MY HUSBAND AND I ARE GOING TO IRELAND SEPT FOR 2 WEEKS - IST TIME- RENTING COMPACT CAR AND DOING OUR OWN ITINERARY AND B.B.S -- WE TOO USUALLY PACK TOO MUCH SO ARE TRYING TO PARE DOWN - FOR US THIS MEANS ONLY ONE 27" CHECKED SUITACASE FOR THE TWO OF US TO SHARE AND ONE SMALL ROLLON CARRYON EACH -- MY MAJOR CONCERN IS WHETHER THIS WILL ALL GET IN THE TRUNK OF OUR CAR ( I BELIEVE A FOUR DOOR FORD FOCUS ) AM THINKING IT WOULD NOT BE SMART TO HAVE SOME LUGGAGE VISIBLE IN BACK SEAT DURING DAY IF WE ARE AWAY FROM CAR SIGHTSEEING! IS THIS A LEGITIMATE CONCERN? IDEAS AND THOUGHTS APPRECIATED! PINK

I don't think I said you can't take a carryon and a personal item. I think I said you can't take on TWO carry-ons. And that some airlines will not allow a 22" suitcase as a carryon as it may not pass the size/weight limits. I've had mine rejected more than one because of the size. I think it depends whether an airline would consider a large shoulder tote bag a "personal item" or not and if someone was also going to want a purse along with that, mainly.

I think I'm in the middle of this issue. I don't pack so lightly I only have one small suitcase and a personal item, but I never would take a 27" suitcase (with or without a tote). I just take a 22-25" suitcase, which I check, and a totebag, PLUS my purse, which is my personal item.

Packing light has advantages even if your intra-European travel will be by rental car rather than air or train. The car we recently rented in England had a trunk so small it just barely accomodated our two 18" rolling backpacks. Definitly would not have been able to handle 24-25" bags. The one in Ireland had a just barely larger trunk. As everyone knows, leaving bags visible in the back seat is not a good idea. And to those who say rent a larger car, I am SO glad we had a tiny car on those roads (came back without a scratch). Both British Air and Aer Lingus allowed us on with those two bags plus my rather large purse and my husband's daypack. For the RyanAir Flight we did check one of the bags and while it didn't get lost, the half hour waiting for it could have been better spent doing something else.

In an attempt to keep the weight down, I've replaced my travelsmith and eaglecreek rolling backpacks with no-name ones that weight 3-4 pounds less. They don't have as many pockets/compartments and aren't as "sturdy". I figured for the price ($25 on sale verses over $100 for the name brands) I could replace them but they've done three 2-3 week European trips and still look like new.

I used to be the Elizabeth Taylor of luggage til I started traveling with my husband for business-my girlfriends still laugh when I tell them that he went to Europe for 3 days with his large briefcase, of course, he had room service for laundry. Anyway, I had to get with the program if I wanted to keep up with the boys. I read this great old book written by a flight attendant-Every woman's Guide to Travel-she had a great formula-I update it now, but the basic plan still works. I base my wardrobe on a black-white-khaki Chanel knock off sweater & have gone everywhere from the Ritz to casual. I have done 3 wks-Africa-Europe & this spring we did a month in Australia & New Zealand. Have been to Europe for 3 wks many times with the same. My girl friends still talk about how I went with a 12# 20" wheeled bag & shoulder organizer bag. There are times that I have been forced to give up even one of those if we go to really small aircraft. And I, also, try EVERYTHING on. Even if I am positive it works- I am always surprised to find a spot or a hole or something needs replacing. Everything has to work with everything. I take 3 pairs of shoes-dressy-walking-flats. When I get home, I make notes as what worked, what didn't & what I need to add or replace. I do it right away so I am ready to go again. Ladies, it can be done-it just takes a little thought & practice. Best of luck!

A few odds & ends to add to this thread:

I don't bother to carry-on the plane any more because even my 22" roller bag weighs too much (at least on British Air). I find I like the freedom of not having to drag it around the airport, now that I've gotten the hang of checking-thru.

Even packing light, I take 3 pair of shoes (1 on my feet + 2). My thinking is I can wear the same shirt a few days, but if my feet are hurting, get blisters, or ache from having to wear the same single pair ... well that's miserable.

Americans wash their clothes more than Europeans (in my experience, among my friends). Hang your clothes up in the window in the evening and air them out. I'll handwash undies, t-shirts, but rarely have to deal with outer clothes going to a laundry (this is packed for 3 weeks in a 22" plus large tote).

To Lucky03, as others have mentioned, I'd jot yourself a note as to which clothes you didn't use, and next time leave them home & take a 2nd pair of shoes! You'll thank me!!!

To Byer333 re luggage visable in the car: This is my worst nightmare because it has happened to several people I know travelling in Europe.

Thieves can tell by the plates if it's a rental car and visable luggage is like a neon light.

I've had several arguments with car rental agents when I had specified a separate locked trunk vehicle and got instead an open luggage affair such as a station wagon or van type.

Guess you have enough feed back already, but I just want to say I always try to take one 22" rolling bag. I pack two pairs of shoes--one for dress and in summer comfortable sandals--plus the walking shoes I wear on the plane. My first trip to Italy taught me this since both my husband and I had no luggage for two weeks other than what we had carried on. You have to do some laundry though especially if it is a long trip.

It is possible to wear one pair of shoes for a two week vacation without getting blisters. Being a letter carrier, we do it every week. One pair of shoes worn a minimum of 5 days each week for approximately 10/12 hours per day. It isn't that hard. Just make sure that they are good, worn in, walking shoes. (However, I do pack a nice pair of sandels or dress shoes for dining out in the evening.)

For Tiaw: Re winter travel:

Packing for cold weather is a trickier thing! I don't have great advise except maybe don't think of your trip as 3-4 weeks. Pack for 10 days and plan to do laundry a few times.

My one winter trip to Switzerland, I ended up taking a normal suitcase and checking it (I was staying only in one location at a friend's home). When I began to pack, I threw one bulky sweater in my 22" rollerbag that always serves me for a 2-3 week trips in summer & it was practically full~ haha.