6 weeks. We rent apartments with laundry facilities. Easy to do.

For me, I only consider doing carry-on only for less than a week.

The reason is not the amount of clothing I need/want, but that much of my carry-on space is taken up by non-clothing items. I have a dSLR camera with multiple lenses. I also take a personal media player (a small computer which plays movies/music, stores my photos and has wi-fi internet access). I also have a set of Bose noise-cancelling headphones which are quite large. But since I don't travel well, especially on planes, these are an absolute necessity. Add in the cables, extra batteries, other accessories, a book or two, plus all any paperwork (tickets, reservations, directions etc.) that's at least half my carry-on space.

For those who say that once you've had your luggage lost, you'll change your mind about checking bags, I have had my luggage lost - once, in I don't know how many number of trips. But, that's why in my carry-on I always pack all my toiletries, 3 days worth of clothing and an extra pair of shoes. That takes up the other half of my carry-on space.

If all one is packing is clothes and a few toiletries, I suppose carry-on only would be much more feasible, regardless of the trip length.

Copain1-Carry-on is the way to go! We have done 16 days and this trip will be a total of 20. This time we have to squeeze water shoes in the bags also. And we picked up new bags, an inch smaller but lighter with better wheels. That said my hubby does not use all his space so shares it with me :) We do laundry when in the shower and I travel with my own clothesline. We pack everything in baggies we push the air out of. It makes for more room and very easy if they pull you aside to go through your bag. It is nice to always have your eyes on your luggage, especially if you are leaving the area you landed in immediately, which is what we normally do. What is your next trip? Not to be redundant we leave for Croatia in a mere 20 days...Shirley, Waukesha, WI

I do tend to think it is inconsiderate to bring max-sized carryons onto a plane unless you absolutely have to, and usually check my bag, but there are big-time advantages to keeping it compact. I actually don't fly much, but I do take a lot of long distance busses and trains, and a bag that I can easily carry over a long distance, and ideally run with if I have to is a big plus. Weight is not so much the issue, since I'm pretty strong, but I'm small, and size matters. I need to be sure that my bag clears the ground when my arm is extended, and/or can be put on my shoulder. Rollaways are normally excellent, but they turn over when you're running and need to be picked up.

I am also not a believer in laundry on vacation. I just don't believe that hand washed underpants are REALLY clean (not offensive, but courting certain kinds of minor and unpleasant infections, which would put a cramp in your vacation). I also don't want to spend vacation time watching my underwear dry in a laundromat.

That said, it is amazing what you can get into a small bag if you think about it. I am often accused of travelling with Mary Poppins' carpet bag, or a small TARDIS.

Roll, roll, roll! Choose less bulky items whenever possible (2 or 3 cotton or knit skirts take up the room of a pair of jeans, and a light weight dress takes up half the room of slacks and a blouse). Waste no space. Choose less bulky shoes, and fill the space around them with small items (not underpants, but socks, pantyhose, small accessory items, camis). Pack multiples of small, wardrobe stretching items such as camis and leggings, and as few bulkies like sweaters, jeans, and hoodies as possible.

I've recently been up and down to my parent's home repeatedly on a bus, and I've been travelling with a bag the size of a large purse. It is summer, but I've been generally getting two sundresses, a couple of camis and/or t-shirts, toiletries, a pair of sandals, appropriate undergarments, a book, and a pair of shortie pajamas in there. It threatened to burst, but on one trip I added 2 golf shirts, a pair of khakhi shorts, and appropriate underwear for DS, who was accompanying me, and wears smaller men's sizes.

Maximum time living out of a carry-on? Five months and that was pre-digital so we also had 75 rolls of film with us.

Having said that if we are staying in only one or two places I am quite happy to check a bag. Checking a bag allows partner and I to travel with 2 digital SLRs, video camera, 2 lap tops etc etc.

Wow...I can't believe this is still an active thread. Let's face, when it comes to shoes and clothes, I am a pig. But I have changed my gluttonous ways.

2.5 weeks, small carry-on, I am going for it. Change is good.

Merci..

copain if you can do I can do it too!!

Now if the airline would just realize how much weight I am saving them, maybe I should be upgraded to first. Or at least a price reduction.

Like my grandmother used to say: People in hell want ice water too.