Mark

Forgot to say that the model name is the "Metro C.O." bag and its regular retail price is $200US. And it's "Pangaea," not Pangea. Sigh...I'm tired.

Marty

Margo: Whatever bag you buy, just be sure that the bag itself is not so heavy. I bought a great, very durable, expandable suitcase this past summer. The only problem is that it weighs so much, that I couldn't carry on British Air. I am a very light packer, but the suitcase with all its zippers and compartments is very heavy. That just never occurred to me!

steve

If it can't qualify as carry-on, it's too big.

If you take more than two carry-on bags, you are taking too much

Al Godon

Question: Will international flights allow a person to carry on two bags, even if they are the correct size?

Kathleen

I have a great *Eagle Creek* bag it has an outside compartmetn that zips off (great when it stuffed and you can't get it thru security/ then I just zip it back on.
Also i live in my DOC MARTIN's shoes. I can where them on the plane and walk all day and my feet feel great( I hate to wear tennis shoes becuz you just stick out like a tourist.) You can get them in London and a lot of other places and $80-100.00 US is worth it. ($50.00 at a shoe store 316 Canal st in NY). Also faster getting thru customs if you havent ckd a bag.

Beth

Hi Margo,
I'm another one of those who just can't manage to pack as light as so many people recommend. However try really hard to get it into ONE bag. I took a 24 inch wheelie back to Italy last September. The weather was so hot and humid, that there was NO way I could wear anything more than once without washing it. And nothing would get dry. I t can be a real annoyance. Our luggage is all "Briggs and Reilly". They're a bit pricier than Atlantic or Eagle creek. But they are very sturdy, particularly the handles and wheels are extremely well made. Also, I my 24 inch pullman is expandable. It pops up about 2 inches deeper, for carrying home souvenirs. Yes, its bulkier and harder to carry that way, but you'll want to bring home stuff!

heather

Just want to say that all of the brands of luggage that have been recommended are available at the Department Stores. Just wait for the big sales and you will save a lot of money! I got 2 wheeled carry-ons from Ricardo for $65 each, regularly they cost $125.00!!
Why spend more when you don't have to?

Paige

Al, I'm flying Munich to the U.S. in a few days so I just checked on luggage rules. On Delta international flights, each passenger can take 2 checked pieces (max of about 70 pounds each) and 1 carry-on (max of about 30 pounds). I was told that it doesn't matter if you check luggage or not, you can still only take 1 carry-on and a purse (or maybe a camera?). I recall American only letting me take on 1 carry on as well.
The rules are different for flying within Europe. I don't know what they are and they seem to vary by airline and by agent. Basically, they're a lot stricter about carry-ons, especially if the plane is small.

charlotte

One of the first questions we ask ourselves when trying to decide how much to pack is how many times are we going to have to pack up and move during this trip. If we are planning to pack/move 5 times in a two week trip, we pack light (one carry-on sized bag each and one day pack between us).
If we are going to be staying in one hotel - in a big city or a resort area - for a week and then picking up a rental car for the rest of the trip, we might take an extra bag or bags that slightly larger than carry-ons.
I often decide what shoes I'm willing to take first and then plan the rest of my wardrobe around them. (I've realized that if I don't, I'm likely to find myself trying to pack 4 pairs of shoes for a three day business trip.)
Anyway, enjoy your trip!

Gina

Don't forget that not only size, but *weight* can also be a factor with carry-ons (as well as with calculating weight allowance for checked baggage, but that's another matter). I had a carry-on that was perfectly within the size limits for my BA flights from Amsterdam to Heathrow and then back to the US, but it was over the weight limit. At some airports they don't pay much attention to weight on the carry-ons, but at Schiphol they're very strict about it, so they made me check the carry-on. (I picked it up at Heathrow and carried it on with me Heathrow-JFK; the gate personnel at Heathrow couldn't have cared less.)

lisa

Another vote for Eagle Creek! I love mine. I got the one that is just within the carry-on size limits, with wheels, that converts to a backpack and also has a detachable daypack. It was pricey but absolutely 100% worth it. We got ours at REI. You can also get it online through rei.com and I think eaglecreek.com and ebags.com

sam

11 pairs of shoes.......wow...... Last trip of 10 days in Europe and 2 cities, I made it in a small carry on roller and a backpack which had a rolled up duffle bag in it. I filled the duffle up with goodies, and it was a pain to bring back. Take one pair of shoes that will go with everything and that are comfortable as street shoes. I had my bigger suitcase but was determine to travel with the little on. I know it is hard, but you can do it ! ! ! ! !

Marilyn Ham

We pack light. Our luggage, packed, weighs anywhere from 11 to 18 lbs. depending on who's carrying the tour books. We take--3 slacks, 3 harmonizing shirts, 1 jacket, scarf, raincoat (carried), wear one pair of Ecco shoes and pack a pair of Tevas. Tour books which we reduce to sections along with reservation info. Cosmetics are paired down to minimum and medications are rolled in saranwrap and placed with our money in our money belt. A month before we go we practice walking for one hour carrying our packs. We have Eagle Creek packs. The first time we went we took rolling luggage and got lost. After wheeling it over Rome's cobbledstoned streets, I was ready to abandon it to the first thief who would take it off my hands--no one was that foolish though. It was a lesson well learned. Marilyn

nancy

Al,
Carry on info for Continental (to italy)
One carry on allowed ,plus a purse as long as it is "small"

Guido

Margo: all good advice. Traveling light is a must. You may find some useful information on this topic at the following site:

www.travelite.org

I have had good experience with luggage bought from Land's End.

m.shaw

Hi,
We did three weeks in Italy this October....go LIGHT! We took 2 bags each. One to carry by hand and another to put on our backs.It was ok,but next time ONE! I agree that Chicos is great for travel clothes! I want to buy the Eagle Creek bag that has both the roller and back-strap option.We saw miserable people in the Milan train station that had too much and were very unhappy!Good Luck.