patrack

I am preparing for my first trip to Europe (going in 3 days!). I can fit all of my things in a 22" carry-on, but am wondering if I should bring a 29" instead just in case I buy extra things. From the posts I've read, I noticed that many of you like to travel light with the smallest bag possible. How do you transport your purchases if you've no extra room in your bag? What would you do in my situation? Thanks for any advice.

Linda

I take an extra small, foldable bag in my carry-on. Then I have extra room to bring my purchases home. I don't mind having an extra bag on the way home, or waiting for my bag to come off the carousel, when it is not taking time away from my vacation. The other thing you can do is to mail things, but you have to be prepared for the wait (sometimes weeks). If I mail things home, it is usually clothes I know I won't need at home, or my dual voltage hair dryer or a converter.

themasterpacker

Take two. <BR><BR>Pack a smaller bag into the 22 inch bag, if you have room. The second bag should be light -- the 22 inch becomes check in on the way home and the second bag becomes your souvenier/delicate item bag and brought in the cabin with you. Did this for my trip to Prague and it worked like a charm.<BR><BR>But you might be allowed two carry ons both ways. If this is the case, put whatever bag was going to be your other carry on (camera bag, whatever) into the lighter bag, and voila!<BR><BR>

lisa

Bring the smaller one. Pack a shopping bag or two (in case you have something heavy to double-bag) in one of the outside pockets. On the way back, if you need to, you can carry on the shopping bag with your purchases and check your 22-inch bag.

themasterpacker

Take two. <BR><BR>Pack a smaller bag into the 22 inch bag, if you have room. The second bag should be lighter (like a gym bag) -- the 22 inch becomes check in on the way home and the second bag becomes your souvenier/delicate item bag and brought in the cabin with you. Did this on my trip to Prague and it worked like a charm! It's not so bad waiting for your luggage once you're home -- but getting there (especially first time to Europe), all you want to do is GET THERE!!!!. <BR><BR>But you might be allowed two carry ons both ways. If this is the case, put whatever bag was going to be your other carry on (camera bag, whatever) into the lighter bag, and voila!<BR><BR>

themasterpacker

Wow, when it rains, it pours. Problems with the system (errors0 caused my message to be posted twice (and I changed it in between too, for clarity -- I hope!)<BR><BR>

janis

A small fold up bag should be enough for most of your purchases. If I buy anything big or fragile I have the merchant mail it to my home and don't carry it. The postage can be expensive -- BUT the VAT rebate normally covers the postage. If the merchant send the item the VAT is taken off the top so when they add on the shipping it is a wash. Plus then the merchant covers the insurance in case it is damaged.

kam

We also bring a smaller fold up bag, but when we get ready to come home, we fill it with all the dirty underwear and shirts etc, freeing up room in our main suitcase for the goodies. Also bring bubble wrap if you're going to buy pottery as in Italy.

Kathy

Patrick: First of all, pack light! If you are planning on using the train for travel, you will have to lug everything around yourself that you take. As for purchases, we always either take a collapsable bag to put things in, or we have even picked one up there! Mailing from Europe can at times be very expensive. Have fun.