I'm real tired of lugging one huge suitcase anymore, so I'm thinking 1 small/med and then piggyback a small rolling one that I take on board with me. Going away for 1 week. Do ya think 22 inch or 25 inch? Those 22's look really small. Also, any favorite brands out there. So far I've looked at Ricardo in store and TravelPro online. So what's your favorite brand and size for a week at the beach. THANKS!

For what it is worth, when my spouse and I travel to the Caribbean (and most other places for that matter) we never take anything larger than one 22" rollaboard and one small personal size carry-on each (she takes a large shoulder bag and I take a laptop case or a small duffle). We've learned to pack light, if it doesn't fit in our carry-ons we figure we don't need it. Sorry, can help you with brand names as it's been a while since we've purchased luggage. By the way, we usually go for two weeks at a time - there's no need for anything larger than 22".

I'm here to agree with the previous poster. I started travelling with a large suitcase, but I have worked it down to a 22" wheeled upright or duffle and a large tote. That way I don't have to check anything. Briggs & Riley is the brand that holds up well for me. I tend to overpack any case so am very hard on the zippers, frame, etc. Samsonite and Timberland didn't work for me.

Thanks guys! But how do you do 1-2 weeks in a 22inch? I want to really bad because my elbow is still sore from a few weeks ago taking my large 28inch. I swore then, NEVER AGAIN! I'm just trying to figure this all out, with fins and everything. Thanks.

It's easy, you just have to put yourself in the right frame of mind - you don't have to pack everything including the kitchen sink.

First, a few days before your trip put out all the clothes you think you'll need. Admire them and compliment yourself on your great sense of fashion. The next day put half back in the closet and pack the rest. Seriously, you don't need an outfit for every day you'll be away and a different outfit for dinner each night. Plan on having the hotel do laundry for you once or twice during your trip - many resorts offer one day service and most upscale places include it in your fee - if not budget for it. Bring two bathing suits, several t-shirts, about 5 days of underware, a couple pairs of shorts and if you are a woman, one or two sundresses for "dress up evenings". For men, pack a few golf shirts and wear a pair of Khaki's on the plane. Wear a decent pair of shoes on the plane and pack a pair of flip/flops or Tevas for the beach. Bring only the basics in toiletries in small travel sizes. Women can leave most of their make-up at home and don't bring perfume as it only acts as an attractant (because of its sweet smell) for mosquitoes and no-see-ums.

Don't worry about wearing the same outfit for dinner as no one, I repeat, no one will notice. Think about it, how many times have you paid any attention to what someone else was wearing while you were on vacation.

If you still find the urge to bring a few more clothes you can by a product that looks like large plastic zip-lock bags that are made for clothes. You put the clothes in the bag, roll it up to expell the air and you can easily get 25% to 35% more clothes in a suitcase. Sorry I can't remember the name of the product but you can by them at places like Walgreen's, CVS, Bed Bath & Beyond, etc. in the "As Seen On TV" section.

Lastly, leave the fins at home, they take up a lot of room and every major resort, hotel, snorkel tour operator and dive boat operator has good to very good equipment that you can use (sometimes free, sometimes for a modest fee). Bring your own mask and snorkle, if you have them.

Follow the old adage, "Take Less Clothes, Bring More Money". Good Luck "Thinking Light".

A_Traveller,
That message gave me a good giggle as that is what I did on our last trip....Laid out a ton of stuff and thought"I will look great in this"...then I put half of it back as it wouldn't fit. My only issue now is the 3-1-1 liquid deal. It's a little hard to pack sunscreen, etc for a week trip to carry on. Now I have to check luggage unless I want to give up my favorite products and pay and pitch what i buy in the islands. Hopefullt they will allow a few more liquids on board soon. Anyway, thanks for the laugh and you are right...even if I think I have packed light. I always take home things I didn't even wear.

I love my Travel Pro 22" rollaboard that my husband gave me a few years ago when I took a job as a publisher's sales rep. I loaded that bag up with books and took it on the road two weeks every month and it's still holding up beautifully. I don't have that job any more so the bag only holds clothes when I'm traveling these days.

Last year my husband and I traveled for two weeks in the Caribbean with just a small rollaboard and small bag each. We both carried snorkels & masks and I managed to bring fins along, too. We also both carry 5-6 books per person, which doesn't leave a lot of room for clothing!

We're both judicious with what we pack and we also wear things more than once. For a two week trip I had three pairs of shoes, wearing the bulkiest/sturdiest ones on the travel days so that I wouldn't have to pack them. I also wear long pants or at least capris on my travel days, so that saves a little room, too. Then I pack 2-3 tank tops, 2-3 cotton tops, 3 bathing suits, one cover-up, 2 pairs of shorts, one skirt, and I mix and match the entire trip. I buy underwear that can be washed and drip-dried overnight and take 3 pairs with me. I also tend to take along a hat, too. I'm not a fashion plate, but I'm comfortable with practical clothing that doesn't get wrinkled.

In the spirit of full divulsion, I use the same bag for long weekend trips and pack just as many clothes, which means I don't wear half of them!

Beachbum2 - yes, the new TSA liquids rule has put a bit of crimp in travel but one must adjust. We take very little in those categories as the resorts supply all the soaps, conditioners & shampoos that you'll need and the travel size shaving creams, deodrants and toothpastes are usually enough to last the trip. We purchase Sunscreen on-island (yes, it costs more that "at home" but usually only a few $ more so it's not going to bust the budget). If we run out of something we bite the bullet and buy some more. After all, spending an extra $20, $30 or even $40 on sunscreen or other toiletries is a drop in the bucket when put in context with the overall cost of the entire trip.

Count this as another vote for less is more. Pack for about 3 days. Stick to simple outfits. Travelsmith has some great, easy care, versatile type clothes. You can do laundry, rinse out clothes in the sink, or let the hotel do it. We travel with my husband, my 3 sons, 12, 9 & 9, and me. We each carry a 22" and a small backpack, (which mostly has plane stuff). We have practiced with the kids, and get through security smoothly, and on the plane without holding up traffic. I have 4 different "no-name" brands of suitcases. The only thing I paid much attention to is how light they are when they are empty. We travel on planes about 2 - 3 times per year. I don't pack them too tightly though. I try to keep each suitcase as light as possible, because 5 of them get heavy when I am the one who lifts them into the overhead bins. All four of them have held up well so far. I also find it useful to have good external pockets. If you have things like laptops and plastic bags of liquids that have to come out for security, it is easier to get at them.

As an added bonus, you never loose your luggage, and you are out of the airport minutes after the plane lands. And truly, the trip is simpler with less stuff.

I have to admit I do notice what others are wearing. Last year at Caneel an eighty plus lady dressed every evening as if she were going to a special event. I enjoyed it immensely. I think it makes a difference if you are renting a villa or staying at an upscale resort. I also think it makes a difference if the islands visited are like Vieques or Culebra. On Culebra, one could wear the same thing for a month straight.

I would love to wear a different outfit with matching shoes every night, but I don't. It absolutely is not worth dragging all that clothes to the Caribbean, and it certainly is easier to unpack once I get home. We both take everything on board even if we go for two to three weeks.

Owa, I agree. I think some people do notice the clothing other people are wearing. What a treat it would be to see what that octogenarian was wearing every night!

I might notice if a woman was wearing the same combo of capri pants, skirt, and top for a variety of evening meals. It would certainly be unusual as we eat in a different place for dinner each night, but let's assume that we were staying at a resort and eating at the same place every night. I'd probably admire her for getting by on so few items of clothing and ask her what brands of travel clothing she liked best.

No doubt there are those who would look down their noses at someone like me who repeats her clothing on vacation. But let's face it--that's so shallow that to paraphrase Jane Austen, it would be a misfortune to earn those people's approval!

Thanks so much to ALL of you for your insight. You've really inspired me to do what I should've done a long time ago.ATraveller, I'm going out today to buy that 22inch and a small bag to piggyback on to it. Ejcrowe, I'm going out today to check out the Travelpro brand. Owa, you are so right on about it depending on where you stay. The resort and the island totally change what you pack sometimes. The older I get the less hassle I want in my life. I think we should not forget the real reason that most of us choose to travel to the caribbean in the first place, the simpleness of it. That's what it's all about and why we so love it. It should be easy! Thanks to all!

MidwestDiver, just wanted to mention that I was at TJMaxx this morning and they had a lone TravelPro rollaboard for $70, which is a really good price for that brand! I inspected it briefly and didn't see that it had any flaws, so perhaps it was just a discontinued line from TravelPro.

TJ Maxx also had handsome bags in what I call the "clothing brand" bags, such as Kenneth Cole, Liz Claiborne, and Lauren. I once bought two Kenneth Cole bags based on their looks and their size and I'm not very pleased with them overall. I wish I had spent a little more money to buy a better brand rather than a catchy clothing brand.

Ejcrowe, You would be so proud of me. I went straight to Macy's today because they're having this huge sale. Well I did it! I bought the 22inch Travelpro and the rolling tote to piggyback onto the 22inch one. All of it was 1/2 off plus another 15% off the sale price. It's the flight pro 4 and it's the most gorgeous bronze color--no more black for me! Wow was I impressed at the ease of the handle going up and down, the high denier thread count, and how nice size the 22inch was compared to the other brands. I think I'm really going to like this luggage. Thanks so much for the recommendation! I'm ready to rock and roll!

Great, MidwestDiver! You are now an official member of the "pack light" club. Bon Voyage!

Ok, people...I am feeling the pressure to pack light"er". I thought I was doing really well until I scrolled down and read some more of your wonderful tips. We are going for 14 days and I will do my very best to not check anything.
Thanks for the tips.

Hokie90, aka iw

Way to go, Midwest Diver! Hope you enjoy your TravelPro as much as I do. Mine's black, though, so it unfortunately doesn't stand out in a crowd like yours will. And it's so well-made that it'll be years and years before I can justify replacing it!

As a person who just went shopping last week for a new "smaller" piece of luggage as I prepare for my vacation, I didn't do so well. I planned to choose a 22", but then looked at the 25' and finally the top end of the 'Big Three' and came home with that one. Sigh. If that wasn't bad enough, I also came home with the set of those bags that A_Traveler mentioned.
BTW, EJ, Jane Austen is one of my ancestors. I guess I now know what she would think of my style of packing!

Here's one for you to strive for...Our friends went to St. Bart's in Feb with their 2 young children for 10 days. Because of the terrible luggage problems consistent w/ St. Barthe's, they carried everything on and just bought diapers/formula/wipes/ etc when they got there. Having 3 kids, I think that was an amazing feat. They even had a Porta crib as a carry on.... You can do it!!!!!!