lhopp

Hi,

We're going to Venice for 9 nights in early September. We've been to Europe several times, and my husband and I each usually take our Rick Steves carry on size backpacks. They have served us very well over the years. However, I've developed some problems with neck and upper back pain the past several months. Last year, during our trip to Greece, I really had a hard time carrying my backpack, even though we packed extremely light. It was most difficult in the long airports, and my husband had to carry a lot for me, which was hard, because he had his own.

My question: do most travelers use wheeled luggage in Venice? We have carry on sized wheeled bags as well, but mostly use them for stateside travel. Our hotel is near the San Stae vaparetto stop. I just don't know if the streets are cobbled, or if it's hard to use wheeled luggage there. I think it would be easier for me, especially in the airport.

Thanks for your advice.

thursdaysd

Wheels are likely to be a nuisance in Venice if there is a bridge between your hotel and the vaporetto stop. But surely the solution is to check your bag. I traveled for a decade with a backpack and a day bag before I switched to wheels. It was a convertible backpack (the straps zipped away) and I always checked it.

dreamon

Anywhere, but especially in Venice due to the frequent steps, I would always opt for a bag which you can pick up and carry. Either one on your back or a light one which you can pick up and easily carry. In your circumstances, consider taking two small ones, perhaps a small light one with wheels and a day pack.

rialtogrl

Where is your hotel? You might not encounter a bridge in that area. Even if you do it will not be a massive bridge.

The streets are fairly smooth. If you are coming from the airport you can take the Alilaguna directly to San Stae. Make it a small wheelie and you'll be all set.

lhopp

Thank you for your replies so far. We don't usually check bags. A smaller wheelie sounds like it would work. We are staying at Al Ponte Mocenigo in San Polo.

raincitygirl

We had 20 and 21 inch wheeled bags in Venice with a couple of bridges enroute to our hotel on one trip there and it was no problem, just picked the bag up and carried it up and over.

ellenem

You can reach your hotel without crossing a bridge from San Stae. It is a very short walk over relatively smooth paving. (I've stayed at Al Ponte Mocenigo a number of times--it is in Santa Croce.)

annw

A lightweight wheeled 20-21 inch that you can pick up for bridges sounds perfect. I've done that many times with my carry-on of that size.

lhopp

Oh my, yes it is in Santa Croce! I don't know why I said San Polo. It's good to know exactly what the walk will be like from San Stae.

I think I got confused because we changed our trip, and we're spending the entire time in Venice. Ponte Mocenigo doesn't have all of our nights available, so I've been looking for a second hotel!

suze

I prefer wheels. Just make sure it's a small sized bag, and packed light enough you can pick it up if/when you need to (to get over a bridge or a set of stairs).

I'm not a fan of backpacks & especially for someone with neck or back issues, because of the movements you need to do to get the bag on your back. Better to roll along.

tinabina

I was just inVenice last week...still here in Rome. I used a 21" 4 wheeled "feather weight" from Samsonite. Purchased at Marshall's for 60$. It handled the bumpy paths and piazzas very well and it was light enough to carry over the 2 small bridges I encountered.

lhopp

Thanks for all of your replies. I think I will go ahead with a 20 - 21" lightweight wheeled bag.

StanleyChan

I prefer using wheeled luggage than backpacks specially for long travels. Just make sure you are choosing a lightweight luggage to get you more comfortable to bring and not too heavy. So far I use Briggs & Riley brand for it's durability and quality.

bvlenci

I use a very small wheeled bag in combination with an even smaller duffel which perches on top of it. I can easily carry both for short or medium distances, and I can easily lift both over my head on trains. Both can be carried on, on the rare occasions I want to do that, because either one would fit under the seat in front of me. (If I carry both on the plane, I put my purse inside the duffel bag.)

My small wheeled bag, which is not sold anymore, is similar to these:

http://travelbagquest.com/best-wheel...ry-on-luggage/

My small duffle bag has a velcroed band so that it can be slipped over the handle of the under-seat bag.

I can really get a lot of stuff in the under-seat bag. My daughter says it's like the little clown cars at the circus.

julies

If you want to spend lots of money on luggage, you can have both wheeled and backpack features in one piece of luggage. We have some of the older, larger sized ones of these that we bought perhaps 15 years ago, thinking they would be ideal. But, we found ourselves using the wheeled feature 95% of the time.

http://shop.eaglecreek.com/doubleback-22/d/1391_cl_-1

We've visited Venice twice recently with our regular-sized wheeled suitcases and did just fine transferring from the train station to the vaporetto to our lodging (up and over a bridge).

greg

Venice streets are not cobbled. They use smooth rectangular tile blocks to line the streets. Just google Venice street images. If you see workers routing utility lines in Venice, you know why. Most streets cannot accommodate construction equipment, so the streets must be opened and closed by hand and can be sealed again smoothly without using heavy equipment.

However, if you plan to use your luggage in the future elsewhere in Italy or otherwise, you might want to make sure the wheels are sturdy and big enough. Even in large city like Florence, off main car streets cobble stone streets are brutal to wheels.