Thank you for your responses. I called the tour company and was told it is okay if my carry on is a few more inches than 18. Some people are good packers. I am not one of them. I also like to buy things on trips and need room for that. kja--when I said no one is going to weigh my checked bag, I meant that the tour people are not going to weigh it. Of course the airline will, but they allow 50 lbs.

janisj--my luggage on short trips has never weighed as little as 25-30 lbs. I am going away for two weeks.

Two weeks is not a long trip. I will be leaving on a three to four month trip later this year. I expect my luggage, as usual, to weigh less than 30 lbs. You are just not trying. Your choice, of course, but don't pretend it can't be done.

Two 'whole' weeks - that isn't very long.

You will be happier if you take less unneeded 'stuff'. But what the hey . . You won't be schlepping it, the tour company will.

So, are you taking a checked bag, a carry on AND a day pack or handbag?

See if this packing list can work for your trip.

http://www.fodors.com/community/trav...the-spring.cfm

My luggage always weights 25-30 lbs. for a two week trip. You can learn how to pack more efficiently if you want to, anyone can

<<<my luggage on short trips has never weighed as little as 25-30 lbs. I am going away for two weeks.>>>

Oh my.


I've been on a few group tours of various sorts and I don't recall anyone really dressing up (not like on a lot of cruises where you need fancy stuff). I do remember people fighting with their stuff all the time though. The tour groups dealt with the checked bags, but the carryon were on the bus with us. That's great except there generally wasn't space for roller bags overhead so their stuff had to be dealt with. Anytime it was time to get off the bus they had to deal with all of their stuff, holding up everyone who just wanted off the dang bus. A carryon usually means a daybag... a backpack or messenger rather than a typical rollerbag style carryon.



It helps a lot if you plan coordinating items rather than set outfits. Pack bottoms that go with all (or almost all) of your tops. Also try to pack things that you only need two or maybe three pairs of shoes TOTAL (walking shoes, comfy dressier shoes and a pair of comfy sandals for example). Depending on what you're doing, many clothes can be worn multiple times without washing (and without being gross). You can send clothes out to be washed or wash in the sink.

How much does your bag weight? If you change from a heavy 28-29" bag to a light weight 25" bag you can often cut about 4-5 pounds right there. Expand it out towards the end of your trip as your purchases accumulate and voila, tons of space. You can also use giant Ziploc style bags to compress your clothes into a smaller space. You'll still have the same weight though so don't go overboard and I'd suggest saving those for the trip home and not the trip out.

As far as shopping, I usually come home with one more bag than I left with, filled with the souvenirs, that I carry on the plane coming back. Either a lightweight foldable nylon tote that I packed, or some kind of cool bag I purchase that is also another souvenir.

janisj--I am checking a piece of luggage and taking a carryon bag and a handbag on the plane. That is what you are allowed--one carryon and one handbag.

Iowa_Redhead--I changed to a 25" inch bag years ago when the airlines implemented a weight allowance. I also have those plastic bags to save space. I have been traveling a long time and know what I need. Believe it or not, I don't overpack. I wear things many times.

Sorry- but if you take a 25" suitcase and a 22" roll aboard, you do 'overpack'. One or the other should be enough.