WeisserTee

I am NOT suggested taking a huge bag, do you think you could possibly find it in your head to stop implying that I am??? You can pack light in a 24" and have room left over for any purchase, IF the OP chooses to purchase anything that might not fit into carryon.

And I sincerely hope YOU stop snarkily suggesting that a lightweight 24" spinner bag is some kind of humongous monster piece of luggage that no young fit person can handle. I am a middle-aged woman who has easily managed a 24" all over Europe. A 22" case may have some advantages, but a lightweight 24" case is far, far, far, from the steamer trunk image you're trying to project.

flpab

<Christina on Mar 31, 15 at 5:12pm


I think it's kind of disgusting to put used clothes, especially underwear, for the hotel staff to have to deal with. It's unecological, also. Creates work for the hotel staff to deal with your refuse clothes.>

I have bought new things for trips and hated them, like a pair of boots last trip that hurt my feet. I left them instead of taking them home and giving away. They were not cheap and had not been worn but a week. I bought a GAP sweat shirt that was brand new and hated it and left. Big deal, if they want to throw in the garbage so be it. I leave my hotel room just about spotless and leave a tip. It freed up a bit of room in my suitcase.

happytourist

I'm really quite surprised at the teacher's recommendation as just about every tour group I've seen limits each person to one carryon size bag and one tote. Wish the OP would come back to answer some questions.

Gothampc

BillT, thank you for your reply (Mar 31, 15 at 7:45pm). You've explained the practice perfectly. Many times I will wear a sweater over old T-shirts which then get thrown away making more space in the suitcase.

29FEB

^^"Thank you aliced. This is one of those idiotic suggestions that people spout, and I suspect, never actually do. But just in case, I'll be on the look-out for the guy on the first class train in a holey t-shirt."

My, my, my MmePerdu - what an unkind comment. No one here has called your thoughts "idiotic" or suggested you look hideous when out and about.

You won't find that guy on the train anyway - his clean, well-worn tee is covered by quality clothing and he's relaxing after a night out last night - while some of you were in your hotel rooms furiously doing laundry.

PalenQ

My teacher has told us that we will be dragging our luggage across many long cobblestone streets and up several flights of stairs when we get to the hotels>

I think your teacher may be exaggerating the cobblestones and mixing that term up with pavement blocks - ubiquitous in Europe but real cobblestones - stones set in a sidewalk well you just will not encounter many of those in those towns I think - stairs yes in cheap hotels without lifts.

MmePerdu

Really, 29? "Hideous"? Blatant misquote. I thought what I actually said was fairly mild. And my bet is, while aliced first articulated the thought, there are many readers here who quietly agree with us.

And yours to aliced, "My guess is you travel to the tune of Van Morrison's "All the girls walk by, Dressed up for each other" struck an unpleasant personal note about someone you know nothing about. Glass houses, 29FEB, glass houses.

aliced

Hmm, I do like Van Morrison as well as Jim Morrison ("ici repose Jim" -- old Paris memory -- but my point is, no, since I do not know, talk to anyone we might meet while touring, I am not dressing for what they think but altogether how I feel wearing them. I wear garments that are specifically appropriate for our destination and our itinerary. Why pack 12 pairs of underwear and throw them out when I can start out with 5-6 that dry overnight? Ditto for shirts, once it's tossed it's not available to wear along the trip obviously. And happens when it gets warmer at noon and you have to take off your sweater? So I am not planning to wear my tomorrow-into-garbage pants out to dinner in Paris, sorry. I might wear them negotiating for best new car price, however, or for gardening, painting. I do find this all quite amusing. Remember, the poster (FP?) asked about types of luggage, but we do get sidetracked.

29FEB

You're quite right Mme, that lyric was unnecessary, but I thought it so apropos. Someone intent on looking their best at every moment? And she did use adjectives "ridiculous" and "silly" which are certainly judgmental.

Surely there's room for more than one travel philosophy on this thread, w/out all the criticism.

ESW

Talk of washing assumes the OP is prepared to hand wash clothes. At the speed they are travelling, there may not be much time to do washing. Clothes may not dry overnight and the hotel room may not have anywhere to hang the wet clothes....

Sassafrass

You have good advice already. I was a teacher who took students on tours to Europe, and your teacher is giving poor advice.

24" is a good size, though my personal favorite is a long, very narrow, 26" wheeled Timberline. I like it for train travel because it goes down the isles easily. You do not need $300.00 luggage. Great buys at Marshalls and TJ Max and Rosses for $60.00 or so. Some of my cheapest luggage has lasted the longest. Styles change and needs may vary one trip to another. I do not find it to be all purpose. I have different ones for different trips. Don't worry about it lasting for twenty years. Looks do not matter either. Rough treatment on one trip and they can look worn. Function does matter and you don't want it to fall apart, but things happen to all of them.

The IT luggage is super light. Have a look. I do not like the way it feels, but DH loves his. I don't think it is going to last long, but so far, it has survived several flights, even though he has over stuffed it.

No need to wear old clothes or throw away stuff. Wear things you feel good and look good in. Don't buy a lot of stuff.

Gretchen

I read some but quit when the teacher recommended 28". GEEZ--has she been anywhere.
a 22" expandable to 24" is great==pack less than the 22" and you have room for souvenirs.
Go to Tuesday Morning or TJMaxx--our TM luggage (Atlantic) has lasted 15 years, Many domestic flights and 10 European.
PACK LIGHT. rinse undies. NO ONE cares if you wear the same thing.

scrb11

Spend time on your trip hand washing clothes or pack more clothes so you don't have to hand wash?

Sassafrass

BTW, are you sure you understood the teacher correctly? Some student tours limit the sizes of luggage. Perhaps she/he said to stay under that size.

gertie3751

The OP is a troll and has wound you all up good and proper.

cmndesign

I am a teacher bringing a group of students to Italy this summer for 3 weeks and I require all students to bring a 21" piece of luggage and one extra carry-on bag that can be strapped onto the rolling bag. I also give them the option to bring a back pack instead, but it has to be approved by me. I use www.ebags for buying most of my bags. I bring one 21" rolling bag, then a small tote for all my "professor" gear.

and this teacher goes to three cities: Florence, Rome, and Naples, with a two day side trip to Venice for the Biennale. We spend about one week in each city. And even then, I am constantly scratching things of my must-see list.

Yes, you will be on a whirlwind tour, even more reason to travel light. I think you will be going back to some of the places again, and then you will have even more time to shop.

annhig

great plan cmn. You are starting your students off as they need to carry on [so to speak].

I'm sure that they will thank you for it when they see others struggling with over-stuffed too-heavy bags.

cmndesign

Thanks annhig. It has been live and learn moments that brought me to this point. Even on my last trip in 2014, I ended up buying an extra bag and lugging it home. And when I had a connecting flight home in NYC, the A/C was out at the terminal I had this heavy bag full of books and souvenirs. I swore, NEVER AGAIN!

My souvenirs this trip will be foodie memories. And as long as I walk all day long, I won't be bringing that "extra baggage" back with me!

annhig

cmn - I thought that I had packed light until I saw the apparently never-ending flights of steps leading up to my accommodation in Venice, and no lift. How I wished I'd left those guide books [which I barely used] at home. That's when I had my "never again" moment.

suze

Those bags are all HUGE. Definitely not what you want to take along.

You need a single 19-22" roller that weighs no more than 4 lbs. empty. IF you are young and in good physical shape, just use a duffle bag (no wheels) better yet.