We are planning a 2 week trip to Santorini, Naxos and Athens in May. We have never traveled to Europe before.
I see the experienced travelers here say they pack only what they can carry on, so they won't have to deal with baggage claim.
We have only the big black luggage with wheels. I can't imagine packing for such an exotic trip in a carry on, but am willing to try. I am also concerned about negotiating the cobblestone steep streets and steps that I imagine we will find on Santorini. Taking a ferry to Naxos ~ well I am starting to wonder how we should prepare for this.
We are in our 50s and not particularly physically agile. So while I am curious about using a backpack, I wonder if this is an easy thing to do, and if that qualifies as carry on baggage.
I don't know if I have articulated the concern very well... but you probably get the idea.
Should we just go with the traditional bag and not worry about it?
What suggestions can you offer?

While we don't have a problem with checking luggage, we do have a problem with schlepping it up stairs at hotels, train stations, etc. I wouldn't try to take a traditional backpack if you aren't "physically agile". However, for the same reason, I wouldn't take a large wheeled suitcase either. I would suggest a 22" or 24" lightweight wheeled suitcase. This should be sufficient for your 2 week trip if you don't mind rinsing out a few things along the way. The weather in Greece should be warm in May so you won't have to worry about packing heavy sweaters, etc.

I would certainly pay attention to the "empty" weight of your luggage. Some pieces can weigh as much as 10 lbs or more before you ever put anything in them. I'd go for something under 8 lbs. You can check out types of luggage with their weights on www.ebags.com to get an idea of what's available.

Hi Fishshe,

I think what they are saying is not 'pack what you can carry on' but rather pack only what you can "carry" meaning: if you can't bring it up the stairs (many European hotels do not have elevators) or if you can't lift it up onto a train, or lift it to stow it away, then there is a problem.

You can check a larger bag by all means, but just make sure you can manage it on your own over cobblestones, and the examples stated above.

The good news is that you are traveling during a warm time of year and that always allows for more room. One thing I do to conserve space is by not taking too many shoes.


Best wishes, have a lovely journey!

For Christmas, my DH got me a great 21" Eagle Creek rolling carry on. I do love it, and although I'd been using much bulkier 21" rolling carryons, weighing 7.5 and 8 pounds, this one is a dream at just under 6 pounds.

Consider that the weather will be warm, and you can pack light clothing. Read up on packing light on this forum (the threads on this subject have links to some other packing sites) and practice.

We are in our mid 50s, and although my DH is strong, I am a physical wreck. I pull a rolling carry on, and an large shoulder bag with a long strap that I wear across my chest.

I take one night gown from wintersilks.com that weighs nothing, and rinses and dries in very little time. Pack travel size toiletries, or buy toiletries in Greece, and take just enough for a couple of days.

I don't check luggage, not because of the hassle of baggage claim, but because there are too many "ifs" when we travel long distances and change planes.

Last February, we were to land in Rome in the early morning, and then take a mid day train to Florence. We were rerouted through Amsterdam and talked the airline into flying us into Florence rather than Rome. Had our luggage with us, so no problems. One of my husband's colleagues was on the flight to Rome that went to Amsterdam. They went on to Rome, and didn't see their bags for three days. YUCK!

That is just one example of several times when we were quite glad we had carry on when traveling overseas.

One more thing: I don't care when my luggage reaches me when I get home, so I always take an expandable rolling carry on with an extra bag that folds up to about paper back book size. We fill these all up by the time we check our luggage to return home.

Hope this helps.

A traditional backpack is too large to use as a carryon. For many years now I've limited myself to a full-size daypack for my valuables, money, reading material, change of underwear and toothbrush, etc, and an expandable duffle bag. That way I can rest easy that I've got control of those items that could spell disaster if the duffle should somehow get lost. Clothing goes into the duffle adjusted to its smallest size. Then as I travel and find things to buy I can expand it and if necessary check it for the flight home. Most of the time it still passes inspection as a carryon, so I usually don't have to wait for the ground crew to unload my bags after the long flight home. I'm usually out of the airport while most of my fellow passengers are still waiting around for their stuff.

There's an old "rule" about placing everything you are planning to take with you on your bed and then taking only 1/2 of that with you.

I think the detail some folks forget to "mention" when they go on and on about thier trip halfway around the world with only a carry-on is the one that deals with LAUNDRY.

Someone above mentioned 'rinsing out" a few items. How i wish I could survive with merely "rinsing" things out...I have to WASH mine or they stink.

So, find somewhere in that carry-on for the laundry supplies (it is amazing what you can do with a small botle of dish detergent) or budget money for having the stuff done for you (and who was it here who tried to convince us that the cost of having your laundry done by the hotel is "cheap"...yeah, right!).

Have a wonderful trip.

It depends a lot on your physical condition, but we've never had any particular trouble schlepping our check-in size luggage around the world.

Of course, if we were the type of travelers who would change locations every day or two and had to deal with schlepping that luggage around just about every day, that would be a different story. But handling the luggage every 3 or 4 days is no big deal--for us. I guess as time works its wonders on our physical conditions, that will change.

I'm a light-packing fanatic, while my husband is a big suitcase guy. On the few occasions where I've had to take a larger bag than usual (e.g. multi-activity/climate one-month honeymoon), he's volunteered to schlep my bag up and down stairs for me - but he's tall, strong and agile.

Travelling on my own, I would never use anything larger than a 22" expandable suitcase plus a fairly roomy daypack (about 32 litres) for a trip where I have to negotiate trains, multiple stops, narrow streets, etc. I'm 5'7" and fairly strong, but I have trouble moving easily with anything larger. I have a terrific Victorinox Werks suitcase and Victorinox daypack that fit these requirements. Some people say that wheeled luggage is no good for negotiating hills and twisty streets, but I'd rather have luggage with wheels I can use most of the time, even if occasionally I have to pick the thing up and carry it. (Just make sure that you can pick the thing up and carry it.)

I don't recommend convertible backpacks (e.g. backpacks that convert into handled suitcases, or backpacks that have wheels and handles) - the convertible features add weight and make the backpack feature less comfortable. One option, however, might be a rolling duffle bag.

You might try taking a 22" expandable suitcase (for you) and 24" suitcase for him. Make sure that you can fit everything into the suitcase without unzipping the expansion feature before you leave. Then you'll have room for purchases. I'm comfortable with a fairly large daypack, but since you mention that you're not particularly agile, you might want to get something a little smaller (or use a roomy shoulder bag).

I've posted responses to other queries like yours that give some suggestions for packing light. I'll just mention the highlights here. a) Lightweight layers that serve multiple functions (twinsets, pashmina scarves, lightweight polar fleece jacket, rainshell). b) Pick a colour combination and stick with it. c) Restrict yourself to 3 pairs of shoes or boots (comfy shoes or boots for the plane, a comfy spare pair and a dressy pair if you like to dress up). I have been known to pack an old pair of shoes that I'm willing to throw out if I have to at the end of the trip. d) Minimise the number and size of your personal care products and cosmetics (and use disposable travel size containers where possible so that you can ditch them at the end of the trip to make room for the purchase of a new pair of shoes). e) No one cares if you wear the same clothes repeatedly - wash them out or get them cleaned while travelling. (I'd rather spend $25 to get some clothes cleaned at my hotel, than have to move up a size in suitcases.) f) Photocopy the relevant bits of your guidebooks and then throw out the copies as you travel. If you read a lot while travelling, take either "disposable" books (beach reading) or small books that take a long time to read (I take French novels, since it takes a month for me to finish one; my husband packs Sudoko puzzles). f) Only pack clothes that you've tried on just before your trip and that you'd be comfortable wearing for hours and hours (except for one special dress-up outfit, which of course should fit but doesn't have to be "sleep in it" comfortable, as your daytime clothes should be). g) Don't forget to pack a few basic emergency personal care products (Neo-Citran, blister bandages, Immodium, Rolaids, Antihistamine tablets), but minimise the packaging.

I pack in a 22-24" rolling suitcase plus a large tote of some sort.

I do pack light (packed weight of suitcase approx. 25 lbs) AND I do check my luggage. I carry an additional bag on the plane with me and keep everything important in it (medication, glasses, money and one change of clothes)... just in case the checked suitcase is delayed.

Some people are carry-on only fanatics. For me that is silly and I think it is physically more work schlepping a suitcase thru airports and onto the flights, into the overhead bins, etc. than checking it thru and dealing with baggage claim.

I don't care for backpacks and since you say you are not particularly phsically agile, I think they would cause you more trouble than a nice neat wheelie.

Only Louis Vuitton or Goyard luggage will suffice for Greece, darling.

Fishshe-- Just how big is your "big black luggage"? And do they have good wheels that operate smoothly? Are they too big for you to easily life and carry yourself like to get up stairs, or onto the ferry? If it's a set maybe you can just use the smallest two pieces (one each person).

Otherwise I'd buy 2 new smaller bags. I have found mine at discount places like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, JC Pennys for about $50.

My wife and I are in our early 50's and have travelled to Greece several times. The first time we took suitcases and learned the unfortunate truth about a vacation in Greece. We realized that suitcases are very heavy and have to be lugged around on subways, ferries and stairs.
On the next trip we bought large back packs which were much easier to carry but we packed way too much stuff and found our feet and ankels suffered as a consequence. For us the lightbulb came on when we left our back packs at Attalos Hotel and took our day packs for a week on Samos and never missed all the stuff we had left behind.
Now we travel as lightly as possible and take only two slightly oversize day packs and live by my rule of “three" That is bring only 3 of each article of clothing, We live with one on, one fresh for tomorrow and one in the wash. I take my dirty stuff into the shower with me and thoroughly stomp them in the suds. This is very efficient, I get myself and my my clothes clean at the same time. My wife always buys a small box of detergent and washes her stuff in the sink. I like my method better.

Unfortunately my theory was handed an immediate set back on our first morning in Athens last May, when I found my undies had blown off the balcony and were lying in a rather ignominious heap on the roof of the building next door. I have vowed never to travel with greeen undies again. I had to finish the 4 week trip with only two pairs. On the positive side I now had a little extra room in my pack for a souvenir.
The day packs are small enough to be carry on on the airplane which has great advantages when you arrive in Athens. On our first trip I waited over an hour for my checked luggage. On our last trip we were on the Roof Top Bar at Attalos having a drink an hour after we arrived.

I do the same thing Suze does: 22- or 24-inch rolling bag, about 25 pounds packed, check it and carry an extra outfit, prescriptions, etc. on board in a lightweight carryon.

Flying with just a carry-on would be more appealing to me if I flew directly to my destination. but I have to fly from a regional airport to a hub and always have at least one layover, sometimes for several hours. I got really tired of rolling a suitcase around airports, up and down escalators, stairs and into restrooms, a long time ago. So it's check in my lightweight rollaboard and pick it up at my final destination.

As for packing for your trip, you actually can get a lot into a 22-or 24- inch rolling lightweight suitcase.
Backpacks are awkward if you're not used to them and are also tempting to pickpockets. You're planning early enough to gather lots of information, so I'm sure you'll have a wonderful trip.

One size fits all? Pragmatism suggests that you might emulate the flight attendants. I always see them with wheeled luggage cases and a small bag atop it. Visit your local airport. Note what is being used for luggage. Ask a flight attendant for advice. Don't be afraid to check baggage. Avoiding the hassle of 'humping' cabin limit bags is worth the carousel delay. Check weight and size limits for both international flights and domestic ones. Practice! load your luggage; try taking it to local places. Next...select your two week traveling wardrobe and try getting by with it for two weeks at home. Work with a scale and luggage items; discard or eliminate heavy items that are not essential. Western Europe is 'saturated' with great supply depots (Tesco, Carrefour, Wal-mart). Yesterday a student showed up with a new down type long coat..Tesco $5! It could pass for Columbia or Eddie Bauer at $100.

Several things to consider:

Packing only what you can carry on would literally leave you with a tiny amount of clothing on some transatlantic flights. BA, for example, only allows coach travellers to have something like 13 pounds of carryon luggage, which means that you couldn't come close to filling a bag with the maximum carryon dimensions.

As mentioned above, you also have to consider what you are willing to lug around once you get off the plane. You might pack completely differently if you're staying at five star hotels with bellhops as opposed to two star hotels with five floors and no elevator.

The other thing you have to factor in is laundry. Are you the type that will wash things in the room sink? Will you be staying in a hotel or aparment with laundry facilities? Would you have the valet take care of your cleaning at the hotel, or use a local cleaners? Will you do your own cleaning at a laundrette (if so, you need to consider that in your itinerary if you are going to rural areas)?

Personally, I'm a guy who checks one bag (techincally, the bag is a wheeled carry-on size for domestic flights, but I pack it full) and then a smaller bag that can ride on top of the checked bag when the handle is extended. That allows me to pack about six days worth of clothing, a jacket, a pair of shoes, some travel info (guidebook, maps, etc), a very small hair dryer and toiletries. I also will do my own cleaning at a laundrette, and factor that into my itinerary (I already know where I'm going to do laundry on my upcoming trip to Scotland, and approximately when).

Perhaps Santa brought me the same bag tuscanlifefeed mentioned above. The Eagle Creek Road Warrior--but mine is a 24".

A hint: not all 24" (or 22&quot are created the same. My old suitcase was a 24", but it's 4 inches wider and 9 lbs. heavier! The new one only weighs 6 lbs and I'm certain I won't miss those extra inches when I'm lugging it up and down train steps.

Look at both the weight and the dimensions when comparing bags.

I suspect there is no right answer to this question, as it depends very much on personal preference.

As for traveling only with carry-on luggage, that can be a real advantage, but I can't see myself doing it on a two week trip to Greece. You need a jacket and/or sweater for the evenings in May. For daytime I bring a few t-shirts and shorts, which can be washed in the room and hung out to dry. The Greek sun and wind will dry your clothes in only a few hours. I don't bring many clothes, but my downfall is: I like to bring a shortwave radio, camera, lots of books, mask & snorkle, sun cream, etc, so cary-on only is out of the question.

I am in my 60s, and have, until last year, taken my North Face Galileo travel pack (a backpack that zips up in the front rather than the top) on my trips to Greece. It has several advantages over a conventional backpack, one being that the straps can be tucked away before check-in, and another that it is easier to access items inside the pack.

Having said that, last year, for the first time, I took a wheeled suitcase, and will probably continue doing so in future. The ones with roller blade wheels work pretty well on rough pavement. Whichever you choose, you probably won't have to carry it very far. You can use trolleys in the airport, and hotel owners will usually meet you with a car or van on the islands. If you take the bus or metro in Athens, you may have a short walk to the hotel, and that's when a backpack may become a burden.

what I usually do is pack the utter essentials in carry on, and check things that are useful but I could live without if I have to. this worked out very well this summer when America Worst lost my checked bag for 5 days. I had to buy a number of things, but I had jammies and clean undergarments and toiletries and a few days worth of clothes and so on.

given that it is summer you may well each be able to pack what you need into a 22 inch suitcase.

Cobblestones can be murder. Get shoes that are suitable for an unstable walking surface, and even consider taking a cane to help with balance.