trips.

I mean, are you lifting your roll-aboard while buying your ticket? Or when walking through the train station? Why?

Sorry but I don't want to ROLL a 50 pound suitcase all over Europe either.

Sorry but I don't want to ROLL a 50 pound suitcase all over Europe either.

And you want to ROLL a 20 pound suitcase all over Europe? The wheels do all the work for you. The incremental effort to wheel 50 pounds is minimal. This is, of course, the precise reason the wheel was invented...

And I don't take a rolling case, I take a convertible backpack. Much more useful for dubious pavement, stairs in train stations (see NanBug's post) and strange conveyances in out-of-the-way places. I actually took my Travelpro, left over from my former business travel, to Washington last year, and found it a real pain. It seemed heavy to drag around, and it was really annoying to have one hand occupied all the time.

But no-one is telling you not to take 100lbs with you if that's what you like, we're just pointing out that the OP doesn't need to if she doesn't want to. And since she's flying EasyJet it would cost her.

Apart from the actual weight of the luggage, there's also the concern about WHERE to put your suitcase if you're riding public transport. Sure, if the airport bus goes directly to your hotel entrance, great. But if you're taking subway, or regular city bus, or commuter train etc during rush hour, good luck with hauling a 30" suitcase with you.

My 19" fits underneath a regular seat on the bus, so it doesn't even take up extra space.

There's no way I can lift a 50 lb suitcase onto an overhead bin, or even onto a luggage rack at chest level (which may the only places where you can store a suitcase on a train). I'll cause some severe injuries all around if I attempt that. 50 lbs is almost half of my body weight.

Again, to each his/her own. Some people want to travel with 30" suitcases that weigh 50lbs each, great. Don't expect my husband to help you, and don't hit me with it or block my exit on the bus. (That happens a lot to me when I take the Silver Line to Logan airport - people's enormous suitcase just sits right at the exit doors because they don't even fit onto the luggage racks; so I have to climb over them just to get off the bus.)

I personally like the freedom of not being bogged down by a big & heavy suitcase.

This will not be resolved after a zillion threads ;
people who don't wish to lift, carry, or roll a lot of weight... will travel light, people who find 100 pounds easy to lift, will not.
As far as washing clothes ( undies and socks), I don't see taking 20 pairs on a trip and carrying them (dirty )around Europe as a very attractive proposition..
Either you spend 5 minutes washing, or ( if you don't have 20 pairs)you wear the same undies 5 days in a row. As someone said : YUK.
BTW, I just got back from 2 weeks in Prague, Dresden and Berlin - a small carry- on (over the shoulder )was just fine. Hilton in Dresden even had an iron and ironing board in the room !

I personally like the freedom of not being bogged down by a big & heavy suitcase.

I personally like the freedom of saving 10 minutes each night washing out my underwear. To each their own.

And no, I don't expect your husband to help me or my wife. But, I am happy to help others lift their suitcase off the belt. It remains the gentlemanly thing to do.

But that is WAY off topic here. We aren't dealing with theoretical scenarios. We know that the OP will be traveling with her husband. We can assume that he would never ask for help with his or his wife's bags (at least I hope). So why bring it up?

But no-one is telling you not to take 100lbs with you if that's what you like, we're just pointing out that the OP doesn't need to if she doesn't want to.

And I'm just pointing that she should be concerned with the reality of how she will travel, rather than concerns about your trip to Washington.

And since she's flying EasyJet it would cost her.

The OP stated that they had likely already prepaid for luggage on EasyJet. This is normal, as prepaying for 1 bag at 20 kg is the default setting at Easyjet.com. In other words, it has already "cost" the OP, so why worry about it now? A 25" bag will meet the 20 kg limit as readily as a 21" bag.

Again, let's focus on the reality of the OP's travel, not upon some theoretical that has no relevance.

Hilton in Dresden even had an iron and ironing board in the room !

I don't iron at home. I'm not going to start on vacation. I know how to iron. I just refuse to do it.

"I personally like the freedom of saving 10 minutes each night washing out my underwear. To each their own."


Boy, I would hate to be the customs officer searching your luggage after 3 weeks on the road!

I would hate to be the customs officer searching your luggage after 3 weeks on the road!

They get what they signed up for. If they didn't want to look through dirty underwear, then they should have found a different job.

wow, lots of replies! thanks everyone. I think the first thing I need to do is measure our suitcases because it's hard for me to picture what is what.

I hate checking bags (worrying about loss, waiting for baggage, etc) so I usually do carryon only unless dire circumstances mandate otherwise -- I am a very good packer -- but I think we should probably check at least one bag on this trip. Things like underwear (at least mine) are small enough to bring enough, but we will probably try to do laundry half-way through our trip. Not really keen on washing more than twice, but we'll see how quickly we run out of clothes

We did pre-pay for 2 bags through EasyJet - it was the default and it was cheaper than paying day of flight so we just went with the default one checked bag per person. We will be flying after about 14 days of our trip (all of Italy) with just 5 days in Paris remaining so it leaves us room to expand to a duffle for souveniers etc if needed.

I'm thinking maybe one "large" (wouldn't fit carryon) suitcase, one carryon size suitcase, and a duffle that can be used if we need it for souveniers? that way we each can maneuver one? It's all talk until we actually start packing, but I usually find that I can limit myself to my allotted amount of luggage.

Our family of 4 travelled through Asia and Europe for 11 weeks. Three of us had the largest size carry-on on wheels plus a backpack, and hubby had a larger suitcase on wheels plus a very small carry-on for books.

In our case, we tried to have an apartment with washer/dryer every other week or so.

For your trip, I would bring a large carry-on each for clothes. Possibly larger for whoever can easily manage it. I think it's better if everyone is able to handle their own luggage. Sometimes it's difficult for someone to manage 2 large suitcases, because of the bulkiness, even if they can manage the weight. So I like to know I can handle my own stuff if necessary.

You could do laundry twice, or possibly once, and have plenty to wear. You could bring extra underwear, maybe 10-11 pairs in case you only want to wash once. Some laundry places have drop-off service, which would cost you less than having the hotel do it. Not sure how common this is in Italy or Paris.

[Our 4 backpacks were loaded with books, so we ran into trouble on Virgin Atlantic when the weight limit for carryon bags was 6 kilos. I had 2 extra small bags tucked in our luggage and we got 2 plastic bags from an airport store, and we each split our books into 2 carryon bags of 6 kilos or less.)]

Every single time there is a thread about packing/luggage, travelgourmet pops in over and over and over again w/ snarky posts mocking everyone who manages to travel light. I have absolutely NO IDEA why this topic, or folks who do things differently, upset him so much.

This is just getting soooooo old. Pack light or pack heavy - your choice. But just don't ask here because the thread will go off in a ditch -- does every time . . . . .

Travelgourment,

My husband and I will be taking the train between Venice and Milan in October, I was wondering would there be a place to put our two (29" and 32") luggages in the train. I have never taken a train with luggages. I have only been on a European train three times and it was between Treviso and Venice.
My husband would like to try it but personally, I would rather pick-up a car. Thanks you for your help.
Summer08bride,

Sorry to hijack your thread.

ttt

Obviously travelgourmet doesn't travel much on trains in SW France, where connections are often as little as 5-7 minutes and you have to walk down, then up, steep staircases, HAULING your suitcase, to change platforms. I sometimes have to make 2-3 such connections after an all-night plane ride, which makes for one heck of an unpleasant, tiring day that's WAY more of a problem than handwashing a bit of underwear.

travelgourmet,

I do have to say that there is no longer any such thing as a two-minute physical exertion for me! I'm a 53-year-old, 5' 3" woman, and I'm pretty fit (after 20 years in the Army). But I have to say, those two-minute lifting exercises do tend to stay with me now . . . sometimes for a few days. Yes, my neck, my back, my hip -- everything is beginning to age and ache. These days, when I spend a day lifting my bag on and off trains, those two-minute exertions add up, and I'm usually sore and crabby by the afternoon. That evening I'm in serious need of a massage!

I still travel with a 24" case for week-long trips (especially as my interests usually include an opera and a hike), but holy cow I do know it's not easy and shouldn't be dismissed casually.

s

I have absolutely NO IDEA why this topic, or folks who do things differently, upset him so much.

It is the superiority complex adopted by the travel-light brigade. Have you read the posts above? All the "you can do it" and "my husband won't help you lift your bag" posts. We had a couple of comments about how big bags are a problem in sub-saharan Africa. For a trip to 4 cities in Western Europe!

I don't care what you do. I really don't. But I object to the distortion of reality that the travel-light brigade wants to make reality. Travel light, travel heavy, it is your choice, but there is no right or wrong way. And trains do not have but a couple of steps, escalators and elevators are common in Europe, and the distance between the baggage belt and the floor is no more than 6 inches or so. I object to the way people make the walk from the baggage belt to the train to their hotel into the Bataan Death March.

If folks were actually honest about what people would encounter, then I wouldn't have a problem. All I have stated is that your actual lifting time is around 2 minutes or so, should you travel with wheels. I have reiterated that statement a time or two, but only to counter the unending drumbeat of comments about how great it is to do laundry on vacation.

I mean, were you to trust the travel light brigade, one would have to assume that taking anything bigger than a carry-on dooms you to a missed connection on the flight over, no chance of catching your train, half an hour of walking up stairs, and a suitcase full of stuff that you will never wear. The reality is that most folks don't miss their plane or train, less than 1% of passengers lose their luggage, Western Europe does have escalators and elevators in abundance (particularly at train stations and airports), and packing a dress or shirt you don't wear is not the end of the world.

Obviously travelgourmet doesn't travel much on trains in SW France, where connections are often as little as 5-7 minutes and you have to walk down, then up, steep staircases, HAULING your suitcase, to change platforms.

The location is different, but I make 5-7 minute connections all the time. I also recognize just how much time that is. That is enough time to roll a 50 lb suitcase for most of the distance and lift it for the 20 or so steps that you will likely encounter along the way. Indeed, I usually have time to grab something to drink. Indeed, my typical trip home from the airport involves a train to tram and (often) a tram-tram connection. I have also done the train-train connection more times than I can remember. Heck, I have done a metro-bus connection at least 100 times with varying types of luggage.

It is fun, though, to pretend that you have a monopoly on experience, isn't it? And, again, the OP is not going to SW France (though I have been there, thank you for your concern), they are going to 3 major cities in Italy and Paris. Hardly the hinterlands. Shouldn't we tailor our advice to that reality? I mean, why don't I offer my advice about how to get a good deal on laundry service in Cambodia?

<<< How much luggage for 19 day trip for 2 people? >>>

How much luggage do you need for a 19 day stay at home for 2 people?

You need similar except that you don't need work clothes

<<< for practical purposes would it be better for us to have one large suitcase or 2 small? >>>

Oh let's see - should I have one very large case that weighs 30kg and is a pain in the butt to carry around and will lead to osteopath bills when I get home or should I have two smaller cases to spread the load and reduce the risk if one case gets lost / stolen / dropped from a great height

<<< I was wondering would there be a place to put our two (29" and 32") luggages >>>

You are kidding aren't you? 29 AND 32 inch cases - are you intending living in them to save on hotel bills? The only place I would put such cases in the local charity shop so some other idiot can "benefit" from them.

Read what everyone else has written and unless you are both championship weightlifters then just forget about it and get 2 FAR SMALLER cases

cafegoddess - People take their luggage of all sizes and shapes on trains all the time. I am certain that, if you just follow the lead of others and exercise common sense, you will find a place to stow your luggage. Taking a car, of course, is usually much more pleasant, but can get pricey. If you aren't concerned about price, then I do recommend it.

should I have one very large case that weighs 30kg and is a pain in the butt to carry around and will lead to osteopath bills when I get home

Nobody is proposing a 30kg suitcase. And you shouldn't go to osteopaths - they aren't real doctors.

JanisJ - let us call alan's post exhibit A. Here we have the classic distortions of the travel-light brigade. There is the light vs dark choice, which overstates the actual weight of a large suitcase by close to 30%. We have the blind acceptance that nobody could ever need or desire more than the travel-light brigade would have them pack. For good measure, we make it seem like a financial choice, even though the OP already has that covered. It sure is compelling reading, but it doesn't make it overly relevant.

Thanks travelgourmet. We decided to pick-up our car in Venice instead of Milan, it will make things easier.

A question for American posters out there - just curious about something that comes up regulary round here. With all this talk of 19", 24" etc, how come you all seem to know the precise dimensions of your cases to the nearest inch? I mean, here in the UK I've just got a "small" suitcase, a "medium-sized" one and a "large" one. I haven't the faintest idea what the sizes are in inches (or cm for that matter). If you walked into a luggage shop in the UK and asked for a 21" case, I bet the sales assistants would exchange puzzled glances then attempt to find a tape measure in the back of the drawer. Are suitcases displayed in stores in the US under great big signs displaying the dimensions?

Gordon_R - Yes, in the US, most suitcases at stores have a tag saying how large they are. They are NOT displayed by dimensions, rather by brands & series. However, each suitcase's tag will say if it's 19" or 20" or 21" or 22" and so on.

It is important for people like me who take carryon suitcase only to know what the exact dimensions are. I have been asked multiple times in the last 8 months to place my carryon into a sizer at the airport, so I have to be exact. In fact, when I went luggage-shopping last year, I brought my measuring tape with me. While a suitcase may advertise it is a 21", sometimes it means the FRAME of the suitcase is 21" but the actual length including handles and wheels can end up being 22.5" or 23".

I don't see why saying "Don't expect my husband to help you" indicates superiority on my part. I simply do NOT want my husband gets injured when lugging these suitcases. He exercises daily but he is not a trained luggage handler. I can tell you that on every single overseas trip I've traveled on with my husband, he had been asked by females to help them stow or retrieve their suitcases. The difficult thing is there's no way one can tell how heavy they are - could be 30lbs, could be 50lbs, could be 70lbs - there is no label. My husband never refused, of course, but he's tired of being someone else's porter every single time. What if he strains his back next time he does that for someone else? That can totally ruin our vacation.

P.S. I understand the "don't expect my husband to help you" situation doesn't apply to the OP at all, since she's traveling with her husband. I mentioned this initially to explain why I choose to travel light, esp when I travel alone, because I do not feel it's right to rely on others to assist with my luggage. And for me, traveling light = no larger than 21" and no heavier than 25 lbs.

I understand that for other posters, such as travelgourmet, they have no trouble with 25" suitcases weighing 50 lbs or even larger and heavier, and I don't have problems with what they choose to take, as long as they can handle the suitcases.

I don't see why saying "Don't expect my husband to help you" indicates superiority on my part.

Perhaps superiority is the wrong word, but it certainly isn't relevant. The OP is traveling with her husband. We can assume that he will handle his own bags.

Again, the advice here is simply off-topic. We have discussions of tuk-tuks. We have concerns about women lifting baggage off of the belt all by their lonesome. A few have expressed concern that baggage costs money on Easyjet, even though this is bought and paid for. We have gross exaggerations of the weight of a fully-loaded suitcase.

The OP asked a simple question about what size luggage they should take, for this particular trip. Instead of advice tailored to this particular trip, they are treated to hypotheticals and ridiculous discussions about the luggage situation on trains in SW France. We have folks chiming in about what it is to travel as a single woman. Where did everyone lose sight of the reality of this particular trip? If ever there was a trip for which a 25" suitcase made sense, it is this one.

The OP has noted that they have done carry-on only and felt restricted. This is NORMAL. Going carry-on only requires compromises. But many want to gloss over those compromises and focus on how much the bag weighs. And rather than focusing on the reality of the difference between lugging a 21" vs a 25" suitcase, we have exaggerations.

Again, the OP is traveling with her husband. They are talking about taking two 25" suitcases between them, along with a small carry-on. Why is this the end of the world? What is the point of downsizing, assuming that they can lift the bags for the total of maybe 10 minutes over the entire vacation? To me, the 25" seems like a fine size for a trip like this.

I would take the smallest suitcase you can. We went to Europe last summer for 9 weeks, and we each brought only carry-on luggage - it can be done! (I even had clothes packed I didn't end up wearing!!) I had a carry-on suitcase full of clothes and toiletries and a large purse with a smaller purse inside, my camera, my folder with all of our travel information, my phone, my computer, book, etc. . .

For the suitcase, I color coordinated all my clothes so I could wear everything with each other. My color scheme was black, white and khaki with some colorful scarves. I rolled everything up which seemed to give me more space. I also packed a Baggallini totle (available on ebags - it folds up very tiny in its own zippered pouch, but opens to a nice size duffel bag). We used the Baggallini tote as checked luggage on the way home for all our dirty laundry, and packed the few souvenirs we bought safely in our suitcases. (We did do laundry along the way - sometimes in the sink at our hotel, sometimes at laundrymats and a couple of apartments we stayed in had laundry facilities so we didn't completely stink!)

I was so thankful I had not packed a large suitcase - it would not be fun to drag a large suitcase onto the train and the airlines we flew had very strict weight limits. Several of our hotels didn't have elevators (of if they did, they were broken!) and to lug a huge suitcase would have been a pain. It just made our trip so much easier and more enjoyable to have manageable luggage.

Have a wonderful trip!

Although I've done a lot of traveling, I have to admit that I have no idea of how suitcases are measured. So like Gordon_R I'm a bit confused by this thread. We just returned from a 19 day vacation for which we packed two "big" garment bags and carried a camera case and an oddly shaped oversized "purse" as carry on. I watched people hoist what looked to me like very large bags into the overhead bins and even some with suitcases AND giant duffle bags truck all that stuff down the airplane aisles. Can anyone tell us definitively what a "21" bag is, i.e. 21 inches from where to where? Is depth included in the measurement somehow? And what is the most typical maximum bag size that major airlines permit (or say they permit even if they really permit almost anything)to be carried on? Thanks.

I should have said that our "big" garment bags were checked not just packed.

JulieVikamanis, most US airlines have a limit of 45 linear inches (ie, length + width + depth). But each airline has a maximum dimension of each side, therefore, while a parcel measuring 43 x 1 x 1 = 45 linear inches, the 43 exceeds the maximum dimension of length.

In any case, one can bring any "length" of suitcases - be it 19" or 20" or 21" etc as long as the 3 dimensions add up to 45 total linear inches or less; and each dimension does not exceed the max imposed by the airline.

The problem, as I mentioned earlier, is that a suitcase advertised as 21" can be actually 23" if you add the handle and wheels. So if the suitcase is 21x14x10, in reality it is 23x14x10 which exceeds the limit.

Of course, no one ever really measures your suitcase at the airport, but there are SIZERS and if you suitcase doesn't fit in the sizer, you have to check it.

re <<one large suitcase or 2 small>>

Do you mean per person or for both of you? Do NOT share one huge suitcase! If it goes over the maximum weight allowed by the airline, you'll be charged extra even if you were allowed another piece . And what if the one gets lost?

Don't bring more than one rolling case (of any size) per person-- it's a nuisance to pull one in each hand. Better for each of you to have a medium rolling suitcase (around 24") plus a carry-on bag that can be carried on your shoulder or stacked on top of the suitcase.

Can anyone tell us definitively what a "21" bag is, i.e. 21 inches from where to where?

They are sizes. Are there differences? Sure. But this is the case with all sizes. One pair of jeans doesn't fit the same as any other, even if they are the same "size". At the end of the day, they are largely approximations. Calling it a 21" vs carry-on size wouldn't improve the clarity.

To the OP, since you're traveling in the summer, don't bring any jeans, just light pants. Jeans are heavy to carry and take forever to get dry in European dryers.

Since you're going to cities, shouldn't be hard to find laundromats/laundrettes. Except maybe Venice.

re <<on every single overseas trip I've traveled on with my husband, he had been asked by females to help them stow or retrieve their suitcases>>

yk, they actually had the nerve to ask? How rude. I'd never ask people to help, though it's nice when they offer.

#
travelgourmet on Aug 7, 09 at 07:32 PM

I would hate to be the customs officer searching your luggage after 3 weeks on the road!

They get what they signed up for. If they didn't want to look through dirty underwear, then they should have found a different job."

superiority complex, anyone?

superiority complex, anyone?

Not at all. I pack neatly. My dirty clothes are almost always in a separate bag, pocket, or laundry bag. If they want to dig through it, then that is their decision.

In response to the dimensions Q, not all Americans know the exact measurements of their suitcases. I will have to measure mine to compare with these comments.

I know my suitcases in terms of "fits in the overhead bin on a domestic flight" and "too big to fit in the overhead bin and would need to be checked." With respect to weight, you get charged on AA if it's over 50 lbs but I've rarely come close to that (only in college when home at the end of the school year).

I guess this original Q started because my husband thought we should take 2 larger suitcases (that would not fit in the overheard bin) and check them + a backpack for him and a tote bag for me. Or, one large (too large to fit overhead) and one medium (carryon size). Both are on wheels and are fine to navigate with. I guess we'll lay out what we want to bring and take it from there, trying to pack as lightly as possible.

"#
MademoiselleFifi on Aug 8, 09 at 10:08 AM

re <<on every single overseas trip I've traveled on with my husband, he had been asked by females to help them stow or retrieve their suitcases>>

yk, they actually had the nerve to ask? How rude. I'd never ask people to help, though it's nice when they offer.'

I have to agree with yk. As I mentioned, my husband is tall, looks in good shape, but his back cannot take heavy lifting.
He would never say no if someone asked for help, but it got to be really annoying ( to me) after a third women asked him for help with her ( huge) luggage when we got off the train in Nice. It wasn't the first time, it probably won't be the last...

Summerbride08
Whenever we travel, the bags we bring are dictated by the airline we are traveling on. They (airlines) state both the size maximums and the weight maximums allowed per person per bag before they will charge extra--different classes of travel have different restrictions.
We now travel with one 25" roll-on (so it can fit a man's suit) and one 20-22 inch roll-on, for extended vacations. I have physically measured them for size to make sure they are allowed. And I have purchased a luggage scale that I can take with me (it's very small and weighs hardly anything)as both Airlines we are travelling on this next trip (we will be gone 21 days) only allow maximum weight of 20kg (44pounds) per bag). I make sure that what we pack leaving is under this weight then I know that I can add some purchases for the trip home. I also have 2 fold-up backpack type bags (fold to 8 inch square)in case we need extra room coming home-which we also use during our trip for shopping. Our clothes are color coordinated so to get more options. We carry our coats on the plane as they are the heaviest.
My purse is usually large enough to carry a change of undies and one clean top each in case of lost luggage, camera, travel info, medications and our book to read on the plane. We keep all liquids in the checked bags. We do not like having to carry luggage on the plane unless my husband is on business and has to carry his laptop bag.
We have found that the more we travel the more experienced we are at packing the right things.
Hope this helps you! Have a great trip!

First, congrats on a wonderful upcoming trip! I personally loved Attnymom's advice. I recently returned from an 11 night trip through Ireland. There were 5 of us - hubby and I, and 3 children aged 10, 12, and 14. We didn't check any luggage. We each had a rolling carry-on and a few backpacks.
We brought old underwear and socks, disposed of them each day. (Sorry to the environmentalists.) Suitcases much emptier and lighter by the end of the trip for small souveneirs. We did laundry once - no big deal to drop it. We hand washed a few items in the room, wringing vigorously and then rolling in a towel before hanging item. We each had sneakers for walking and one pr of dressier shoes. We were in and out of 6 hotels/B&Bs so having less stuff was essential. Loading in and out of car had to be simplified.
I have never travelled this way before. I don't think I will ever check luggage again. It is wonderful to roll your carry-ons past the heavy packers waiting anxiously for their checked baggage at the spinning carousels.
Our trips are more about the experience, less about how we look. Black pants are my favorite thing.
Have a grand time!

I don't find much difficulty in managing a larger suitcase, but often I choose to do carry-on only anyway. (I am sure I am repeating myself.)

Two main reasons:
1) If I might want to catch a different flight, this is much easier if you do not have checked luggage. United (unless things have changed) allows you to catch an earlier flight than you booked for no charge. Or, if irregular ops look likely, having carry-on only luggage gives you more options.

2) If I am going somewhere such that it would be a real hassle to have to buy new clothes and shoes, I might decide that even the tiny risk of losing my luggage is too much, and just do carry-on only. For example, when I landed in Buenos Aires on a Sunday afternoon, and I was going to Iguazu the next morning, I did carry-on only. Shopping for a new wardrobe sometime in there would not have been possible.

Now I am reconsidering the issue for my next trip, in which I am flying Ryanair. I know carry-on won't be possible for the Ryanair segments, and that I also have to keep within the 15 kg limit for checked luggage.

"I have never travelled this way before. I don't think I will ever check luggage again. "


Some of us go a bit goofy when it comes to this topic. I don't know why, I apologize if I was rude.
It is obviously a matter of life-style, age, strength, need, sometimes the purpose of the trip, mode of transportation and more..
For many , like the PP, it may be experiencing something different.
For years I traveled with a big case ( before wheels), often changing airports, taking buses, metro, trams..
Although I was mostly visiting family in Europe, it was essential to have "my" shampoo and all kinds of outfits. My husband used to take his suit on all trips .. "just in case'. ( yup, he really needed it in Paris in August!).
The last time we checked in luggage was about 10 years ago - it was lost both ways ( I know it does not happen often).
Because it is such a personal choice, it is almost impossible to give people anything but one's own preference . Best never try to "convert" anyone from "the other side"

danon

"Because it is such a personal choice, it is almost impossible to give people anything but one's own preference . Best never try to "convert" anyone from "the other side"

So true.

Well, this trip in September will be our first to Italy and after reading teresa?'s posts on this site I decided I would try the "lighter side" and go with just a 21" rollaboard and a large tote. I did do a trial run and seemed to be able to fit everything I'm considering taking easily.

Wardrobe wise, we two ladies decided on basic black and white with an accent color. I'll wear my trail walking shoes on the plane and take only some comfy walking sandals, maybe a dress pair, and carry a pair of flip flops in the tote so I can let me feet rest on the plane. This tote, by the way, even has a cooler compartment to pack snacks which I thought would be great for the plane ride since so many airlines don't feed you these days.

Many times in traveling to Hawaii I have WAY over packed and did not wear half of the clothing I brought along. I really don't mind washing out things when you need them or doing laundry once a week. And since we are traveling Italy from Venice to Sicily I doubt anyone will keep track of seeing the same outfit n a different locale.

I'm curious about the really lightweight underwear and socks that would dry quickly. Anyone have any recommendations?

I cannot give you a specific brand, but thick all cotton items usually take the longest time to dry. I would look for a blend , thin socks . Undies are often kind of personal preference but the thinner , silkier kind would dry faster. Spt. is a warm months in Italy, you should be fine washing out things before going to bed and have them dry by the next day.
How long are you going for?

Adding to my reply above . . . I also packed a small clothesline with plastic clips (available at a travel store) for drip drying and a couple of inflatable hangers. The hangers were great because once inflated, you could drip dry shirts easily because the front and back of the shirt were separated - allowing air to circulate and speeding up drying time.

Don't bring jeans or anything that takes long to dry. Be sure to take your most comfortable shoes - even if they are not stylish. I threw in my sneakers and a pair of flip flops at the last minute, and I wore them almost every day. The months of research I did on comfortable sandals and ballet flats went out the window my first week in Europe. Even though I thought I had broken in the sandals and ballet flats extensively before my trip, we did soooooo much walking that I still got blisters. 90% of the people we saw were wearing sneakers, keene's, birkenstocks, crocs or other ugly yet comfortable shoes. Don't worry about standing out as a tourist - you ARE a tourist! I wore my comfy shoes during the day, then switched to my ballet flats for nights out.

danon-Yes, I didn't think all cotton would dry quickly. I saw some at REI but didn't really care for them so I'll hunt for some light weight silk.

The other gal that is going with us found some very lightweight anklet socks that actually have a little non-slip plastic band at the back of the heel. Nothing I hate more than to be walking and have the back of your sock slide into your tennis shoe!

Attnymom-where did you find the inflatable hangers? I have read posts about taking along a small bag of balloons that do essentially the same thing in keeping the layers separated. I can just imagine the getting up in the middle of the night to use the restroom and freaking out because of some michelin man balloon thing is in the room!

No, definitely no jeans, too hot. As for shoes, I did a trial run in June in NY and tested what I thought would be comfy sandals, no way! So I bought some La Plume sandals which are like walking on air. They look like a Birk but are black patent so a bit nicer looking. Between those and my trail runners my feet should be ready for the miles and miles of walking we will surely do. I need a little height in the heel (wedge) for my plantar faciatis so I'm still on the hunt for some comfy dressier sandals at night. It's so hard when you still LOVE kitten heels but know at this point in life comfort means so much more!

We will be in Italy for 21 days.

I was just going to say something about taking a plastic hanger when I read Att. post.
I usually pack one plasitc hanger because in many hotels one cannot take a hanger from the closet to the bathroom .
I also wash my tops so they have to be thin, blend, easy to dry, no -ironing necessary ...

I was in Prague, Dresden, Berlin for 12 days ( on the ground) at the end of July. Had a very small, over the shoulder carry on . I always travel that way - even for 3 weeks in Australia. If I need something, I buy it.
This trip, I only bought a bottle of hair conditioner and a shirt ( because I liked it..).
Your trip sounds fantastic... you'll be moving around a lot,it will be hot... make it easy on you self..
One can still look nice without dragging all kinds of clothing from trains to buses, to small hotel with no elevators ,and up those steep, cobblestone streets .....
happy travels!

Gale,
I got the inflatable hangers at a local travel store. I just did a google search and they have them at Amazon.com and organize.com. They are great - they take up no room in the suitcase but sure come in handy when drip drying clothes. You definitely want to avoid the Michelin Balloon Man!!

UPDATE!

So we "packed" and decided to go with one "large" (still havent measured but its not enormous) checked bag and one carryon/overhead bin size suitcase. I didn't pack overly tight but after packing the carryon bag, we decided we didn't need the large suitcase and instead swapped in a second carryon sized bag. we will likely check that bag anyway so we can take liquids (we'll see, we may change our minds) and we're considering packing a soft duffle to use on our return.

I also think we're bringing more clothing than necessary since we have the space for it and figured why not?

I'm a little nervous about the concept of taking a 19 day trip carryon only, but we will likely do laundry once in the middle of our trip. I packed 19 pairs of undies for myself but hubby is only bringing about 6-8 pairs of boxers so we will need to wash.

ty!

<<I also think we're bringing more clothing than necessary since we have the space for it and figured why not?>>

I give up.

Have a good trip.

I gave up some time ago. I think this is one of those religious arguments, like whether to wear a money belt.

#
thursdaysd on Aug 10, 09 at 12:08 PM

I gave up some time ago. I think this is one of those religious arguments, like whether to wear a money belt."

LOL.. or like : take a laptop, have daily itinerary, pre-book restaurants, change money at home , take taxis or public transit, stay in hotels or apartments, big cities or small towns, find Prague, Madrid, Paris, Rome, Nice, Florence....etc enchanting or NOT..

So are you taking a large bag and a carryon size bag, or two carryon size bags? If you're taking two carryon sized bags and a duffle for expanding purposes, good job on the packing. I almost always try to have a duffle to expand into for the trip home, it hardly takes any space and it's there for purchases. The one I take is definitely carry on size so it's great for my fragile items.

If you're taking more clothing than necessary, that's fine, it's your trip and so it's your choice. I think you're hilarious with your 19 pairs of undies. Why be nervous about going carryon only??? What is there that you're likely to need for clothes, that you can't easily buy there? You'll be fine.

Remember to have fun

summer08bride-

I also think we're bringing more clothing than necessary since we have the space for it and figured why not?

Leave those at home so that you'll have extra space for any shopping you do in Italy & Paris!!!

19 pairs of panties? Wouldn't that be the entire insured amount if the suitcase is lost?

nineteen?? You are serious - right? Of course, undies don't take much space -- but WHY????

(I'll bet many reading this don't even own 19 pairs of skivvies . . . . .)

I don't see why it is such a big deal washing silky ( blend) undies and having them dry and clean the next day?

I don't think I own 19 pairs , but if I did , I could not imagine carrying dirty undies around (in August !).

I'm chuckling to myself over this whole thread - now it looks like it is going to turn into the panty wars! Bottom line is - everyone has different preferences, needs, wants and experiences. At the end of the day, no one way of doing anything - even packing and traveling styles / philosophies - is the right way for everybody. There is just the right way for YOU. Sometimes you need to try different strategies and it can be a bit of hit and miss over time to figure out what works best for you (and sometimes whatever worked for you at one point changes). Perhaps the OP isn't taking quick-dry silky (blend) undies ... many women wear only cotton undies (note that this is recommended by ob/gyns). I don't see what the big deal is about her taking 19 pairs of undies if she wants to and she's got the space for it; depending on the style you wear, they can be quite tiny and take up almost no space. Summerbride, I hope you have fun on your trip, and whatever happens, I'm sure that you'll will learn from this trip what parts of your packing strategy work and don't work for you, and then you can fine-tune things to suit your preferences for future trips. Have a great time!

Just a note that we also pack lightly for extended trips, I in a 22 inch plus medium size back pack and my husband in a medium garment bag and large camera bag.

We get clothes laundered as needed during our trips at private laundromats versus hotels and have been quite pleased with both costs and quality.

. "I don't see what the big deal is about her taking 19 pairs of undies'

Yes, let the "panty" wars rage on...LOL.
Of course people can bring what they wish and as many pairs of whatever...
My personal choice is not to carry deary laundry around for weeks.. for others, it may not be a problem at all.

I just returned from 5 weeks in France and England and traveled with one expandable 22 inch and a smaller carry-on. Going, I left the expandable zipper closed so I would have room for a some shopping and included a foldable carry on in case I needed it for the return. As for the laundry, you can have your laundry done for you just by dropping into a neighborhood laundrymat --- In Paris, for instance, I was quoted 16 Euros for 8 kilos --- (That's a lot of laundry!) Obviously, it was a bit pricy, but I didn't have to give up any precious touring time doing my laundry. On the other hand, if you want to take a little time to relax while you're gone, doing your own might be a good way to chat with the locals! At any rate, whether you pay for someone else to do your laundry or do it yourself, traveling light is always better than lugging heavy suitcases.

Very difficult to agree with Travelidiot, oops I mean Travelgourmet, because they talk out of both sides of their mouth!

Osteopaths are not real doctors? I am so strong I pack heavier each trip? I can carry 2 50lb suitcases all by myself!

Travelidiot, sorry I mean Travelgourmet, is an authority on all things travel. It's only 2 minutes at a time that I have to carry these heavy bags?

This travelidiot! I mean Travelgourmet must be pulling our leg because no one is that idiotic naturally!

<I also think we're bringing more clothing than necessary since we have the space for it and figured why not?>

Why not carry around a bunch of clothes you think you don't need???? That's now the question?

Oh, my! I don't know where to begin. I can't imagine bringing that much luggage. My rule, which I got from the Rick Steves website, is to never, ever, pack more than 5 days' worth of clothing. Bring laundry soap sheets (wash-eze), a braided clothesline from Magellan's, and a stopper for the sink. Wash an item or two each night, and you will never have to wear dirty clothes. I got back from a 12 day trip to France last month, and this worked out really well for my family. No one had to haul a huge heavy bag and nothing got lost or stolen.

"I found that inflated balloons work great for drying underwear faster."

OMG, my husband would be horrified to walk in the bathroom with said balloons.

we just returned from 14 days in vienna, prague and budapest. hardly a laundromat in sight, often used hotel laundry. lugging a big suitcase on to and off trains, up and down steps in train stations can be difficult. we packed for a week (really!)and recycled, mixed and matched the rest of the days. rolled things tightly and packed into a carry-on, which we checked. bring a rain jacket. we also each have llbean mini carry-ons - enough for an overnight, perfect size and holds a lot. have fun!

annieO:
Inflated baloons??????? Please explain! I use a hair dryer when available to finish damp undies etc.

Use Space Bags- they really do compress the clothes and let you pack more in less space.

Travelgourmet is missing the point that it's not necessarily the amount of time lifting the bag that matters. I just had to get my own small rolling suitcase and carry on bag on and off the train in France. The steps are quite high, other people are crowding behind you, and, in the case of getting off, others had left their luggage in the space by the doors because there's not enough luggage storage on those trains, and I had to lift my bags over those, then get them down the steps while holding onto something to keep from falling down the steps- a real fear, since my balance isn't what it used to be.
as TPAYT said, you really learn what's necessary when you don't have your luggage. I spent 10 days in France a few years ago without my bag- it only caught up with me in the airport on my way back home. I found that I could do fine with what was in my carry on and a couple of tops picked up at a local store. The biggest problem was getting a bathing suit- they tend to be very skimpy in Europe! I was with friends who had to put up with seeing my in the same things day after day, but you know what? They survived!

My sister fell off the train once while trying to carry her 21" bag at the same time --lots of bruises and embarrassment. And I have encountered the piles of suitcases at the door. Sometimes there is not run enough to even step through, much less with your bags.

Our first trip to Europe we did the Rome to Florence to Venice to monocao to Portofina and back by train with 2 large suitcases and it was horrible. Tryng to get the suitcases up and down in the stations and onto the trains was awful. also they wouldn't fit anywhere and we had to leave them sometimes in the area where everyone gets on and off so one of us would have to get up each time the train stopped to keep an eye on them. Since then we learned our lession, we travel with 2 small bags easy to handle and a small carry-on with 2 tote bags that fold up until we need on way home. We bring enough for 6 days and do handwash. Bring Dark clothes you can wear over and over. Also if you do have a large suitcase when you get to Venics as we did at least check that at the train station when you get there and only take what you need for your stay there. Makes it so much easier when you are on the Vaparetto to get to your hotel.

<<Wardrobe wise, we two ladies decided on basic black and white with an accent color.>>

I worry a bit when I see this. When I travel, white shirts seem to be a magnet for wine spills and tomato sauce splatters, or worse -- something that doesn't happen at home. I still take one white shirt but the rest are colored and/or prints that work well with black bottoms.

The less, the better. Don't be lulled into thinking you needs lots of outfits. Oh No!! Women should have a few skirts and jeans or slacks. You very every thing else with t-shirts and a couple of blouses. BECAUSE, you will find something you like and buy a few things and your luggage will be heavier coming home. Same for men. A few jeans or slacks and 5 t-shirts should be adequate. As for underware, bring about 5 days worth (socks as well) and you get to wash them in the hotel sink and hang to dry in the tub/shower. SIMPLE. I've done this many times. One lightweight shoulder/back pack per person should do. And, some secure way of storing you money and passport on your person at all times. Italy is wonderful. You will enjoy it!!!!! coastoilartist

My personal choice is not to carry deary laundry around for weeks.. for others, it may not be a problem at all.'

sorry, should be "dirty" .

Finding the right platform, getting there, finding your seat etc.., is enough of a hassle without having to worry about
what to do with one's huge luggage.

I've actually enjoyed this thread, but hate to see anyone's opinions flamed. I think the opposition to travel light has been articulate and reasonable. I'm a 63 yo female recently converted to wheelless carryon--the Tom Bihn Tristar. We'll see how it goes over time, but so far, so good. I'm now enjoying a road trip with all my "stuff" though.
BTW, osteopaths are real doctors--I'm an MD with several DO partners, and no one better for a headache or my shoulder problem.

Travel stores have inflatable hangers which are great for drying shirts, t-shirts and even panties. The clothes dry faster and when you don't need them, just let the air out of the hanger.

I thought I'd like the blow up hangers but my clothes kept slipping off. Now I put a couple molded plastic hangers in the bottom of my suitcase. They're good for drying clothes you've hand-washed in the sink (especially if the closet is the kind that the wooden hanger is attached to the wooden pole) but also handy just to have a couple extras hangers, I've found.

We bike in Europe and have found when we take our shower, after biking for the day, we put our clothes on the shower floor and stamp on them as we shower and shampoo. Then rinse them, wrap in a towel to get as much water as possible out of them, hang on plastic hangers to dry and they are ready for the next day. Really cuts down on what you have to carry with you. Also, means you and the clothes are clean in the same amount of time.

Are you serious, you mop the shower floor with your clothes? well, there isn't anything I own that I would treat that way, but it works for some people. I think taking a couple regular hangers is a good idea, actually, as they aren't really that heavy and work a lot better. I just don't wash much out on vacation except underwear and sometimes a Tshirt or tank top.

I actually agreed with a lot of what travelgourmet said actually. I don't travel super light and never have that much trouble on trains or elsewhere with a 25" suitcase. I would not go so far as to say it is as easy as a 22", (assuming both are fully packed), but I find that if I have the 25" I don't pack as heavy a carryon.

Now the issue with osteopaths is sort of opinion, but what I don't think people realize is that this is a different training and specialty in the UK than in the US, and Alanrow who first said that is in the UK. In the US, their training is very similar to regular physicians, but you won't find any surgical specialties, I believe, as they don't do surgery. I the UK, I think it is more like a chiropractor. In fact, I don't think you can be licensed as a regular doctor to practice in the US as an osteopath if your training wasn't in a US osteopath medical college because it is different. Well, I think that's a side issue, in any case, but think that may be the source of some of these comments (it being different in UK versus US).

As for people saying they took more than necessary because they could -- not sure what they meant, but I think all of us pretty much do that, as really only about one change of clothes would really be a necessity and everything else is optional from there. I take more than what is necessary because I am not interested in wearing the same clothes every day and because I do certain activities wehre I wouldn't be comfortable wearing some of the things I would have to take if I only took 1-2 outfits (eg, I go to nice theaters or something at times).

My packing strategy is very simple. I use an excel spreadsheet with the days of our trip, then I list the cloths I will wear on each day. If I don’t list an item of clothes for more than 3 to 4 days I don’t take it. I don’t always where the clothes on the day that I list them on. But it does give you a pretty clear picture of what you are taking. I also use Eagle Creek packing system. It is excellent for organizing your clothes and also helps with less wrinkles. Before I pack I lay out my clothes and take a picture. If your luggage gets lost you know exactly what packed.

it has been a very interesting thread - not only about the
quantity of luggage travelers take but also about our , so different, habits.
But, no one will ever convince me that traveling with 50 pounds of luggage is as easy as taking 10-15 pounds.

But, no one will ever convince me that traveling with 50 pounds of luggage is as easy as taking 10-15 pounds.

That isn't the actual trade-off. 10-15 pounds would imply something like 5-7 pounds of actual stuff in a typical roll-aboard. I don't think that most people get by with that little.

I have not read every word of all these replies, so maybe I have missed anyone who feels like I do - I don't mind spending an occasional hour at a laundromat! We have had delightful conversations with residents of many European countries in laundromats, gathering dining and other local tips. It gives us a bit of down time to replan as we go, as well as some interesting memories of friendly and helpful people.

I've recently returned from six weeks in Europe. I traveled within Switzerland for a week, then flew to the UK where I moved only three times within five weeks. Before I left I purchased a new 25" rolling suitcase with the newer swivel wheels. This was a revelation, as I was able to "walk" the suitcase alongside me instead of pulling it. I have some shoulder problems and the pulling is more difficult for me than actually lifting a suitcase.

My case weighed 16 kg. Along with it I carried a small travel case for a mini netbook, kindle, ipod, prescription drugs, etc. which sat on my suitcase. I carried a fairly large purse and my wallet had a detachable shoulder strap so I could use it as a VERY light purse while hiking. This combination of bags was convenient, as I was able to stow the purse in the suitcase during travel. Only the 25", the largest suitcase I've ever owned, was checked. It was no trouble getting on and off trains, planes, automobiles, funiculars and gondolas.

I took four pr. slacks, seven tops, a sweater, two light cotton jackets (that went with two of the slacks for a summer suit),one pr. pajamas, two skirts, one pair of sandals, one very nice pair of walking shoes and one pair of dressier, open toed slides. I could have done without the sandals as it was chilly; midway during my trip I sent the sandals and skirts home unworn, along with books I had purchased. I took far more underwear than necessary. I did laundry (or sent it out) four times at a laundromat because I will only wear clothing twice. Everything I owned had to be ironed, and there is no way it could have been washed out in shampoo in the hotel sink.

Although it was not really hot during my stay I was glad to have fresh clothing to wear daily. Several experiences on trains, planes and buses made me wish everyone was more concerned about such things.

"10-15 pounds would imply something like 5-7 pounds of actual stuff in a typical roll-aboard. I don't think that most people get by with that little."

What we each carry are Bree ( very light) over the shoulder bags - no wheels! I carry a good size ( light) Lacoste purse, and he has another Bree (small) bag .
I don't wish to list what I ( or my husband) take for a 2 weeks , but only on a very few occasions it was necessary to purchase additional items.
I did look into luggage with wheels - the whole world is doing it- but the weight has always been a turn off.
In all fairness, I must say that 90 percent of the time we stay in apartments ( i.e. we have a washing machine) .

An amazing thread to read and watch grow with the diversity of opinion.

I do hope summer08bride gives an update when she is back from her trip: what did she take and was it --for her -- too much, not enough, or just right?!

An amazing thread is right! I can't believe I read the whole thing! I also hope she gives an update -- and reports on whether she would pack the same way for the next trip. I pack light and only carry on, but have sent items home after a few days when I realized I wouldn't need them.

carhmil, how do you handle variations in weather? For instance, traveling in Britain in the spring, it can be warm and sunny, light jacket at most. Or cold, windy and rainy, maybe requiring an umbrella, hat and gloves.

This is hilarious! (Well, except for a few nasty moments...).

Conlet, I have also enjoyed using the local laudromats on trips. In Venice it was across from my hotel. In Germany once, a lovely lady walked me to the laundromat herself.

Dear summer08bride, as you have realized by now, you have opened the proverbial can of worms. I love these insane Fodor's packing threads, but there is no definitive answer, as you have gathered by now. You just have to go with your best intentions and see what works for you.

As for me, I am in the carry-on group, but I certainly don't care if others pack steamer trunks full of stilettos & flip flops (shoes for travel is another popular topic here...). Frankly, I would much rather check the darn bag and forget about it until my destination.

So, why carry-on? Just a couple of trips where I arrived but my luggage didn't (once, to Egypt, for almost my entire trip) convinced me that I like to take it with me.

I spent a month in Europe with a small roller bag carry-on and an over the shoulder satchel-type purse. On the plane I wore boot-cut black yoga pants and a zip sweater over a nice T.

In my carry-on, I had plenty to wear: three pairs of shoes, including low hiking boots, jeans (I have to have jeans), skirt, jacket, hiking shorts, a pair of capris, a pair of lightweight pants, assorted tops, bathing suit, large scarf for a wrap or bathing suit cover up, nightgown, underwear (microfiber, several days worth, easy to wash in hotel sink).

I am an effecient packer; still had room for all those things like guide book pages, binoculars, hat, washcloth, toiletries, etc. I wash things out in the hotel sink. I bring a very packable inflatable hanger and a few clothes pins. I usually bring a packet of laundry soap, but I admit I end up just using the hotel shampoo most of the time...

Even with a small-ish bag, I still had a heck of a time hefting my suitcase up and down those train stairs. Even with your lovely husband, you are going to have to heft the bags, so please follow the advice others have given you and really try doing this up and down your stairs.

I had packed an empty lightweight duffle into my suitcase; on the way home, I checked the roller bag (I was sick of those clothes by then, so didn't care when they arrived home) and used the other bag to carry-on my purchases, especially breakables.

Mimar: "how do you handle variations in weather? For instance, traveling in Britain in the spring, it can be warm and sunny, light jacket at most. Or cold, windy and rainy, maybe requiring an umbrella, hat and gloves."

A folding umbrella, gloves, scarf etc take almost no room. The light jacket works in most any weather (well except maybe winter blizzards - but then you'd take a heavier jacket instead)

You just wear more/different layers under the jacket when it is cooler. If one has a mixture of short/long sleeved tops that can be layered, you are set no matter the weather . . .

Before I say what I'm going to say, let me tell you that I'm an obsessive light packer. (I'm going to France for 10 days in October and already have my clothes picked out.) Everything mixes and matches, Small number of "bottoms," more tops, pages rather than entire books, etc. I've done three weeks in Europe with only carry-on. But I almost never carry on the airplane anymore. Did that for years, and was always quite proud of myself. But then I realized how much more comfortable my return trips were, since I always checked my bag on the way home. No pulling a bag around the airport bookstore, no worrying about overhead storage space. On my last trip I didn't even take a small carry-on bag, just my purse with a book and shawl in it. Heaven. Air travel is so hard these days, being bag-free is almost the only way to make it tolerable. I will admit I only do this if I have a non-stop flight. With a connection I'll take a small tote with at least a change of underwear, a clean top, and a full baggie of liquids. Happy travels, no matter what you pack!

fbc04 - I check my bigger bag too, so I don't have to haul it around the terminal, and so I can bring the Swiss army knife and the metal nail file, and bigger bottles of toiletries. But I still don't trust the airlines, even on direct flights. My carry-on has at least a change of underwear, socks and top, plus the mini bottles of toiletries, ALL my electronics, ALL my pharmaceuticals and the guidebook pages for at least the first destination.

I only do carryon but I have to say:

I love travelgourmet's posts. I think he or she has Fodor's nailed.

Also, just about the ONLY thing I pack in my carryon is underwear. All 19, 20 or 35 pairs of it.