hopscotch

Of course you can do it all in a 21"er plus the allowed computer case or large handbag.

<i>You have to be ready to wear the same clothes over and over to make it work.</i>
What do you do at home - throw them away after one wear? Don't spill spaghetti sauce on your shirt and wash out your undies in the bathroom at night.

<i>And get your toiletries gels &amp; liquids all to current carry-on regulations.</i>
Big deal. When you run out just stop in a store and buy another bottle.

Being as how 50 million bags a year are lost or stolen and a few million are never recovered, go carry-on. Our friends at Alitalia are infamous if you believe any of the posts here.

Cindywho

Wow, thanks for the encouragement regarding the 21&quot; carryons. I can see both sides. I just have to make a decision. I was always planning to do it that way, it's my husband who is trying to convince me we need the 25&quot; and check it. Is it that much of difference shlepping a 25&quot; on rollers than a 21&quot; on rollers?

Cindywho

janisj - where do you teach packing classes????

toedtoes

I really thought about the carry on only route and decided I didn't want to do it.

My logic:

Carry on bag - wear one pair of pants, pack one pair = two pairs of pants guaranteed to arrive. Wear one top, pack two = three tops guaranteed to arrive. Need to wash during the trip.

Checked bag - wear one pair of pants, pack two pairs = one pair guaranteed to arrive. If the checked luggage arrives, you have 3 pants versus 2. If it doesn't, you buy 1 pair and you're in the same position you were with carryon (and get new clothes). Wear one top, pack four tops = If it arrives, you have 5 tops, if not you buy 2 and you're in the same position you were with carryon.

Add to that, I do photography and want to carry all my photo gear. That takes up a lot of room in my carryon (not checking it). That means even less room for clothing if I carryon. The extra space in the carryon with just the camera gear will be used up by purchases on the return flight.

WillTravel

You can test the schlepping difficulty beforehand. Pack a suitcase that is 25&quot; and the carry-on and purse that you would use. Try running up and down some stairs and escalators, going for a 1/2 mile walk, moving your luggage quickly through relatively narrow spots, and pulling your luggage down safely from a reasonably high shelf (to simulate what might happen on a train).

Repeat with a 21&quot; suitcase, etc.

I feel fine doing this with a 24&quot; suitcase (I think that's what it is, although I haven't measured) and carry-ons.

I am considering reverting to a 21&quot; carry-on for my next trip, though, because I want to maximize a stopover opportunity and not wait for my luggage. But I do like packing at least one pair of shoes, and often a pair of sandals. I also like having a lot of books. So it's a matter of choosing your priorities.

Therese

Yes, you can do it, and it's not even that difficult. You won't wear the same things again and again (unless they're things like sweaters or jackets or jeans that most people wear several times before laundering in any case), and the only laundry that you need do is lingerie (which you'd be doing by hand at home in any case).

Here are links to several different trips/packing lists that I've posted over the last few years here at Fodors, each of them presenting its own set of challenges. All of them include detailed (sometimes minutely detailed) lists of what I packed, some list what I wore on specific days, and some talk about toiletries and how to minimize them.

Lots of good tips from other Fodorites along the way as well.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35067386

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34987614

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34415078

Cindywho

toedtoes - very interesting logic. It definitely makes sense. So have you ever experienced lost luggage?

toedtoes

No, I haven't. So as of today, taking checked has been beneficial wardrobe wise.

I will say that I don't take bigger than a 24&quot; because that's the biggest I can easily maneuver.

Also, during one of these conversations over the summer, while I was preparing for an 18-day trip, I did try to pack my gear into a 21&quot; bag (versus the 24&quot. It did all fit without having to give up anything. However, I couldn't fit my camera gear in also, so it wasn't going to save me from checking the bag. I went with the 24&quot; so I'd have extra room on the way back.

I am a particular packer when it comes to my clothes. I color coordinate, but not so basic as black and colored tops. I tend to take neutrals in the same family (i.e., khaki, brown and olive; or black, charcoal, and light grey, etc.) for the bottoms and jackets. Then I take a variety of top styles in coordinating colors. By taking different shades in the bottoms and jackets, you don't feel like you're wearing a uniform every day (black pants, black jacket and red top, etc.). The varying top styles gives a different look also instead of just taking tees.

janisj

Cindywho: My talks are in Northern Calif. I give on average 1 or 2 a month and between 45 and 150 people attend. So you are not alone Lots of folks are &quot;packing challenged&quot;. Interestingly - about 30-35% of the participants are men. Of course - <u>some</u> of them are merely dragging their wives along because they are tired of schlepping everyone's luggage.

Therese: &quot;<i>the only laundry that you need do is lingerie (which you'd be doing by hand at home in any case).</i>&quot; That's what I would think too. But it amazed me to read on a few of the &quot;pack light&quot; threads on here that some women think that is &quot;icky&quot; or some such. Several posters swear they'd <b>never</b> wash in a bathroom sink. That would never cross my mind. Guess there are all kinds. (some of these same posters mention washing their jeans after every wearing - who'd a thunk?)

BTW - my typical packing demo is for a two week &quot;European city&quot; trip and it includes a full wardrobe including jackets, several bottoms (pants/skirts/dress), lots of tops/sweaters and dressy things too. It is really to demonstrate how well you can dress out of a carry on. I often take much less on my own travels.

toedtoes

I am one of those who doesn't handwash my lingerie. I don't do it at home and I don't do it traveling. I take enough undies to last the trip. They really don't take up THAT much room. If space is at that much of a premium where I can't pack 18 undies versus 5 undies, then I'm taking too much to carryon in the first place.

toedtoes

I am one of those who doesn't handwash my lingerie. I don't do it at home and I don't do it traveling. I take enough undies to last the trip. They really don't take up THAT much room. If space is at that much of a premium where I can't pack 18 undies versus 5 undies, then I'm taking too much to carryon in the first place.

I do wear pants and tops more than once without washing. My grandmother taught me long ago that if you are neat and clean on the outside, and wear proper undergarments on the inside, then your clothes don't get dirty with one wearing. As she was extremely particular about cleanliness, I trust her advice.

cruiseluv

The problem I find with carry-ons in Europe is if you are going to fly intra-Europe. Usually the weight/ size limits of carry-ons are much smaller that a 21&quot;.

SuzieC

One problem, as I see it, is the time of year you are going to visit. Light gauzy summer clothing is one thing, sweaters, even silky long-underwear, socks, stockings, etc...take up room.

I'm with Suze on this, we're both &quot;checkers&quot;. For the same reasons, I find it annoying to drag the bag all over the place.

Plus we split our packing 1/2 in each other's bags hoping that if luggage gets lost it is only one. So far, so good. Nothing lost. BUT I will say that so far our flights over have been non-stop, no changes. I might reconsider if we were flying into London (just as an example) and then onwards to someplace else.

janisj

actually - I find time of year/temps really doesn't make much difference.

Warm weather destinations require lighter clothing but more pieces. For winter/cold destinations one should think layers instead of lots of heavy garments.

Lexma90

We're another couple on the &quot;check in&quot; bandwagon. We each have 24&quot; rollers, which is what we use mostly. THOUGH, I have decided to take my 21&quot; bag on our next trip.

The 24&quot; is more than enough space for me (and in fact, I've found I take more than I need just because I have the room). I'm a short person with small feet, so my shoes don't take up much room. My biggest packing indulgence (in terms of space) is my running shoes, because I love to run on vacation, but I do not like to wear my running shoes at other times. So I take those shoes only to run in, plus 2 (sometimes 3) other pairs: casual everyday + dressy pumps, plus sometimes a tradeoff casual pair; that's a lot of shoes for a 21&quot;. My problem with the 24&quot; is while I can roll it easily, and lift it pretty easily, it does get a bit heavy and burdensome when taking it up and down stairs.

Another consideration is whether you'll be bringing any extra stuff back. When traveling, we check our two bags, and to carry on, we have a smaller day bag (smaller than a backpack) and a 22&quot; (or so) duffle bag, pretty empty except for camera gear, coats, travel guides, extra clothes in case luggage gets lost. In my checked bag, I include an empty duffle bag. On our last trip (to Italy), for the first time (we're not big shoppers) both of our duffle bags were full on the way back. One duffle bag was filled with stuff we could carry on (dried porcini, pastries, etc.) and the other duffel bag was full of wine and other liquidy Italy delicacies, which we (obviously) checked. (Most of the wine was bought at the end of the trip, so we didn't have to schlep it around very much.)

Gary_Mc

LarryinColorado:
&quot;...the last thing you want if you carry-on is a heavy bag. Most roll-aboards weigh at least 3 kg, maybe 4. With a roller, you only get 4-5 kg (9-11#) of &quot;stuff&quot; ...&quot;

We went with a 21&quot; rollers which we checked and have decided that was wrong. Not only were they too heavy to carry on, they were difficult to manage when traveling by train. They were often too bulky to fit overhead on the newer model trains. We could put one roller under the seat but were often left to deal with the other(s).

I do not care for the backpack straps, so I am thinking about a simple small duffle with a sling. Eagle Creek has one that holds 1800 cubic inches. While plane-board, I would slip my very light daypack inside for pockets.

I suppose finding the perfect packing solution is like searching for the Holy Grail.

Regards, Gary

SuzieC

Backpacks are simply annoying.
At the Rome Airport we had to get on a shuttle to get to the airport proper. One kid got on swung around and his HUGE backpack hit three people!

travel2live2

I love my 21&quot; backpack but it also converts to a duffle bag. I change the straps when we get near train stations, shops, etc. to avoid ramming people.

danon

In the last 6 years we have traveled with carry ons only - but not rollers. We have soft, very light , but strong bags made by a German company ( cost a mint).

With a light bag, you right away eliminate some wight ; also they are surprisingly stretchable.
Sure, it would be easier to roll the luggage but each time we consider buying it, the wight and the inflexibility changed our minds.
We have learned to travel with only one pair of shoes in the bags ( they are usually the heaviest item) ,use hotel shampoos , and wash a few items at night.
Each of us has one &quot;going out to a really nice spot&quot; outfit and the rest is mostly comfortable but not sloppy clothing ( no running shoes !)
Our longest trip was just under 4 weeks.
The only disadvantage of carry ons ( or maybe not) is: one cannot buy much on the trip.

basingstoke2

When we do not feel that 2 21&quot; rollers will do, we will take one 21&quot; as a carry on and a 24&quot; or even 26&quot; to check. These will not be his and hers bags. The 21&quot; carry-on will be packed with clothing and essentials to last a few days for the both of us. The checked bag will have the rest. We still have to wait at the carousel but if the checked bag does not come, we will be OK until it catches up. Usually 2 21&quot; will do though for a couple of weeks since we do a laundry or two along the way.