I am a female going on a 9 day trip to Italy. Will be visiting Rome Florence and Venice by train. I don't want to lug a huge suitcase on a off a train and most likely buss and/or walking to hotels. Can I manage with just a carryon? Wash clothes in sink? Trip is in early March.

"<i>Can I manage with just a carryon?</i>"

Yes.

I always travel carry-on only. 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months, summer, winter. You can wash things out in the bathroom - or take them to a laundry.

There are many threads on here about packing light. The main rule - plan on layers/mix/match.

Yes - always just a carryon, especially in your circumstances. You need a rolley bag. Tip - wear your heaviest clothes onto the flight, especially shoes. Many hotels will do laundry or use the sink and ask for an iron.

Here's the thing to remember... the people in Venice will never know you wore tat outfit the day before in Rome! ;^)

Thanks so much everyone ! you are right ParisAmsterdam - I'll never see these people again (and really who cares !) .

That has been the whole Rick Steves thing. One bag regardless of trip length. I am not a big fan of rolling bags in Europe because of the cobblestone streets, no curb cuts, narrow sidewalks, etc. I find it much easier for the backpack style of carry-on. We also avoid cotton clothing. Hard to care for and heavy.

Yes, you can. Here is a link that has a great deal of helpful info as well as packing lists.

http://www.onebag.com/

Sure you can. I did 3 weeks once in just a small duffle bag. I will tell you though I was ready to burn those few clothes by the time I got home (lol).

Absolutely! We are afamily of four that has done several 3-week trips with carry-ons only - I'll never go back to large suitcases again.

As janisj said, layers/mix/match. I read about packing by the rules of three - choose three colors and have all your clothes be in those colors so everything mixes and matches (I usually have black, brown or gray, and then something splashy like cranberry or green). Before our Europe trip, I bought four black shirts - all diferent styles and weights, but all easily washable - so each made a different outift, but also went with everything else I had. Layers area also key as it keeps you warm, but the outside layers aren't getting as dirty as the one next to your skin, so you can rotate.

We did luandry twice at laundromats - it actually made for some nice downtown - and once in the hotel sink - that time we were able to wash everything but pants, but it was the end of the trip, so that was fine.

You will love the freedom of just a carryon!

Hammertime-
As a reformed overpacker and a proud carryon convert, I have to agree the above posts. Carrying on makes life much easier. Last summer, DH and I spent 9 days in London and Paris with two bags between us. I used the little Tide travel packs (found at Target) to wash clothes in the sink, and we had no issues. Enjoy your trip!

Are you thinking of disposing some clothes in the near future? I say you carry all these clothes to Italy, wear them one last time during your trip, and never get them back. That way you can shop for new clothes and have loads of space in your luggage to accommodate them. If you are not the shopping variety, then you have the rare luxury of carrying an ultra light suitcase back home. On a more serious note, since you are going to be lugging your suitcases on and off trains and buses, I suggest you buy something sturdy. Try the Briggs and Riley carry-on collection (http://www.briggs-riley.com/category...eled-carry-ons ). They have carry-on luggage in various sizes that are known for their durability and quality. And if something happens to your luggage, BR will fix it as part of their lifetime warranty. Keep us posted and all the best!

We are a family of four that also always only does carryon - this incl. my 17 yo daughter who is a clothes horse. A few tips - shoes are a killer for taking up space. You really only need two pairs of shoes (in the summer I usually can slip in an extra pair or two of flip flops/ but in March just stick with two).

We each have the 22" Eagle Creek hovercraft, and Hovercraft In-flight bag (hubby and son carry a backpack instead of inflight bag). The 22" fits in overhead and inflight bag underneath your seat. It is really amazing how much you can fit in these bags - you will be amazed. We also use Eagle Creek Pack-it Folders(http://www.eaglecreek.com/accessorie...lder-18-40154/) and Pack-it Tubes (http://www.eaglecreek.com/accessorie...-18-40154/)for better packing organization.

WE are shoppers so always bring a Baggalini bag (http://www.baggallini.com/product1.a...t=%27BIM217%27). I don't mind as much having to check bags on the way home, but truth is we usually buy scarves, jewelry and art so often can manage to get things in the luggage without needing to use the extra bag.

I hope you have thought through this. With the current situation being what it is, I would be extremely wary of traveling with carry-on luggage. I suggest you check the carry-on regulations of both the air carriers you are flying and the country you are visiting to avoid getting into any trouble. From the limited knowledge I have on the subject, the restrictions on carry-on luggage are stricter in Europe. You should get the required information from the website of the airline you’re flying. Hope you have a fantastic, hassle-free vacation.

Gabrielle, actually with the current situation being what it is, I think is a greater reason for traveling light and trying to do carry on only. For a couple of reasons:

Many carriers have greatly reduced their direct flights to a lot of European destinations. That means at best an extra plane change to sometimes an extra 2 plane changes. More opportunities for the airline to misplace your luggage.

With only a smaller carry on, you can always check it should you decide to or be required to by airline personnel. You can't do the reverse with a large oversize bag. You're always stuck with checking it.

As the original poster said they weren't really concerned with the flights but with struggling with a larger size bag once there.

It is true that some overseas carriers have stricter carry on allowances than US carriers. Many have weight restrictions some as low as 5 kilos. some folks can do a trip with those restrictions, others can just check a smaller bag and still enjoy the benefits of traveling light on the ground when they arrive.

I too am a shopper, although not like the old days. My compromise is a carry one which expands by 3" in circumference (Briggs and Riley but there are others in all price points).

I do carry on on the way over and if purchases need extra space, I check the bag on the way home.

If you're buying a new bag, look for something lightweight. It can still be very sturdy and long-wearing. And it doesn't have to be expensive.

And I like tubes of soap. That way, I can do a big wash or a little one. With packets of soap, I have to save up dirty clothes until I have enough to justify using up a packet.

I bring a little clothes-washing pack. In addition to soap, it contains spot-remover, a clothesline with suction cups, a couple of blow-up hangers, which help tops dry more quickly, and a big plastic disk which acts as a plug if the sink doesn't have one. (Also works in a bathtub if the stopper doesn't stop.) This last item is really useful. I left it home once and regretted it.

Finally, beware of jeans. They're bulky and heavy to carry, and very slow to dry even in laundromats. (European dryers are not as powerful as American ones.)

I am all for carry-on luggage, Notbob. All I am asking Hammertime to do is ensure what the carry-on regulations are on the flights she is taking and the countries she is traveling to. We also don’t know if she’s traveling business or economy and how many legs does she have in her entire journey.

Hammertime, you haven’t posted anything on this thread after your last comment on Jan 21. Have you made up your mind yet? Do let us know what you decide.