annieladd

Going to France for 2 weeks. Planning to bring 19 inch carry on (on rollers) and 26 inch checked bag (also roll on). How much do you usually carry for a 2 week trip, am I carrying too much?

Kristinelaine

I think the biggest question is how you are going to travel. By car? or by public transportation? We only use trains and I take only one carry-on for a three week trip. Needless to say, I wash things out. And I take only thin things or things which can be made thin in pack-mate bags (the air is squeezed out).

eurotraveller

Annie, I think you opened up a can of worms with this post!

I only carry one 22 inch carry on and a personal item (small hand bag of some sort). I travel this way because my luck with checking baggage has never been good). I also take some liquid laundry detergent and wash things as I go.

isabel

How do you plan to carry the luggage? Can you lift the 26"? Would you be able to carry them both up a flight of stairs? If you do a search on this subject you'll get a couple of hours worth of posts to read. The majority will say you only need a 19-22" carry-on. That's all I take (plus the large pocketbook or daypack) for three week trips.

Statia

I generally travel with a 22" rolling suitcase and a day bag for nearly any length trip (I just did a three month stint the same way). I also put a folded up duffle bag inside my suitcase for things I might buy, and I find a laundry facility every few days. I've learned that I'd rather do laundry along the way and travel lighter.

StCirq

If you are traveling by train, you're in trouble with that much luggage. Try spending half a day on public transportation in the nearest big city to where you live and you'll see what I mean.

If you're renting a car, theoretically you can take as much luggage as the car will hold.

I take one 22" suitcase for trips of 2 weeks or longer, plus a fairly large totebag that holds my laptop, maps, camera, wallet, pad of paper, pens, and all the stuff you need while walking around. Even my one 22" roll-on is almost too heavy for me by the end of a trip, when I've jammed presents and souvenirs into it.

tpatricco

Annie - Really think about this. I learned the hard way on my first trip to Italy with a 26" wheeled suitcase and a fairly large sized carry on bag. It was way too much and too heavy to manage on trains all over the country. One 22" case should be enough with a medium sized carry on. Remember not to stuff them to the max on your way there. You'll need room, as StCirq noted, for souvenirs and stuff you buy along the way. Just pack things that coordinate well with each other, you'll need less. Travel is much more fun when you're not struggling. No need for a different outfit (and shoes) for each day! Trust us, you'll be happier with a lighter load!

Marilyn

Like Statia, I carry the same luggage for 1 week or 1 month. Adapt to your own style, but my basics are:

1. Rolling bag no larger than 24" (I check it.)
2. Carry on #1: tote bag
3. Carry on #2: medium size daypack (This is my bag for everyday. Small leather purse goes in it and can be used for evenings.)

With the tote slipped over the handle of the rolling bag and the daypack on my back, I still have one hand free, and I can walk, negotiate stairs, etc. with no problem.

Annie, you have a choice. You can take too large of a bag (yes, 26" is too large) like every first time tourist to Europe, or you can be smarter than that and take what you can physically handle yourself.

All this is fairly irrelevant if you are a)traveling by car or b)staying in one place the entire time.

nytraveler

Well, first I wouldn;t take two rollies - it will be very difficult to manage both of them at the same time.

For a 3/4 week trip I take a 25" rollie plus a large Sportsac (nylon shoulder bag) for a carryon. This has always held everything I need and more (assuming that you wash undies/shirts halfway through), including 3/4 going out to dinner outfits and 7/8 outfits for day time.

If it's a business trip - and I need a bunch of suits, shirts and pumps as well as my casuale clothes I go for a 27" rollie (which holds files and work stuff as well as clothes) plus my computer bag as a carry-on.

So the question is - what will you be doing on the trip that requires a lot of/special clothes. Otherwise I would put everything in the large rollie and take a very small carry-on with just toiletires, sweater, book etc.

rex

I agree with the principle of same luggage for four days or forty.

Second principle: to travel light; the luggage needs to be light when empty: oyur <i>largest</i> bag should weigh no more than <i>eight</i> pounds empty - - that's a nylon 22 inch &quot;rollaboard&quot;. Check this one. Your second bag (your &quot;carry-on&quot should weigh no more than eight OUNCES when empty. That's a small-medium nylon duffel. I agree with no two rolling bags. The duffel will fit, dunbell (&quot;saddlebags&quot over the handle of the rollaboard and you can travel many, many &quot;blocks&quot; like this, even over cobblestones, if needed.

Either one of these bags CAN be packed TOO heavy, if you let that happen. With either bag, you ought to be able to life any one bag completely above your head, and climb up and down one complete flight of stairs. Without touching handrails or wall. Then you should be able to carry BOTH of them at once, up and down a flight of stairs (but carrying in the normal way).

For most folks that is a combined packed weight of no more than 40-45 pounds. That is still a LOT of stuff.

Best wishes,

Rex

cmeyer54

Agree with the above - take a 22&quot;rollie and lightweight, packable, coordinating stuff. Find laundromats along the way. Put a collapse-able tote in the 22&quot; for the presents and extras. One thing to remember...if you have multiple suitcases, etc. you can be an easy target for pickpockets or worse. We saw folks loaded down in the train station in Prague who were hassled constantly by pan handlers, etc. They were an easy mark.

janis

For most trips I take the same thing - one 21 inch rollaboard and a medium sized handbag. No day pack, no tote bag, and certainly no add'l suitcase.

For some trips I'll instead use just an 18 inch rollaboard - if only for a few nights or if I'm going somewhere really warm or tropic where I'll need fewer and very light weight clothing.

For about 80% of my trips - summer or winter -- the 21 inch bag is more than large enough.

Leave the 26 incher at home and pack smart . . . . . .

WillTravel

I'd say pack enough clothes for 4 days and do laundry every few days. Pack extra underwear.

Statia

WillTravel has another great addition. I never take more than four changes of clothes, plus extra undergarments, and toiletries. The additionals, such as camera, guidebooks, etc. go in my tote/day bag.

kaudrey

On my 2 week trip to Spain, in winter (so I needed warm clothes), I brought a 21&quot; carry on and a small backpack, and a purse.

I'd definitely try to pair down your stuff. As noted, two rollers will be hard to manage. I'd try for one roller (use the big one if you feel you need it) and a backpack/daypack of some sort. It is so much easier to get around.

Of course, if you are staying in one place for 2 weeks, having extra luggage isn't as much of a concern because you'd only have to lug it around a few times...

Karen

RufusTFirefly

For a two week trip, Mrs. Fly and I will usually take two 26-27&quot; suitcases and a small carry-on pack. We've never had any trouble on trains with two suitcases that size. Of course, if you are not in good physical condition then it could be a different story.

Of course, we tend to stay in one place 3-5 days before moving on to the next, so if you're the &quot;if it's Tuesday this must be Belgium&quot; type of tourist who spends only one or two days in a spot, then you'll have to deal with your luggage more often.

We don't like to cook, do laundry, mow lawns, etc. while on vacation. Carrying a suitcase a couple of times a week is no big deal to us.

But only you can judge your travel style, physical condition, and how you want to spend your time. To us, spending a few minutes situating our luggage on a train is better than doing laundry or doing without something we want with us. To other people, the opposite is true. Certainly it's best to travel as light as you can, but how you define that depends on you.

Of course, there is also a status and snob thing on most travel sites to see who can claim to carry the smallest amount of luggage. &quot;You aren't a real traveler unless you can carry everything in just your pants and shirt pockets and one ziplock sandwich bag.&quot;

ira

Hi annie,

That is as much luggage as my wife and I brought for three weeks for the two of us.

annieladd

Wow, thanks everyone for your comments. I'm flying into CDG, transfering to Orly, flying to Avignon (yes, I know, I should have taken the TGV), staying in a home near Avignon for a week, then flying back to CDG, and staying in Paris for a week. So, though I'm staying fairly put, it sounds like I'm still carrying way too much. I'll take a look at the 22&quot;, and see if I can make do with it and a carry on.... Thanks again for your input, I know I'll have lots more questions until September.

m_kingdom2

For two weeks dear, I couldn't manage without two handluggages - holdall style, at the moment I'm using a new Mulberry one &quot;Admiral's Clipper&quot; style, and a vintage Gucci one which I've had for more years than I care to remember.

As for hold luggage, they always get thrown around and scuffed, dropped, etc. No point wasting too much money on these items. I have a case that when sat upright comes up to my waist, and I'm not a dwarf. It's about a foot or more deep, and hold enough for a two week casual summer holiday. If I'm planning on going to smart places in the evening, parties and suchlike, an additional smaller case may be required, or if allowed, a suit hanger to carry on to the plane.

Marilyn

I am a light packer, but not one of those who manages to take only carry on, so one tip, annieladd: If you are going to check your main bag anyway, see if you can find a 23 or 24&quot; rolling case. Those extra few inches make a huge difference in the interior space. My 26&quot; case seems huge to me and I haven't used it in years.