Backpack Or...
 

Hi everyone, <BR>I realize that this may be completely frivolous but...<BR><BR>For my past number of trips to Europe I have taken a backpack with me. I find it easy to carry, it has enough room to pack a comfotable amount of stuff, and its really nice to only have one piece of luggage.<BR>However, on my upcoming trip I will be staying in nicer hotels (I had previously been staying in B&amp;B's and two star hotels)and was wondering what you think of taking a backpack into these places (I have three and four star hotels booked...)<BR><BR>My only concern with taking 'regular' luggage is that with a backpack it was easy to navigate various subway systems and be going up and down stairs. It was easy to store on trains, and I didn't have to worry about rolling it down a cobblestone street...<BR>What are your thoughs/experiences?<BR><BR>Thanks in advance!

Julie, if you have a few hundred bucks to spare, there are several companies that make excellent combination backpack/wheeled luggage. You can wheel it, you can carry it on your back, and in some cases you can tuck the straps away to make it look like &quot;real&quot; luggage. Eagle Creek makes great stuff.

We stay in nice hotels, and my boys (16 and 12) always carry backpacks. Just very convenient. Nobody has ever batted an eye.

<BR>I also have stayed in many 4 star hotels and carried a back pack. No problem at all!!!<BR><BR><BR>AND,I'm WAY over 16.

Julie- as long as you have a credit card handy nobody will kick you out of a 3-4 star hotel because you carry a backpack! Seriously, I'm 50-something, usually stay at 3 stars and ALWAYS use a backpack when I travel. Just the simplest, most comfortable way to go. (besides I never could pull those darn wheeled things in a straight line!)

If a backpack is what you are comfortable with and have used successfully before... stick with it!<BR><BR>Personally I'm a 22&quot; rolling suitcase person and before that a medium duffle bag was my favorite.

Thanks for your reassurance... I'm not one of those people who worry about what pants I should wear or if I have to wear black when I'm in Paris, or if my shoes are in fashion this season, but for some reason I had to get some advice on the backpack thing!<BR><BR>The Eagle Creek luggage sounds great, unfortunately that extra couple hundred bucks is tied up with the nicer hotels!<BR><BR>Thanks again everyone,<BR>Julie