What size suitcase to bring
 

Ihave a question about lugage.

There will be four of us traveling. Two adults and two kids ages 12 and 8. We will be taking the train twice.

I have read a number of posts about only taking 22" bags. We will be gone for 9 days. Is it really that important to have 22" bags.

I guess the train travel is what concerns me.

We were trying to take 3 bags for all of us and if we take 22" bags I think we may need to take 4 of them.


Any oppinoins would be appreciated

Jim

I travel with a quite large rolling duffle. It is no problem on the trains. I can lift it up into the train, and normally I put it in the luggage rack at the end of the compartment. I'd much rather deal with one large rolling case than two smaller ones.

Although I'm not sure why 4 22" cases with four of you is such a bad idea. Even an 8 year old can manage one of those on rollers.

I would check the baggage limitation on your airline.

We are just back from Italy. I think the luggage recommendations/ warnings on here are a bit too dramatic. We took smaller rolling suitcases but would have had no problem with larger suitcases. Take what you think you need. The ES trains stop for a few minutes and you'll have plenty of time to get your bags on board. Honestly, I wish I were able to pack more clothes than I could in a small suitcase.

We've traveled by train with larger bags. My SIL even had a 30" one. But don;t even ask how much trouble it was. There are a couple of key facts.

Bags have to be lifted up - usually 2 or 3 steep narrow steps from the platform to the train.

Bags have to sit on overhead rack if you want to be able to see them. Bags much bigger than 22" will have to go horizontally, rather than vertically - thus taking up someone else's space.

Large bags can be (usually) left at the end of the car in a designated spot - but you may want to watch that they don;t disappear off the train at intermediate stations.

We were OK because we did just one long train trip - with 4 adults with 1 enormous and 3 large bags - plus carry-ons. BUT - we went first class and had a compartment for 6 to ourselves - and thus the baggge room for 6 people.

Also - if you're getting on the train at an intermediate spot you may have only 5 minutes to get all of them and you up onto the train.

I agree that you're better off with 4 bags - an 8 year old can easily manage a rollie. And if you think 22" won;t do it go with 23 or 24". Just make sure you can easily lift them over your head. (And if you're doing intereuropean flights do check their standards.)

Key here might be which trains, and if you will have reservations, and at what time of year. If it's a busy and crowded train, you might have to leave your big bags at the end of the car by the doors at the luggage racks, out of your sight. I think having your kids, at least, have two small wheeled bags (maybe even 18-20")that they can handle themselves will be very helpful. Most of their stuff could go in there and then you two could take some of their "overflow", share toiletries, etc. The steps up onto the trains are narrow and steep and nobody is there to help you up- or off! You WILL be happy to not have a lot of big bags to haul around! I would take a couple fold-flat totes to fill with purchases as you go, including the dirty laundry for padding! Have a wonderful trip!

I would have each person take their own suitcase. A 24" expandable roller for each adult, and a 19" roller for each kid.

I know 22" is a popular size on this forum but it's just a bit too small for me except for a beach vacation. The 24" is much more comfortable and not too big for train travel.

Or maybe the kids would prefer using small backpacks instead.

Suze's plan makes more sense to me. I think the two kids, esp. the 8 yo would find it easier to manage a 19" roller with small daypack.
A 24" roller is no big deal to store on an overhead train rack unless it's stuff with rocks or bars of gold. I've done it many times and am not at all the body-builder type. Even if you can fit everything into a 22", the 24" expandable bags give you extra room for purchases. Getting a 24" suitcase up the couple of steps into the train is nothing to worry about.
I've ridden trains all over Europe, including trains through Austria earlier this week, and it's not unusual for Europeans to shlep around big suitcases...a woman on our train to Graz had a fully loaded 27" suitcase, daypack, stroller, and squirmy toddler with her and she managed on her own just fine (although several people offered helping hands).

I think it's important for kids to have their own bags, that they help figure out what to pack, and carry themselves. All good lessons and part of learning how to travel.

When your travels include trains, it is essential to take bags you can manage. Stuff a bag and see if you can get it up and down the stairs in your home and carry it around the block without much trouble. And, keep in mind that you may run into escalators.

With four of you, it's best to mix up the clothing just in case you should lose a bag.

On the trains, doorways and aisles are very narrow, and there is often what seems like only seconds to get yourselves and your bags onto the train before it takes off.

The only reason anyone, probably, would recommend limiting bag size to 22" would be to avoid checking the bags on planes or comply with baggage limits on flights within Europe (where weight is of concern along with size). But, you can get a LOT more into a 24-25" bag than a 22", and of course they are heavier, but you might want to consider larger bags for the adults.

I would also recommend a bag for the 8 year old, even if it's just a small rolling tote with the toiletries, accessories, maps...kids just love toting their own bag all about (and they look so cute strutting about with bag in tow!).

If you're going to leave your bags on storage racks out of sight, bring something along to tie two or all of them together, which will assure that none of them gets "lost".

We traveled for three weeks with two kids doing trains mostly. My first rule was everyone has their own bag, 22" but the depth expanded for extra room (Swiss Army luggage). If you couldn't get what you wanted in your bag, you didn't take it. One exception is that the youngest had plenty of room in his bag for extra stuff so I did get to put an extra pair of shoes in his bag. (Perfectly ok to break your own rules.) My wife and I had a few years previously brought a large suitcase to France and Spain and it was a real pain on the trains. I vowed never to do that again.

Anyway, this worked out great. Nobody overpacked, kids all rolled their own luggage (good thing since Dad has a bad back), and it really gave the children a sense of responsibility. Best part is that my lovely wife didn't bring a bunch of clothes she would never wear.

We did laundry a couple of times so we had plenty of clean clothes, and most importantly, had a wonderful trip.

I love our 22" expandable to 24". I think it is easier for each person to have his own main bag. The 8 year old might not need a full 22", but on rollers can be a part of the caravan. Don't forget souvenirs that WILL be bought along the way!!
The 22" will fit in overhead bins if need be--24" won't. But packing in 22" and then using the expansion for souvenirs has served us well.
Trains often have luggage stands at the end of a car. Take a cable bicycle lock to use if you put them there--or at intermediate stops, go stand by your luggage.

Another thing to think of, which I'm now looking at, is the actual weight of the bag itself. My travel bags are good, solid Samsonite Silhouette soft side. However, the 26" weighs over 12 lbs, and the 21" weighs nearly 11 lbs.

Our last Europe train(s) trip was a nightmare as my wife would pack the kitchen sink if she thought the "might" need it.

I'm now looking at bags in the 7-8 pound weight region, a thought I picked up from a Fodor's thread.

In May we're staying at an apartment in Provence with a 4 floor walkup. Saving 4 pound per bag would help that considerably; as it would lifting bags over your head on a train and trying to get them back down without killing yourself.

While I like an expandable feature, don't count on using it all the time. Some suitcases get 'tipsy' when the expandable part is put to use, off-balance and harder to wheel straight. I only count on it for the single trip heading home.

Gretchen: Don't think I've seen a 22 that expands to 24. I'm pretty sure you meant the expansion went from 8 or 9 inches to 11 or 12. Most rollaboards are 21 or 22 X 14 X 9 inches and if they expand it is in the depth (the 9 inch side).

qramrit: I agree w/ most everyone, taking bags would be best. But do check out some of the luggage stores/outlets. There is terrific children's luggage out there at really reasonable prices. Your 8 yo could use one of the scaled down rollie bags made for kids - most are 16 or 18 inches instead of 21 and therefore are much lighter/easier for small kids to handle on their own - but still big enough for a child's wardrobe.

The way it is "explained" is as I said I believe. But if you want a picture, the top comes up 2". It works quite well.

Yes - the "top" comes up -- that is the depth - or the 9 inch direction.

22 inches is the length from the wheels up to the handle - don't see how that could expand unless the whole frame telescoped/stretched . . . . .

It's true, an "expandable" gets fatter/thicker not taller/longer!
:-)

Have been to Europe many times but only once have I traveled on a train and then it was 1st class; After reading this post I now have concerns about where our luggage will be on the train. (2nd class this time around) One bag is a 24" might even be a 25". I am assuming that after reading responses here that the larger bag may have to go to the end of the car and can this area be seen from where we sit? Is this in the same car as we sit in?? We will be making reservations; can we make reservations by the luggage area? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I've done a heck of a lot of train travel in Europe and nearly always put my luggage at the end. To be honest, you can't necessarily see it from there. I used to carry a bicycle cable combination lock -- cheap at the hardware store so I could loop the cord through a handle of the suitcase and secure it to the rack. I stopped doing that. Maybe I'm just too trusting, but I'll admit, I often go watch it when the train stops and people are getting on and off. It's just so much easier leaving the luggage there than squeezing it down the narrow aisles and putting it in the overhead racks -- which on some trains including TGVs have gotten very, very small.

I think, Gramrit, that after you travel enough you eventually realize that the most important thing is to have luggage that works <b>for</b> you and that one size bag isn't necessarily the best one for every single trip you take.

You do not need to limit yourself to 22&quot; bags; but as the practical responders here have said, you need to take something that you can handle yourself and not depend on &quot;that nice man&quot; (read that as &quot;convenient schlep person who wouldn't dare ask for a tip with that heavy bag I stuffed all those 'make me look cute' clothes into&quot;) to hoist it into overhead train car racks, etc.

Meanwhile I see a lot of people struggling to get up those little steps into a train and trying to squeeze their suitcase ahead of them, throwing off their balance. When there are two adults, it is so much easier for one adult to get onto the train and the other one hand up all the suitcases to him, which he sits to the side, then deal with them when you're both on the train.

Traveler2, You are correct in thinking it is possible that your suitcase will be out of your sight, left on the luggage racks at the ends of each car.

I pack for train travel the same as I do for an airplane, with anything valuable or irreplacable in a smaller bag that I keep with me at all times. My suitcase is clothes and shoes so would be a huge inconvenience but not a trajedy should it get stolen (highly unlikely imo btw).

With so many people leaving their luggage at the end of the compartment, now I'm curious. Has anyone here ever heard of anyone having their luggage stolen from there?

Besides the steep steps up into the train, no one here has mentioned all the stairs you must go up and down just to get to your binario (track)! That alone is reason to pack light.

I've traveled trains with a rolling 26&quot;, plus ski boot bag (heavy). I've traveled with a 21&quot; plus overnight. Less is definitely the way to go.

Buon viaggio!

I never take more than 14 pounds including the weight of the bag. I prefer my gym bag with a sholder strap for ease of carring through trains, over walkways and up and down stairs. You will have to do this at some time.

We (two of us) are taking a 20&quot; and a 24&quot; roller. And each of us has a smaller 'messenger bag&quot; (looks kind of like a briefcase) that fits over the roller handle.

We plan to do laundry at least once.

Not me personally, but a few coworkers had a bags stolen on trains in Italy - actually while they were standing right there. Each time it happened to be a bag with a company laptop in it. Now we joke that if you want a new computer but are way down on the list for an upgrade, just take the thing to Italy. It will be stolen and then you can get a new one - lol.

Traveler2, you can't count on the luggage space at the end of the car to have available space, especially in second class. Ideally, you should be able to lift you bag overhead, and it shouldn't be too big to fit in the overhead rack.

Thanks so much for all of your help!

Mimar: Have you ever seen a 24&quot; or 25&quot; suitcase in the overhead rack on the train?

Traveler2 - Yes, people have put large suitcases overhead. Once when going from Florence to Rome (1st class), a couple had three bags, two 24&quot; and one 26&quot; and got all three overhead (taking up all the space for everyone around!). I remember because they blocked the aisle trying to get them up and then hit me with one trying to get it down when we reached Florence. After watching them struggle, we were so glad we only had a couple 22&quot; bags!

Don't forget that as well as the trains and stations you will need to navigate, you may find yourself in a hotel with several flights of stairs as well. (Or a tiny tiny elevator that will fit 3 suitcases and one person). Try to limit your stuff as much as possible and your trip will be more comfortable. Plan to do laundry once during your trip. (You may find it is a wonderful luxury and worth paying for if you can find a place where you can leave it in the AM and pick it up clean and folded before dinner.)

Just returned a few days ago from Italy and had three long train rides. My husband and I each took a 22&quot; bag that we stored at the end of the train car. Each car has a rack and you can use whichever one is closest to your seat. We were warned in Rome to stay with your bag until the train started, so I found the seats, while my husband stood by the luggage rack. Before we got off, he once again stood by the luggage. One man on a train did have his pocket picked while he was putting belongings up on a rack. Also, lots of people ride the trains with no ticket. We witnessed one woman moving from seat to seat as people would claim the one she was in. We were told by some young people, that they don't buy train tickets, just hop on. On two trains our tickets were checked. On the train from Florence to Venice, it was never checked.

Please resisit the temptation to let everyone have &quot;their own bag.&quot; You can make each person be responsible for a particular bag, but do pack a bit of everyone's clothes in each bag, in case one is lost or stolen.