robbiegirl:
Have you seen this recent post?

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34477115

allisonm:
Way too many sweaters! Oh course you may bring what you like, but I assume they aren't worn next to your skin, so I would only bring one.

Perhaps I'm ignorant, but if you're on holiday for "10 days" what do you achieve by having such a tiny suitcase? If you are away for perhaps a short weekend, then having such a small case offers you the luxury of time saving by not having to wait for hold baggage to be offloaded.

However, unless you are intending on wearing the same suit, with a change of shirts daily it is pointless to pack this way. For a 10 day trip I'd be taking at least 30 different items to allow a change of clothes two to three times per day. Unless this can be squeezed into a "22" carryon" by some unknown methods, along with 3 toiletry cases, and five or six pairs of shoes, not one person can convince me to change.

I do not know who is carrying your luggage, m-kingdom. Here in States we do it ourselves. Our butlers usualy taking time off while we are on vacation.

All my clothes fit into two large cases, and two handluggages - holdall style. These will fit on any airport trolley, and once through customs my driver will take care of it, then a porter will convey and unpack it in my room so no problem there.

thanks for clarifying this, m-kingdom.

What would I do with my Husband and child's stuff ?

Well, you husband being the gentleman that he is would take care of it. You will have two airport trolleys which will be adequate your family's needs. This way you do not have to make cutbacks, always better to have too much than too little.

All my clothes fit into two large cases, and two handluggages - holdall style X 3 !!!
You got to be single to do this !

I was basing my assumption on your child not having nearly as many clothes as you and your husband.

After twenty years I'm still trying to pack light. It has become a necessity since I no longer care to 'manage' a lot of luggage. You really don't need to take a hair dryer as most places provide them either in the room or at the desk (if you ask). I also prefer the disposal facials cloths since they can be tossed after each use. Most places also provide shampoo/conditioner Look for fabrics that don't wrinkle and are stain resistant and/or can be washed and dried over night. Darker colors are good. Note that Europeans tend to dress for dinner more than Amercians. And remember anything you find you really need and don't have can easily be purchased.

It does not change impossibility if she has 1 bag instead of 2, does it ?

I am printing this out everyone and will be sitting tonight figuring out whther is going to Europe with "only" one suit is even possible and then I might even decide to stay home :(

Have you ever got this pre-trip rush.
I am so bad with packing, so it is seems to me that I am going to just drop everithing and got histerical !

But with your help I will try to get my *** togeather and PACKkhkhkhkh...

Thanx

Holidays are meant to be relaxing, please grow up and/or go to your doctor so they can prescribe you some valium to calm you down.

Ziana,
Go get the ziploc bags now!
JoeG

It isn't always necessary to pack light. How many different places are you staying in 10 days and how do you plan to get around? If you have only 1 or 2 destinations or are traveling by air, there's no need to obsess over the packing issue.

I remember when I was on the train stopped at the Frankfort airport some poor husband hauling 4 (yes 4) huge suitcases (must have been 30" each) onto the train while his perfectly dress wife watched. I was wondering who would haul the suitcases after the husband went into the hospital with a hernia. At least at this train stop you could take an elevator or escaltor instead of trying to haul the suitcases up and down stairs.

elberko, I know I need to improve if we go to Ireland since we will be schlepping bags often. I don't mind taking less clothes since we are never in the same place long. I have the same jacket on in all the photos anyway!

I was glad we packed lite when our plane did not make it to the next airport on time, and we missed the overseas leg. However, the airline got us on a different route within 20 minutes and we arrived at our destination only 1 1/2 hours late, with an extra connection.

We had our two rollerbags and a backpack each - rollers went up in the overhead, backpacks under the seat.
No missing or unattended luggage. Cool.

I remember an old thread asking us how long it would take us to get ready to leave for the airport if someone handed us a ticket to europe. I'll never forget Elvira's answer -- as long as it would take me to go home, pick up my passport and call my catsitter -- or something to that effect:) The point being she would buy anything she needed there:)

I just got back from 3 weeks in SE Asia in a 22" rollaboard. Granted I'm short and the summer clothing that is appropriate for that climate is lighter than winter clothes. I did give in once and have my laundry done -- not at the hotel [who wanted $27 USD], but at a local laundry who asked $1.75 US. But mostly I washed in the sink and hung up to dry. [BTW as a courtesy to housekeeping I try to wash after my room is made up and to have it dry by the time I leave in the morning. If something is a little damp -- that's what those pitiful wall hairdryers are for ;)]

allisonm:

So glad you took my post in the light way it was meant!

The key for me to pack light with a just a carry-on and small additional bag is:

clothes you can easily mix and match (black, grey)
light weight fabrics- no jeans unless you wear them only on the plane
use the bundle or roll method to pack
no applicances
3 pairs of shoes (I am always wearing one pair)

I always bring enough enough underwear and socks for the length of my trip so I don't worry about laundry. These clothing items are small enough I can stuff in without worrying about wrinkling. I also bring enough tops for the number of days I will be traveling. As long as I have 4-5 pairs of pants I am good for 2 weeks. Remember you can wear the same outfit at night a few times because you won't see the same people!

It can be done, try it. You can always buy clothes at your destintion if you feel you need more.

Someone asked WHY you should bother to pack everything into a small (19-22" suitcase). Here are some reasons:

1. Under 22" is considered carry on for most airline (except BA and maybe a few others). If you don't have to check luggage you don't have to
a) worry about the airline loosing it
b) wait for it once you land
which means that you also
c) get through passport control when the lines are shorter, before the hords of people who had to wait for their luggage

2. That size luggage is easy to deal with on public transportation - for example the tube or metro into cental London or Paris. This
a) saves a lot of money
b) saves a lot of time
c) is sometimes necessary even if you are willing to spend the time and money for a taxi (like a rainy monday morning in Paris when NO taxi's were available)

3. Fits overhead or between the seats on trains so you don't have to worry about it being stolen by leaving it in the luggage area at the end of the train.

4. Won't cost an arm and a leg in overage fees if you choose to fly one of the inter-continental airlines like Ryan air, etc

5. Won't break your back if you have to carry it up stairs in your hotel - which greatly expands the hotel possibilities if you don't have to find one with a lift - and many charming, good value hotels in European cities do not have lifts.

In short - it provides you with more time, money and freedom than if you travel with larger bags.