..traveling light means 1. never having to say I am sorry I packed this 2. having something that is appropriate for all occasssions (NOT potential occassions..forget it! you are not going to get a last minute invite to the Queen's garden party) 3. using pretty much everything you packed 4. finding that you biceps and triceps have not hypertrophied during the trip 5. not generating a tour guide to the laundromats of Europe.

And I'm going along with Hopscotch!

Hey there's an idea, maybe you can pick a successful traveling companion by their answers on this one issue alone?

For Kayb95: I travel light, wear the same outer clothing many times per trip(alternating outfits, hanging them to air out in between, and rinsing undies in the sink, if you must know). I take a shower daily and use deodorant (I mention only because you specifically asked).

Yes, I wear the same outfits more than once (who cares). No, I do not stink (I'm not sure what's wrong with some of you but I simply am not that sweaty or smelly).

It depends on how you are travelling.

Back in the good old days (when you were allowed two carry ons), our family of 4 went for 2 weeks with just two carry ons apiece.

The next year I took a 2 week trip with a friend and I got by with one carry on - he had a huge rolling duffelbag that must have held everything except the kitchen sink!

But since we were going by car, it made littl difference.

A couple of years ago, I did my Europe backpacking trip with some friends. Two of us had backpacks, the other a tiny wheeled suitcase. We were taking the train from Madrid to san Sebastian. At first, our train compartment was empty except for an old Spanish couple.

Then this whole group of American high school studnets came on to our compartment - their suitcases were HUGE! (probably 29" suitacases) It looked like they were all moving to spain! One girl came on with her massive suitcase and was trying to move the suitcase horizontally but it was stuck and she started having an attitude and screaming at the top of her lungs. When the old Spanish man indicated that she should turn her suitcase to pull through she screamed back at him.

Finally she got the hint. the entire group had the same size luggage and there was luggage in the aisle way -nobody could walk through.

I was so emabarressed being an American and so angry that these idiots didn't know how to pack lightly.

Point is - always better to take smaller luggage. Like others said, 26" may be too big. go for 24" or better yet 22". Take only what is necessary.

A good idea is to pack a small duffle bag at the bottom of your suitcase. In case you buy stuff on your trip, you can pull it out when needed.

Those American highschool students on the train in Spain may have been exchange students. Some stay in another country for the entire school year, so it is impossible for them to just pack a real small suitcase.

To xxxx:

JosephA. brand, made of Viscose & Nylon tends to be the brand of tops I pack. They lay very nicely, wash & dry well.

I learned how to pack light in high school because I played the tuba. When we travelled, we had to carry our own stuff. When you're already carrying a tuba, about all you pack for yourself is a toothbrush, toothpaste and clean underwear.

Once, the tuba got stuck coming down the baggage carousel and blocked the top of the ramp. Thankfully, I didn't have to climb up and retrieve it.

<i>&quot;For Kayb95: I travel light, wear the same outer clothing many times per trip(alternating outfits, hanging them to air out in between, and rinsing undies in the sink, if you must know). I take a shower daily and use deodorant (I mention only because you specifically asked). Yes, I wear the same outfits more than once (who cares). No, I do not stink (I'm not sure what's wrong with some of you but I simply am not that sweaty or smelly).&quot;</i>

Gee, I do all that, too - except for rinsing out the panties. I wear the clothes I pack more than once, but I pack enough socks and panties for the entire trip. So maybe I'm what would be called a semi-light packer? :)

Kayb95,

The glass is half full and half empty, depending on your point of view. I would say that you are semi-heavy packer.

I do not relish scrubbing the duds so I pack 3 sets of U-wear plus the ones I'm wearing. I wash in the bidet about twice a week. I let them soak while I am out eating, then rinse and wring and hang. Unless I drip spaghetti sauce on my shirt it is not dirty.

If someone else is paying for my trip, say a long business trip, I'll take a week supply and let the hotel do the wash, and let the company pick up the outrageous tab. Yeah, ironed T-shirts and boxers! ;-)

When is MK2 going to wade in here!!!!? I was missing him/her but saw a couple of posts yesterday.

Funny thing I have only ever spilled wine on my clothing, never spaghetti sauce!

You use the bidet to wash your underclothes? I would hope the maid cleaned it after the many people before you washed other things (if you know what I mean) in it.

I would use the sink. Maybe I am just overly picky in that dept.

T.M.I.

I was really proud of myself over Xmas. We went on a week-long trip split between Rome and Florence. I packed everything in a school-size backpack (sorry I'm not very technical with size) and a purse. I carried both on, which resulted in me getting to Italy with all my bags! (I typically have bad luck with that sort of thing.) Having to rewear the same two basic outfits all week was a small price to pay for the convenience of not having suitcases to haul around on and off trains!

Hi SeaUrchin, you posted what I wanted to but did not have the nerve to.

I had the same exact thought, LOL.

People, do you know what the bidet is used for?

Yes my travel companion wanted to attempt to cool our room temp bottled beer this way in Venice one afternoon. I HAD to stop him... ewwwww!

Oh suze, yuuuuck! LOL.

After reading the posts recommending a 22&quot; suitcase, I visited a Samsonite outlet. The salesperson recommended a duffle on wheels which had the advantage of being narrower, but holding more (could be 26-36&quot; without being wider than a 22&quot; suitcase)-also much lighter.

I haven't tested it, but I'd be cautious about how well one of those 26-36&quot; duffles would fit in train luggage racks and other tight spaces. I can't believe it would be as easy to handle as a 22&quot; rolling suitcase. When packed, such a suitcase is typically in the 10 kg (22.5 pound) range, at least for me, and that's an easy to handle weight. I've had it weighed at the airport several times.

Hi stillhouse, I agree with WillTravel. It is not just the measurement, it is the weight.

If you are traveling by train please keep all of this into consideration.