enzian

It isn't just an issue of getting on and off the train with that suitcase, and stowing it at the end of the car. To change trains, you often have to change tracks by going down a full flight of stairs, along a tunnel, and up another flight of stairs. There are rarely escalators or ramps. So try carrying your full suitcase up and down stairs a few times, and you'll have an idea what you face.

Packing light/smart has a lot to do with the clothes and fabrics you choose. I routinely take 4 pr. pants, 2 pr. shorts, 7 or 8 shirts and tops, a dress, two light jackets, a sweater, 3 pair of shoes, a hair dryer, etc. I wear the bulkiest items of clothing, and the rest fits into a 22" roller bag.

BTilke

I am not one of those who cling to the mantra of stuffing everything into a 22" bag, but even to me 29" for three weeks in summer sounds excessive. You should easily be able to fit everything you need--and still have room for purchases--into a smaller bag. I find a 24" or 25" bag a good compromise between the confines of those 22" bags and the space needed to store the big (26" plus) bags.

If your train travel will be mostly in second class, I highly recommend you consider a nice, wheeled duffle bag. They are narrower and roll easily down the aisles of second class compartments (you get more aisle room in first class). There are some stylish wheeled duffles around--my Italian colleagues usually travel with one. They are easier to stow overhead as well. I would also take along a dayback or nylon day bag (Longchamp makes an attractive nylon dayback and it seems like every middle-class Frenchwoman owns one of their "pliage" bags, which come in many colors).

clevelandbrown

If you already have this 29 inch bag, I would suggest you pack it, then measure and weigh it. Some 29 inch bags exceed the size limits of airlines, and you will be charged extra if they are checking that and catch you. I think the airlines now limit the weight of checked bags to 50 pounds, and charge extra if you are caught exceeding that. Carryon limits are lower, so you will not be able to carryon your luggage if it is that large.

I've not hauled that big a bag around in many years, but I think it would not be too difficult to get it on and off a train, depending of course on your strength. My concern would be that a bag of that size would have to be put in the racks at the end of the car, possibly far from your seats, and where a thief could hop on and off very easily. I do see people securing theirs with cables, but I don't want to have to haul a cable and lock all over, and when my son forgot his combination with his bike in our garage, it was surprisingly easy to cut the cable.

If you haven't yet bought the luggage, consider a smaller, more manageable piece, with wheels. They now have rollers that have a companion bag that can be mounted on the roller; the set can be handled as one bag while walking, but as two when lifting or checking.

My wife and I use 24 inch bags, and can easily carry enough for a 3 or 4 week trip, but then almost all our clothes are washable, and over the years we have accumulated a lot of items that are smaller than normal, in anticipation of using them on tour; for example, she has a small plastic bottle that she fills with the shampoo du jour, as the original bottle is quite large.

Intrepid1

Often the "cure" for taking "too much" is to ensure that the person who insisted on it also be required to carry the bag. Tough love works..as long as it remains "tough."

AllisonK

Enzian is right. Chances are that you will have to carry the bag up and down multiple flights of stairs. If you think you can do this with your 29" bag, fine.

I usually take a 22" roller on which I piggyback a small tote. I also wear a daypack. I find that this is about the max that I can handle by myself on the trains in Italy. Another added bonus of the smaller bag is that it fits on the rack above me on the trains so I have peace of mind since the bag is always in my view. It is too easy for your bag to disappear from the end of the train compartment, in my opinion. Also, the compartment at the end of the train tends to fill up quickly, especially if you travel 1st class Eurostar. If that happens, what will you do?

Fibonacci2358

A 29" is much too big. You will regret taking something that large.

You can get by on a 22" if you plan right and get the right clothes.

hopscotch

I use a 20" roller and carry a day bag with shoulder strap. Look in any airport in the USA. It is the way people who travel travel. I can't imagine a need for more stuff, and can't imagine hauling it around.

enzian

And Alison is also right! I forgot to mention the "piggyback tote"---this is my carry-on for the plane and rides on the roller bag on level stretches. For all those stairs, I can sling the tote over one shoulder, and easily pick up the larger bag. I am very fit and pretty strong, but just the thought of lugging a 50-pound suitcase makes my shoulder hurt.

historytraveler

In the past I've travelled with a 29"bag but no longer. Besides all the negatives already posted, I've found that the more you take, the more you have to keep track of. Travelling is so much easier with less luggage.

A note about trains and bag size. It all depends on the train...some have narrow and steep steps and once you're on the train trying to find a spot for a large bag is often impossible. I've seen people having to leave their luggage in one car while only finding seats several cars away.

Barb

I would just like to know how you all lift those 22"ers up to the overhead rack. The only way I've ever been able to do that was with the kindness of strangers taking pity on me. Doesn't help that I am short, lol. I have the best small Travelpro wheeled carryon that I can put on my back while I lift my suitcase onto the train. When it's totally loaded it weighs in at around 13 lbs. If I am not doing trains, I take my 24" and my little Travelpro. It is like luxury to me taking one that big.

WillTravel

Barb, in answer to your question, I'm not a short woman and I have powerful biceps . I would guess it's hereditary - a couple days ago I saw my daughter pick up a friend who must weigh at least 130 pounds and swing him a bit. But I would still turn into a "clumsy oaf", as Rufus charmingly put it, if trying to manage a 29", 50-pound suitcase up and through an Italian second-class train.

suze

Barb, My 22" packed weighs >25 lbs. and I can lift that much (briefly) over my head - enough to get it into the airplane overhead bin, or the rack on a bus or train.

DeborahAnn

chisy, definitely check with the airline you are flying for their luggage weight restrictions before you start filling up that 29" suitcase.

Unless you are flying first or business class your luggage weight will probably need to be 50 pounds or lighter. Having just flown with my 29" suitcase (fondly referred to as "the body bag&quot it was only half full and it weighed 50#.

I know I have flown with my suitcase well over 70# before I realized the errors of my "weighs"

Packing light is a struggle but well worth the effort. Good luck, Deborah

JeanneB

I just returned from a <i>winter</i> trip of 18 days. Despite coats/jackets/scarves and all those other bulky items, the 24&quot; I carried was TOO BIG. I mostly took items that could be washed out.

There were several outfits I never wore. I tended to wear/wash out the same clothes over and over. Next time I'll take about 2/3 what I took this time.

Frankly, I can't imagine hauling a 29&quot; around Europe. Makes my head hurt just thinking about it!

Marianna

I checked Alitalia this morning for luggage limits and it is 44 pounds. For our past few trips, I stopped using the Jumbo Hefty bags and squeezing the air out. It just made the suitcase hold more and therefore it was heavier. We have never been charged for overweight luggage but I really hate lugging around all that stuff around, especially when traveling by train.

Pegontheroad

I will be spending nine weeks in Europe this summer, and I will be taking a 22&quot; suitcase. The key for me is in coordinating outfits.

I've had very bad experiences with over-packing. Escalators break down or are non-existent, and I'm a weakling anyway.

ilovetotravel29

OK, so reading all of the posts on here against anything over 26 inches has got me a bit spooked....but it does have me thinking.

When I traveled before, I did feel weighed down--but mainly that was because I had a duffel bag that was between 26-29 inches. I had boots in that back, 4 pairs of pants, and about 8 shirts and my toiletries on the side pockets.

Now, for my longer trip of 2 weeks, I do feel like I would need more clothes. But maybe I could do like others, and just have some of my clothes dry cleaned? I am also wondering if the fact of my duffel bag being so long, but rather narrow, and NOT having wheels was more of an issue.

I will look into bags that are around 24-26 inches.....I just couldn't imagine using a 17 inch or 19 inch bag...I think it would hold like only 1 shirt and 1 pair of jeans!

I will take all of your advice and see if I can really underpack (which is usually my problem!).

StLSusan

The only possible way you should consider a 29&quot; suitcase..(I am assuming it does have wheels) is if you are going directly to a hotel, and staying the whole trip. Then you would only have to handle suitcase once coming and going.
Any more handling would be a big problem for you...and I DO assume you will be handling your own luggage..right? Surely you are not going to saddle your DH with taking care of his own plus yours?

RufusTFirefly

I you want to be a truly free traveler, as opposed to one of those slimey, low-life TOURISTS, then you wouldn't take any suitcase at all. Only carry what you can put into your pockets.

travelbunny

I travel on business with a carry on. It is the sort of think that most people mount over their suitcase. I must admit that when I am on vacation I take a 24 inch expandable and I am not sure why..? a rebelion agains the small suitcase I use on the lear??? really, keep it simple and keep it light. It will save your back and probably a few heated arguments.