Best luggage for pre-teens for Italy trip
 

We will be traveling next month to Sorrento and Rome for 12 days with our 10 and 11 year old boys. I am hoping to do carry-on only and was planning on each of us taking a 21 or 22 inch rolling suitcase, but I'm wondering what others have done with their kids--is that the best way to go?

My kids the same age fit their stuff in 21" rolling suitcase, and they were able to handle it by themselves in airports, trains, cobblestone streets, etc.

LW, now that's another story.

And pack as light as possible. A fully-loaded 21- or 22-inch case, even on wheels, can be very heavy.

Hi J62 and Jean,
Thanks for your replies. I've been thinking I can even get the kids' clothes into one suitcase and then pack a backpack with some things to keep them occupied on the plane and it will be easier for them to get in and out of while we're flying. I figure they can get by with two pair of shorts and pants each, along with 4 or 5 shirts and their underwear, socks, and swimming trunks.

Thanks again!

I'd bring a suitcase for each, even if each is half empty....you need something in which to bring home your purchases!

I think kids should be in charge of their own luggage. My friends who travel regular with a family of 4 kids have had them in little backpacks since they were 5 years old.

I would get them each a small backpack or a 19" max. suitcase. If you want to handle their luggage for them, then they could share one larger suitcase, and each carry just a book-bag size backpack like kids use for school.

Are you sure you want to do carry-on only? It really limits things. And remember the liquid/gels regulations these days.

Hi missypie and suze, great suggestions. I think I will stick with one suitcase each and they will be lighter to pull without as much in them, and any souvenirs can go in their bags. I was thinking with regards to the quart size baggie/liquid/gel restrictions that we might get by okay because I can have one baggie for each of the four of us, but the boys don't have much to take (just need toothpaste and maybe a little hair gel) and then I'll fill the rest with my overflow!

I've never flown internationally before, but of the last few times we have flown United domestically we have had delayed luggage twice (it happened last year to my parents, also). Since we will be arriving Rome and heading straight to Sorrento, I figured it would just be better to not have to worry about our luggage not arriving on time. I hope it works out the way I'm planning--I am a little nervous that the 22 inch bags we have will be a bit too large for Swiss Air (although my husband carries them on all the time for domestic business travel). My plan (thanks to advice I read here!) is that if we have to check the luggage anyway, I am going to pack an empty, flat duffel for any valuables (camera) or necessities we need for the flight and one change of clothing each and put them in the duffel to carry on. The trick is going to be having all of that prepared in ziploc space bags ahead of time so I can just pull everything out quickly. Maybe more trouble than it's worth, but better safe than sorry!

Christalex - I think your back up plan sounds great.

Do you already have the suitcases for the boys? If not, you might look at the 17 inch ones - slightly smaller, but they'll be that much easier to handle. Also, with the 17 inch bags, you can piggyback them onto your 21-22 inch bag if the kids can't roll them for some reason - just keep a couple piggyback straps handy in the 2 larger suitcases.

My kids are 16, 14 and 11. I admit that I use the 16 year old's and the 11 year old's zip lock bag space for myself/the family. DH usually has shaving cream, contact lens solution and toothpaste. All DS16 has is contact solution, so I can fill his bag with other stuff. DD14 fills her own bag, but DD11 has nothing (since we already have toothpaste), so I can fill hers too.

I will say that IMO "travel sized" items will not be nearly enough for a family of 4 for 12 days, even if hyou all bring some. I assume that you'll buy some things (like laundry detergent and febreeze?) upon arrival.

At home, we do not all share a bathroom (instead of parents and kids, we divide it up as Boys and Girls). Anyway, because of that, I'm pretty unaware of how much shampoo, soap, etc. all of us go through. In Italy, we were staying in apartments (with only one bathroom), so I brought a large bar of soap. I was so surprised that the bar of soap barely lasted our 6 days in Rome...I thought it would last the whole 2 weeks!

First weigh the boys. Their baggage shouldn't exceed 20% of their body weight.Check the shops, there are plenty of inexpensive wheeled carriers available. How sturdy/strong are these lads? Perhaps a dry run or two...Once around the block with their projected load.

Thanks for all the great suggestions. We do have suitcases for all of us, but I think I'll look into the smaller 17 - 19 inch rollers and see if I can get a deal somewhere. My 11 year old is pretty strong/athletic, and could easily pull my bag, but my 10 year old is on the thinner side, so a smaller one would probably be better for him. Since we will be in hotels, I was going to have my husband and sons use the provided shampoos/conditioner/soap but I have to bring my regular stuff so I can be sure my hair will behave (I hope the 2 ounce bottles I have will be enough)! I'm also planning on bringing anything I can in towelette form (hand wipes/makeup remover, etc.).

Here's another pointer, based on taking our now-12-year-old son to Europe, and other trips with him and his sister in the U.S. I would definitely bring more clothes for the kids. Kids being kids, they tend to get stuff dirtier and messier than adults do. We did a lot of spot cleaning, but I shudder to think how bad it could have been if we only had two pairs of shorts (actually, we were traveling in May, so he had 2 pairs of long pants and 3 pairs of shorts, I think). (We checked our 21" bags.)

Definitely bring all sorts of cleaning supplies. We had a cleaner wipe product that didn't work so well, plus a stick that rubbed on. After we let that sit, we'd use shampoo for the actually scrubbing.

This brings to mind the image of my lovely son, standing on the street in Paris, with a chocolate-chantilly crepe that had somehow gotten on his shorts, shirt, face, arms, and legs - all at the same time....

Why not just plan to hit a laundry matt mid-trip?

Christalex! Sounds like you've got a great plan, I think.

Thanks everyone. Lexma90 the story about your son made me laugh. I'm just as apt to spill something on myself as the boys are! I'll stick the Tide pen in the quart baggie--I've also had luck with the Shout wipes in the past but I need to stock up. Suze, the laundromat is a great idea, too. We've been traveling with our kids since they were babies, and one thing I learned is to always have a change of clothes on the plane--not only because there may be lost/delayed luggage, but because the OJ your kid is drinking may end up all over you!