Craisin, three months? How neat! Where are you going? How are you managing to take so much time off?

it's a sorta study abroad program based in Florence. I've already graduated from college a couple of years ago but I'm still eligible, so I'm happy and terribly excited. It'll be my very first time in Europe!!!

I just can't wait...I'm counting the days...

p.s. How did I manage to get time off? Hmmm, I'm lucky enough to have wonderful, understanding employers!

I could if I had to, but I don't, so have no desire to travel so light I would not be dressed decently, couldn't go to nice restaurants or concerts, and had to wear the same shoes all the time. Going for one week is a very different thing than going for 3 weeks and to a variety of places and climates, also.

Nowadays, you can't carry on a 22" on some flights, anyway, or are allowed only one carryon, so even what you are discussing (a carryon suitcase and large tote bag) would not be possible.

I don't mind waiting 20 min or so for my bags upon arrival since I'm just glad to be off the plane anyway, and need a little time to figure out my plan.

I would not allow anyone to tell me what bags I can or cannot take. If I take care of them myself, which I do, it's no one else's business.

Christina, it is very possible to dress nicely while still packing light. But you are right, you are dealing with your own bags, and it's nobody's business how you pack!

Craisin, how exciting! I'm very jealous...3 months will give you all sorts of time to explore. Ideas of where you want to go, or will you decide when you get there?

Hi mina,

So far, I've planned a 9-day Paris trip and a long weekend in Venice. The others I'll decide on a whim, I guess. Actually, I've read your posts/'trip adventures' and have been very much inspired and excited to do some trips on my own! (gives me an opportunity to break away from the group a bit!) I've been trying to absorb as much info as possible to somewhat ready myself for the trips on my own...but the unexpected is part of the excitement! any tips would be appreciated though!

p.s. To stay on topic, I'm checking in my 22" suitcase and carrying on only the backpack (for film, just-in-case-clothes, some toiletries and stuff) and a small purse.

Sounds wonderful, and it's great you are packing light...

feel free to email me at [email protected] if you are interesting in chatting about budget travel.

Christina: I agree with CrazyMina. It is TOTALLY possible to look nice while packing light. I have combined business trips with pleasure trips and done the entire thing out of a 22" suitcase on numerous occasions. I have a black travel blazer that goes with a tailored skirt that looks very nice. No one but me knew I'd worn the same blazer and skirt to a different meeting the day before! I've also eaten at VERY nice restaurants in the same clothes. I have a tiny travel iron (about 6" long and 4" high) that I take with me to "touch-up" things between wearings if I don't launder them or have them laundered. Bottom line is, I don't feel like I'm shorting myself in the slightest to pack light . . . just the opposite, in fact. I feel much more free. But, different stroke and all that . . . what works for you, works for you.

Jennie

I'm with Christina on this one. I really have no desire to pack light. I can't remember taking a trip of over one week in length where I didn't bring at least 4 pairs of shoes! And yes, there's even been a few instances where I wished I had brought more ;-) I usually bring at least 2 pairs of daytime walking shoes so I can change shoes for comfort plus two pairs for evenings. For my upcoming trip in Nov/Dec, I'm contemplating adding a pair of boots too

I've gone from the infamous 30"er we EACH had for our first trip (escorted tour) of 17 days, to a 26" + 2 backpacks, to a 22"+ backpack each, to a backpack each with a small (6x8) daybag. (unless the golf clubs come along). I sold those 30" cases a couple of years ago, to someone who wanted them for a long cruise. I'm kind of enjoying that other thread where the fiancée thinks she needs a 30"

I remember standing in line at JFK when we flew to Frankfurt two years ago. People were amazed at the small size of our (rolling) suitcases. Mine especially is very small. I wear a pair of black walking shoes and pack a pair of sandals for going out at night, and slippers too. We travel independently, on trains, buses, and ferries, so it's very handy to be so light. We share a day bag between us, and I also carry a very small purse with long straps that go over my shoulders. Like some others, I also don't want to risk losing my bag by checking it. It's great how you can let go of the need for things when you want to. When we travel by car I pack so much more stuff!

I've learned to travel light!! Stick to black, white, beige. For a 3-4 week european trip I take 4 pair of pants, a weeks supply of everything else, and a black blazer. You can go anywhere with a pair of black slacks, white shirt and blazer. Do laundry as needed, usually once a week.

We also travelled cross country for 4 months..in a very small sports car...we each had 1 backpack and 1 duffel bag...always had clean clothes,(laundrys are in every city) always dressed appropriately for the occassion. It's the old saying, keep it simple!!!! And there is a lot of freedom living so simply...

Travelnut,
How big is your backpack? I'm thinking about buying one but not sure how big it should be for a fall or winter travel of 3-4weeks.

I have packed with a rollaboard and a small duffel, essentially every time I have gone anywhere in the world. But usually, the rollaboard gets checked. More and more, there is no way to take two pieces of "carry-on" luggage, no matter what their size.

Best wishes,

Rex

We regularly travel to Europe for two weeks plus at at time. My wife and I each carry a 20" bag with no wheels and stay within the airlines' carry on limitations. (Air France is 26 pounds, and some intra-European carriers are even less.) It takes considerable advance planning, but is manageable. When we arrive, we walk right past the baggage carousels to the taxis.

Tiaw, we are only going for 9 overnights, so we have cheap/small backpacks that I bought at a Totes outlet store for $17 each. I 'practice-packed' in it and think I can make it do fine. If I were going for 3-4 weeks, I'd most likely revert to each of us having a 22"rolling carryon, and a daybag while we're out sightseeing. We used that setup last fall for train travel Ams-Bru-Paris and it was easy.

We're just trying to push ourselves this time (also train travel, Ams-Rhein-Switz)to go lighter, so we can stop between destinations to visit small towns in between. I will have to really cut it down (to maybe 3 interchangeable outfits + layering) and I might end up hating it! We'll see.

After reading this thread, I checked into a couple of carrier's weight limitations on intra-European flights for carry-on baggage - BA's limit is 6kg and Lufthansa is 8kg. For those of you who say you don't check any luggage, how are you getting by these limitations? Are you packing less than 6kg for a 2-3 week trip or do you not take any intra-European flights?

Patty:

I will be taking the train from Paris to Venice and from Rome back to Paris on my upcoming Europe trip. So I don't have to worry about European airlines' weight restrictions.

Interestingly, because of this thread, I called Northwest (the airline I'll be taking on my upcoming trip) to ask about their carry-on allowance. Someone (maybe Christina? I can't remember exactly) mentioned that you can no longer carry-on a 22" suitcase and a "personal item" (i.e. a purse, briefcase, tote bag, etc.). I was concerned so I called the airline directly. The representative I spoke with told me that you CAN still bring aboard a carry-on and a "personal item" as described above. Just fyi in case anyone else was wondering.

I am not philosophically opposed to checking luggage. It's just that I have had my luggage lost twice in the past 4 years (both times on domestic flights) and it is such a frustrating thing to happen. I just don't want to have to worry about it happening on my trip to Europe.

Jennie

last time our family went to Europe, the four of us got by with 8 carry ons. That was before the tightened rules. I'm sure I could still get by, but I'm not sure about the wife

When i travelled to Paris in February..2 week trip..i took a backpack and 1 carry-on bag. I'm usually an over packer..i like to have lots of clothing options when i'm on vacation, so this trip i decided to try going with less. I must say, i regretted it. I went between hostels and budget hotels, so i switched hotels alot. Even with that, i would have prefered to lug a bigger suitcase around. I got so sick of the 4 changes of clothes that i started buying clothes there, and in the end had to buy a new suitcase to accomidate all my purchases. One of my big issues was smoke...you can't smoke anywhere in Sf, and not many of my friends are smokers, so i'm not accustom to it. Even with handwashing, by the end of the trip, my clothes smelled disgusting!
my 2 cents!

If packing light, it's essential in my opinion to plan regular laundromat visits (or else have it sent out). I did not want to do laundry every 3 days, so I felt it essential to bring more than 3 outfits. Maybe I'm sloppier than the average person, but I feel miserable if I don't put on clean clothes in the morning.