Help! I am going on a one week bus tour in Italy in October. I am guilty of overpacking on all of my trips and hav suffered the ridicule of my co-travelers.
I don't ant to hassle with a huge suitcase on this tour but the thoughts of using a 21" or 22" bag for the week is making me hyperventilate! I went shopping and could really only find 25" bags for the next step up. I'm thinking I should be compromising at a 23" or 24" bag but can't seem to find any. Anyone know of mid-size bags out there??/ or should I just go with a 25" bag nad deal with it?

Dorgal, just have to ask ... do you really use all that you take when you over-pack? Just wondering, as I find that I don't wear at least a third to a half of what I take. I'm getting a little better at cutting down as I get older!

My favorite suitcase is a 24" with an expandable zipper (that I use only on the way home, if I've bought stuff).

Where are you shopping that you aren't finding this size? It's quite common.

actually - 24 inch bags are much more common than 25 inchers so not quite sure about you not finding any.

But - it is only a WEEK girl! a 24 inch bag would certainly be OK and is easy to handle. But I do a week-10 days w/ just a 19 inch rollaboard. For longer trips like 4-5 weeks I will go up to a 22 inch expander. I only expand it when coming home, if needed, but try not to because then it must be checked.

I went to Paris for 10 days with a 21". I had a duffle bag in the bottom of the suitcase for coming home. I think a lot of it depends on the kind of clothes you pack. I take mostly all knits so they pack well, and don't wrinkle very much and if they do, they hang out nicely. I take one pair of black jeans and wear them on the plane so they aren't taking up all that room in my suitcase. A 24" SHOULD give you room for everything you need.

I think you should be able to find a 24-incher. Have you tried department stores like Macy's? Prices aren't always great, except during a sale, but selection usually is. It will be tough to drag on and off the bus every night...

A question: are you perhaps too squeamish about re-wearing things? I know this is a bit delicate, but it really is OK to re-wear pants, skirts, sweaters, even blouses if you haven't been sweaty; you can rinse out slips and bras overnight; and it's important to coordinate each and every piece of clothing with all the others, so you can mix and match. (Notice I exempted underwear from the re-wearing list!!)

If you have a Marshalls or TJ Maxx or Ross near you they have plenty of 24" suitcases and at a really good price.

A rule of thumb: anybody who says 9" is exaggerating.

LucieV, tee hee . Thanks for the laugh!

Go to England with a train ticket, and the smallest roll on suitcase you can fnd (we did and survived nicely) and you will be so glad when you have to 'hoist' the darn thing on/off the train that barely slows down, let alone stops, at stations along the way. It's a great exercise for the overpackers among us. Trick: wear layes on plane, take coat that is waterproof and warm, take soap for washing undies from time to time, dark and nondescrips slack, two pair only, one sweater in bag, one pair pj's, 4-5 t shirts, same or similar color. Pick one color scheme (this trip, it's brown) and get stuff that goes with or is brown, etc. take Deodrant and use your napkin to avoid ruining a shirt. It's well worth it.

If you are on a bus tour, you only deal with your luggage coming from/to the airport. You will put your suitcase outside the door in the morning, and see it again in your next hotel's room in the evening.

Don't worry, there will be plenty of 25" suitcases on the tour. This is why they put driver's tips in the "suggested tipping guide" - it's the driver who'll handle your suitcase.

I can relate -- I can find 21" and 25", but no 22" or 24" (unless I order on line). I took a 25" for 2 wks in Paris -- WAY too much for me to handle. So now I'm going for a 21" for the next one-week trip and trying not to pack so much. The guy at the luggage store said that many of the manufacturers are moving away from the 22" and 24" sizes.

Thanks for all the great tips and encouragement! I really WANT to take a 21 or 22" and Iam going to really try! I'm fine with wearing the same clothes a few days but I also want some room to shop for stuff there. I guess I will pack a folded duffle for coming home. I DO know I will be miserable if I am weighed down with a huge suitcase! I will look at TJMaxx and Marshall's again - they seem to have good prices. Thanks!

Dorgal, I will try to talk you out of taking a duffel.

On a tour, you have allowance for one suitcase only. ONE. Any additional ones, you'll have to pay extra. This is why it makes more sence to bring a large suitcase, half-filled with clothes, to fill it up with the souvenirs.

So bring a large underpacked suitcase, or leave all your shopping for the last day - not recommended.

Instead of taking a large underpacked bag, or a small one and a duffle - definitely look at expandible suitcases.

Take it "un-expanded" and then expand it for your return trip to bring all your new goodies home. It is absolutely amazing how much extra space you get when a 21 inch bag is expanded.

I pack 2-3 pair of sandals or shoes (plus the ones on my feet)... that is what puts me up to my 24" instead of my 22".

Thanks Lucie-
I just emptied my junk email so was laughing about the size anxiety title.

There are loads of 21-23" suitcases out there for sale that will hold everything you need for a one week vacation.

Try JCPenney, they have loads of luggage. So does Mervyns, Ross, Macys. Costco usually has a carryon.