AliciaChristine

I am going on a 4 month trip, the first 3 months are business and the last month is pleasure. I will be taking a greyhound to Canada, then plane to London, then probably Eurail around for about a month. I'll probably stay in a few hostels as well as hotels. I will need my work equipment (laptop, etc) and I will need a couple cocktail dresses and shoes to match, as well as my work clothes and travel/weekend clothes.

So, my question is: is it a bad idea for me to pack my enormous Delsey Duffel? I know it will fit everything and I will only need a purse for carry-on, but... taking a bus, eurail, staying in hostels... is packing a large bag like that an invite for thieves and trouble/complicatons? If so, does anyone have a recommendation for luggage?

Thanks!

nicelady

Old adage but even more true today; go downtown in nearest city with your Delsey fully packed, walk around, including stairs for an hour. See how it feels. Fewer elevators, porters, Europe. more stairs . You will have to load and unload your bag on train.Check weight allowances for bags on your airline-extra lbs. very expensive.

jubilada

Generally as people travel more, they pack less. Generally, not always.

thursdaysd

Where do you finish the business trip? Could you take two smaller bags and ship one home before you start on the leisure trip?

janisj

Hostels, trains, buses, metro/tube, and just about everything you'd encounter - just don't work w/ massive luggage.

You will have to lift you bag on/off trains, stow it at the end of the car (not at your seat), drag it for sometimes quite long distances inside train/metro stations, up and down stairs in the hostels. Most hostels don't have elevators and can be several floors.

(Eurail isn't trains BTW - it is a travel agency that sells rail passes)

suze

IMO a piece of large luggage would be a HUGE headache for the train around Europe, stay in hostels/hotels part of your trip! You definitely don't need cocktail dresses & matching shoes for that part of your trip!!

As suggested, I would ship your business stuff home and go to Europe with a rolling 24" suitcase max. (more like 21" if you want to try for carry-on only).

thursdaysd

24" is way bigger than I would suggest, but I travel with a small convertible backpack.

suze

Yes, I know 24" is "large" for some people, but that's what I use & it is easy enough to deal with thru airports (yes, checked) and on trains.

I agree, the smaller the better, but when someone's thinking of taking an "enormous" duffle, I figured 24" might be about as small as they'd be willing to go.

AliciaChristine

Wow, Thank you! That's great advice, I haven't even thought about shipping a suitcase back! I spent a year backpacking across Europe a couple years ago, and only needed a large backpack... but now I have so many more responsibilities and need so much more with me! Do you know roughly, about how much that would cost?

LSky

You could send it home through the mail of whatever country you're in and it will eventually, maybe get home and in good condition. Or you could call FED-EX or UPS and you'll know it'll get home in good condition.

suze

I think it would be easier if you packed things into a box or two and sent it UPS or similar (rather than trying to ship an actual packed suitcase).

doug_stallings

I think you could probably ship back the equivalent of the contents of a bag for $150, and it would probably be a good investment.

Personally, I can't even imagine traveling around with a 24-inch bag on trains, buses, to hostels, on cobblestones, etc. I can barely deal with a 25-pound 22-inch bag on a trip with multiple stops.

Definitely less is more in this case. (But the largest suitcase I even own is 22-inches, and I rarely use it.) I primarily carry my 20-inch Tumi convertible backpack, which is good enough for about a 2- or 3-week trip for me if I use a decent-sized carry-on bag in addition.)

suze

Doug, My 24" only weight ~25 pounds packed. I'm not sure what's so hard to imagine about that? It's not that large of a bag, rolls nicely, and easily is lifted up stairs, onto trains, etc.

Good for you doing 3 weeks out of a 20-incher. I know a few others here do the same (like janisj). Personally I like to have a few more things with me, and am fine rolling my 24" along.

travelbug11

I would check with your hotel in London to see if they will store your big bag there while you are away (some hotels do have bag storage facilities). They would probably require you to stay one night there at the end of your trip to do this, but as long as you lock up your bag it should be fine in the baggage storage room. Then you can take a smaller bag with you for the month you're traveling and wouldn't have to pay a fortune to ship things across the ocean. I've stored my bag before at a few hostels and it was fine with them, you'd be the one taking a risk leaving your bag unattended.

Enjoy your trip!

mrsgilly2

I have ridden a lot of trains in Germany,France and Luxumbourg and they are not conducive to hauling large heavy bags around. Some of the smaller stations don't have elevators and you are relegated to trying to carry the bag upstairs and downstairs in order to get to the next train. When they say they leave at that time. Well, they do and that extra weight won't be easy to get back on the train with everyone in a hurry to get on the train and you holding up the show trying to get your heavy bag on board. If you land at Heathrow and want to take the Subway into London, having a heavy bag isn't a good idea at all. We have been there, done it and now travel with a lighter adgenda. I suggest you do that too.

superoma

Big bags definitely won't work on the trains. We tried and it was a problem. Going smaller this year. Shipping work stuff home is a great idea. Fly home from another city to make the best use of your "vacation" time rather than going back to London at the end.

AliciaChristine

Great advice! Thank you all so much!

RondaTravels

I, too, like a little more "stuff" on a trip that long. I'd suggest 2 smaller bags that can hold EVERYTHING (and will be easier to lift and carry). I take a 22" rolling bag that I check. My carry-on bag is a 20" convertible, wheeled backpack with detachable daypack. Fully packed, this bag looks huge (and often is too thick to go thru x-ray machine without separating). I make sure EVERYTHING can fit in this bag (purse, jacket, etc.). Managing 2 wheeled bags is not a problem if you are not juggling anyting else. Also, impossible to lay something down and walk away from it if you are not carrying anything! Before I go thru security I separate the carry on into 2 bags and, if asked, declare the larger part as my carry on and the daypack as my "purse" or "briefcase." Separated it fits in the overhead of all but the tiniest puddlejumpers. I keep my "valuables" in the daypack, which always stays close to me. Shipping stuff back home is also a great idea -- I've done it several times. Also, look for the lightest bags you can find.

Familygoboston

Funny, Ronda...I do the exact same thing! If I can carry on only, I just carry the two piece detachable, and if my trip requires more stuff, I'll check another bag. I have to say to Doug- there is a little difference between boy packing and girl packing;-) But, I think as women travelling, it is even more critical to be able to confidently manage on your own, and that often means paring down. One thing you might want to consider, AliciaChrisitne, is assembling a "travel wardrobe" just for your trips. Choose a few mix and match classic pieces that are light in weight, darker in color (to hide stains)and quick drying (bring fewer and wash them more often). Also pick one shoe and one sandal that will go with everything, and be multi purpose. A roll up rain coat also saves space and over a fleece can act as a winter jacket. We've done this for each of us in the family and leave most of it on a shelf and just use it for travel! It has allowed us to meet the baggage requirements of small planes as well as be very nimble on those travel days where you have nowhere to leave luggage, but have a few hours to enjoy touring.
Have a great trip...lucky you having a whole month to wander!

doug_stallings

You know, Familygoboston, I've often heard that women "need" more stuff than men, and I'm just not buying it. I think women can easily do more with a smaller suitcase than a man can. Women's shoes are smaller than men's shoes, women's garments are generally easier to pack and fold, and a woman can actually get by with less than a man and look better if they plan better. Women's undergarments are even (generally) easier to wash out in the bathroom sink and dry than the typical man's. And believe me, I know plenty of men who carry just as many toiletries as a woman typically does.

It's paring down that's the key and understanding that on a 3-month trip you're just going to have to take less stuff. I can pack for 10-14 days in my 20-inch carry-on and a small day bag because everything has to do double-duty for me. It's that strategy that will get the OP through this trip, not taking more stuff. That way I usually have to do laundry only one time on a 2- to 3-week trip.

But you've given some good advice. The only part I'm not buying is the need for a 24-inch suitcase. I really like Rondatravels' idea of taking two relatively smaller bags (one of which I'd dump and ship straight home when the business part of the trip is over).