What size luggage for a 2 week trip?
 

My husband and I have been using 26" Travelpro rolling suitcases since we bought them 7 or 8 years ago. They weight around 11 lbs, pretty good for something that old. And they've really held up. I'd use them again, but he thinks we ought to go smaller.

Now we've never user the expanding capability of the ones we have, and they are a little bigger than we need (but I then have room to buy things to bring home!). I just looked at a 24" Travelpro, that WHEN EXPANDED would hold the same as the 26" not expanded.

Is 24" enough (for me? Men don't take as much, less clothes, less toiletries). I don't take much in the way of clothing (it took me years to realize that we're in various places, no one but my husband is going to notice I've worn this outfit 3 times already and actually even HE wouldn't notice!). But toiletries, camera and associated stuff, mini hairdryer, medications (enough that they take up real space) etc. are the worry.

Oh, and shoes. I've got to figure out how to manage on less shoes. 1 sandals, 1 sneakers, 1 flats....

What do you use for a 2 week trip during warm weather? (Winter travel is different, clothes are bigger and heavier, I think I'd have to have the larger suitcase).

Thanks,
Alice

We take a 24" rolling and a 21" rolling, which we check. They are never full. He carries on a small camera bag and I carry on a small/medium sack that has a change of undies, his prescriptions, my makeup, our wet kit (we share), our books for reading on the plane, compression socks, the travel medical kit, and my waistpack ($,credit cards, chapstick). This is plenty of space. We'd take two 21" bags if we had them. But we do a little wash every day.

If we are staying in one place, I take the larger one. If we are moving around, like in UK last year, I take a 24" with wheels and take a small carry on for meds, camera, etc.

I still cannot travel with just a carry-on.

I always take either a 19 inch or a 21 inch expandable rollaboard. It is unexpanded and carried on for the trip over. Then if I buy a lot, I'll expand it and check it for the flight home. Normally I don't need to expand it, but it gives me that option if I lose my sales resistance :)

That is as big as I ever need for a 2 week or a 2 month trip. If you want to check your bags -- don't go any larger than 24 inches IMO.

Alice, it really depends on your packing habits and the destination you’re going to. If I have to pack for warm weather, my 24” wheeled upright (http://www.briggs-riley.com/category...-Upright_U524X ) would be more than sufficient for a two week trip. I generally wash my clothes and reuse them during a trip to avoid carrying too many of them. Going to a warm place, I wouldn’t carry heavy duty sneakers unless I intend to do some serious trekking in the wild. I just throw in a pair each of flip flops and nice flats. Things like toiletries and hair dryer are best avoided if you are staying in a hotel. Else, you can get the travel size ones that don’t take up too much space or even buy them at the destination.

I use a 24" which I check, I have both a rolling suitcase & rolling duffle in that size (I use one or the other not both). That's for a vacation when I'm staying in one place.

For Europe and moving around a lot, taking trains, etc. then I'd go with my 22" instead.

I just pack to the size of the suitcase. I pack the same for one week or one month.

A 22" is all I need.

We always do some laundry, and I do have a small travel hair dryer that folds up (we stay in B&Bs a lot and they don't always have a hair dryer for you). By 'wet kit' do you mean shower stuff? Yes, we pretty much share that.

I went ahead and ordered the 24" online, it should come tomorrow. I'll let you know how I manage packing next week. I think the smaller bag will just force me to bring less stuff, which is good. When I see the space just SITTING there, I always figure, well, I can take another few t-shirts....

Alice

We both take a 21" with wheels whether for a week-end or six weeks. Also carry a small bag with medicines, camera, etc.
And always try to carry-on. I pack a collapsable duffle to bring things home in, thus having to check a bag on return flight.

Yes, I generally throw in a collapsible bag too. I also pack zip-locks - we like to raid a pastry shop on our way to the airport and take some of those goodies home!

Alice

Pack light in a small bag - 19" or 21" at most and buy some new things along the way. If you are gone 2 weeks, you will not regret packing in something that is easy to carry and easy to manage.

Sorry - I left this out! Have your laundry done 1/2 way through if needed. We've always been able to find either laundry machines or someone at one of the hotels -- or sent things out. It's really not expensive to do and is so worth it

To end this story - we bought 24" bags and they were fine. More than fine, we never even expanded them (although we might for winter travel with bulkier clothing). We bought TravelPro online at an excellent price, we've had good luck with that brand.

I think I would have had trouble with less than 24", that then approaches the size of the bag I use when I just carry on. Our new bags were not just 2" shorter in length, but considerably shorter in width - depth was similar.

Alice