janisj

W/ 5 of you you will <b>REALLY</b> have to watch the size of your bags. I would most definitely stick to 22 inch or smaller bags (either rollaboards or duffels - I personally prefer suitcases but many people like duffels)

If you each have a large or even large-ish checked bag and a carry on there is hardly a car in Europe that has enough room. And each person wrestling a big suitcase/duffel and a carry on on/off train is pretty hectic. Often the train stops for only a very short time.

You don't need more clothes for 2 weeks than you do for 1 week (or even for 5 days)

ashields

My family (only 3 of us) took our first trip together to Europe and rented a car in France--we had 2 24&quot; suitcases, 1 22&quot;, a briefcase, large school backpack full, and large shoulder bag. Big big big mistake. We had way too much stuff and once we picked up a French friend for a weekend and had to fit her 22&quot; suitcase in the car we had to hold stuff in our laps. We were in a Mercedes C series, for size comparison--and that was considered a size upgrade by the rental agency. Needless to say, every trip since, we've limited ourselves to 22&quot; suitcase per person and a small daypack each.

I think you're fine with the 2 pairs of shoes. Try to encourage your kids to take khakis instead of jeans. Jeans are hot, heavy, don't dry well, and take up a lot of room in a bag. Since you'll have access to laundry facilities, you shouldn't have any problems packing light.

PS ebags.com is having a storewide 20% off sale til midnight tonight (4/21). I just ordered the ebags Weekender Convertible, it might work for your trip as well and is currently selling for less than $48.

Louise

I love my Eagle Creek carryon and 25&quot; rolling duffel. I was tired of carrying the extra weight and they are so light compared to normal luggage. Sometimes I use ziplock bags and sometimes pack it cubes. Or, a combination of both. There are inside and outside straps and I never have a problem with them tipping over.

mykidssherpa

I purchased a 27&quot; rolling duffel inexpensively as a test - big mistake. Packed 3/4 full, I couldn't lift it (I am a 5 foot 1 inch tall woman. I gave it away and downsized to a 24 inch rollling duffel and it works fine. I have two small children and they share this bag so when we travel we only have 3 bags (and 2 carseats and a stroller.....)

I haven't had trouble with it tipping but it seems I just picked a well balanced bag.

Both bags were purchased via ebags.com and I carefully went over all the user reviews and bought on the basis of people's comments regarding stability.

LEANNA

Rolling Duffel!!!! I am 62 and hauled mine all around europe last summer w/ no problem. Its lighter to start with which I really appreciate, and I used baggies to keep stuff organized. I will never use a regular rolling suitcase again...too bulky, too heavy and to me does not hold as much stuff!

Gretchen

For packing, try rolling your clothes rather than folding flat. Also another good packing aid are the net bags that oranges and such are packed in. You can really see what is in them and they weigh nothing.

Neopolitan

I have tried rolling shirts and pants, and I think you people are all pulling my leg. The parts on the inside of the roll are invariably a wad of wrinkles. When I fold shirts and pants flat and neatly stack them, other than the single creases (just like the laundry would put in) they come out totally unwrinkled. Are you &quot;rollers&quot; serious? I just don't get it.

Gretchen

Rolling doesn't work for broadcloth shirts but really does for pants. Fold in half and then start rolling from the cuffs. You have to roll evenly, of course. You can put a dry cleaner bag into the roll also. Rolled knit shirts work fine. Rolled things stay put better also.

Neopolitan

Well, I'd admit the pants did better with rolling than the shirts. But I take my three or four pairs of pants, fold the whole stack in half together, lay them in the bottom of my rolling duffel, and the rest of the stuff presses them perfectly. I still can't believe rolling them would be better.

suze

Face it, there's 2 kinds of people in the world... those with rolling duffel bags and those with suitcases (or backpacks oops that makes 3 kinds).

Same goes for packing technique... there's folders and there's rollers.

Never the twain shall meet.

(Like Neo, I'm a folder, I don't see how rolling can possibly make less wrinkles excepting a synthetic knit fabrics).

Luisah

Rolling works when you are filling your duffel or suitcase, then if rolled properly, the clothes are squished together and have no space to wrinkle. I know this works because someone packed a trunk for me once (which was lost for three months) and not an item had moved or had wrinkled. However, I haven't been able to do it myself, so do what Neopolitan does and fold my clothes. Plastic dry cleaner bags help keep the wrinkles to a minimum, which is good enough for me.

sandi

I get more in my 26&quot; rolling duffle than in the 26&quot; rolling suitcase... interesting. Both of my rolling duffles have handles on the bottom and little feet, so no roll over. Have used the 28&quot; (yes, that large) for travel to two climates, one mild, the other hot hot... separating them with the cardboard from laundered shirts; everything packed in zip-locked bags. Nothing moved. Of late though, for travel to Africa, use a 30&quot; soft duffle, no wheels; luggage carts, sky caps and doormen or porters do a fine job.

For kids/teenagers (jeans, khakis, t-shirts, etc) have found that a army/navy real canvas duffle (indestructible) is great for stuffing &quot;everything&quot; and months of travel; they squish perfectly in a car.

Neopolitan

I guess people who believe in rolling their clothes and also believe in taking their old underwear to wear then throw away are called (are you ready now?)-- holey rollers.

Dogwood

We used rolling duffel bags from eBags for a trip to Peru last fall, and they worked very well. They were light and easy to carry in places where we could not roll them. When loaded they stood up ok. They had the separate section at the bottom and that worked well to hold clothes flat. To conquer that big open compartment and to keep things neat and unwrinkled, try packing cubes. They come in various sizes. The cubes keep your shirts, etc. neat, and the bag then is easy to pack and unpack, even with multiple stops. We also used cubes for our shoes, and my hiking boots fit in the shoe cube (or should I say, rectangle.)
I also would recommend packing multiple locks for all the separate compartments, and put the locks on once you have finished your air travel.

It also is a very good idea (as mentioned earlier) to pack one complete set of clothes (use a large ziplock bag) and put it in your travel partner's duffel--and put their set of clothes in yours. If one bag goes astray, you still will have a set of clothes. (And just keep fingers crossed that all the bags of your traveling party do not go astray!)

gomiki

Neo...Ba Da Bing.....lol

MelissaHI

I used to use one and I loved it....until I became a monster shopper and the weight combined with the shape made the rolling duffel too unstable. If all you have is clothes in the bag, no problem!

Luisah

Neopolitan,

Thanks for my first LOL of the day.

Mambo5

Hello Everyone!
I've been going around and around looking at all sorts of bags on ebag. Who knew there were so many choices!
Thanks again for your helpful sggestions.I'm sure I'll have more questions.
Have a good weekend