I'm curious about how much luggage other folks plan to take for their trips to Europe this year. We'll take one 22" wheeled suitcase on our 19-day trip to Amsterdam and Germany, and I'll have a backpack and a purse. Needless to say, I'll be making considerable fashion waves with my glamorous backpack.

In short, how much stuff do you feel you need to take with you and why and how do you stash it in and about your person without looking like a street person?

Hello - last year my husband and I travelled to London/Italy and said to hell with it. We didn't want to travel with one pair of jeans, 2 pullovers and 2 t-shirts, we wanted to travel with clothes to go out in, clothes to sight see in, enough underwear to see us through and so on - we were sick of the budget traveller look.

So . . . we invested in two very expensive, large suitcases and two international size rollons.

Sure we had stacks of clothes, but funny, ended up wearing the same jeans, the same pullovers, the same set of going out clothes over and over, with a laundromat in between.

Next trip - backpacks.

One bag each and I'll have a day pack too, which Keith will dump all his stuff in.

We take two full-size (26-27&quot suitcases and one day pack.

Hi

My wife and I would take one large, wheeled suitcase and two carryons.

We always take a 22" rolling suitcase each, with a rolled up a duffel bag in one to bring souvenirs back in.

Once in awhile, depending on the time of year and how much we'll need, we have to take an additional duffel bag.

So, the most luggage we ever come home from Europe with is a 22" and duffel bag each. I couldn't imagine traveling with more, although I've done it in the past.

I travel with a 22" suitcase and carry a purse that is big enough to hold the necessities (small umbrella, travel book, etc.). I also pack a duffle that folds up in my bag to bring home my purchases in. I'm always tempted to bring more, but then I always remember the trip to London where I had to carry my bags up several flights of stairs in one of the Tube stations. Its truly a matter of personal taste- take as much as you need to feel comfortable, but not so much stuff that you feel bogged down by all your baggage!

I travel very light - one carry-on bag only.
I gave up on suitcases long ago ...

Next month we will EACH take one small rolling 22" (one with a garment bag for dress clothes and one a duffel) and a tote (toileteries, camera, sleepwear, etc for easy access and things we do not want to check) plus one zip sporto folded for bringing back souvenirs. One of the 22" can expand and give 11 inches of depth instead of 8". This is the first time we have tried this and when packing, I may expand it.

We will be in Europe 23 nights (plus one in the plane) so we have plotted out on our itinerary where we plan to do laundry (twice) so hope this will work.

We usually have taken 1 26" rolling duffel, 1 22" (unexpanded going, expanded during trip) 1 tote and the sporto. The 22" usually had a 3 day supply of clothes for both of us so we did not have to take the 26" in each stop only when to replenish clothes. This worked well for places such as Venice (vaparetto) or one night stop overs. However, for several stops this time, it was recommended not to leave anything in the car so we are going to give it a try.

What is a "daypack?"

who is carrying it, that's my first question. I've traveled with as many as 8 separate pieces (ok, some were small - but I was still appalled) and as few as one small carryon for a 5 day trip. the larger the number of suitcases, the more you will spend b/c there comes a point where you'll spend anything to just NOT have to lug the damn stuff around yourself.

if you are getting away with one 22' for 19 days, wow! you are an inspiration.

MissEve: A "daypack" is a smaller backpack. It comes in handy once you have arrived and put your luggage in the hotel. Then you take your umbrella/lightweight jacket, sunglasses, suntan lotion, guide book, maps, etc. and put those in your daypack and off you go!

Your money, passport and other essentials go in your money belt around your waist and under your clothes.

My wife has a very smart daypack which she got somewhere in Europe (can't remember where) and I have a plain blue daypack by Jansport.

We each travel with a 21" which we sometimes check in but, if we don't want to, we can carry them onto the plane with us. We each have a large backpack which we always carry on with us. Everything that we don't want to lose goes into the larger backpack.

If you are wondering where the daypacks are, they are packed into the 21" on departure and are handcarried onto the plane on return (21" are checked in), making for the second piece of carryon luggage.

My wife also packs away a very small purse for those evenings when we go out on the town.

We have travelled this way for years and this system has worked out very well for us.

Happy travels, everyone!

Since we generally take our trips of 10 to 20 days to Europe in the period October to March when bulky clothes are necessary, my wife and I each take a hardsided wheeled 26 inch suitcase substantial enough to sit on. We each pack half of each suitcase. For shorter periods we make do with one.

My wife has a sturdy cloth briefcase that can hang on the suitcase for her meds and a change of clothes. She also carries a shoulder purse and her cane.

I carry a shoulder bag (20x12x8) holding meds, toiletries, camera, film, book(s), tickets, travel umbrella, and a change of clothes.

We have two other items which go with us: a 30 inch, very strong cardboard tube (fits diagonally in the suitcase) for any posters or prints we will buy and a very lightweight backpack for water bottles, guidebook and other things we might need during our sightseeing. The backpack is also handy for bringing home any small purchases.

What we take depends on what kind of transportation we'll be using. If we will be using a car, my husband and I take one large wheeled suitcase that will accomodate the clothing and shoes for us both. Our kids take their backpacks and very small pull alongs, since they don't feel the need to bring the kitchen sink with them as we do! If, however, we're using public transportation, we each bring our own 22" wheeled suitcases. I bring along a small carryon sachel to carry toiletries, brochures, etc., and my husband carries the camera bag.

Depends on the season... Summer, I take (1) 22" rolling suitcase plus a very large pocketbook for 3 weeks.

Recently (since I've had to check even the 22"ers lately going to Europe) I bought a 24" wheeled, expandable (whooo-hoo) but haven't tried it yet.

The one time I did Switzerland in winter I had to give in and take a normal suitcase (but I wasn't moving about, staying only one location with friends). Two sweaters and a pair of boots practically filled my normal 22" bag!!

As far as the street-person question, once I arrive I simply carry my normal everyday nice leather pocketbook from home, works fine for me.

A travel pack, consisting of 1) the main bag that can be worn as a moderately large backpack or carried via handle like a suitcase or strap as an over-the-shoulder bag and 2) the detachable daypack that zips onto the outside. I may carry them onto the plane as 1 bag, or may separate them, check the bigger section and use the daypack as a carry-on w/ my toiletries and reading materials. That's all I ever take, even when I left for 6 months of travelling around the world, and that's what I'll take next month on a 9-day trip to Spain.

I brought one 22" rolly bag for 2 weeks in Italy. Packed for about 8 days and did laundry in between.