ElCheapo,

Why on earth would your son need to bring a laptop? To play video games? (I doubt his trip will be so boring that he'll have to resort to that.) To use the internet and email home? (There are cheap internet cafes EVERYWHERE in Europe.) To download photos from his camera? (video cards take up much less space.)

suzanne, I don't claim to understand the gadget-minded male. He can argue me under the table every time, coming up with a plethora of reasons why a laptop is vital. VITAL! He's not a gamer but thinks he needs it for downloading photos from the camera. I just have to forbid the laptop and throw a couple of disposable cameras in his stuff just in case he has no more space on his video cards.

You can buy extra compact flash cards very cheaply. Unless your son has a camera that takes pictures with a very high resolution, he shouln't need tons of storage capacity.

Make sure your whole famiy is on board with packing light.

When our family of 5 went to Paris in March, we had a washer and dryer in the apartment, so I decided to pack very light...one carry on per person for 9 days. I spent months thinking about how I could pack light, planning, buying small sizes of things, moving things into small containers, etc. On the day we packed, my husband decided he HAD to bring the water pick, plus his electric hair clipper, which also necessitated bringing the electrical converter set. All the weight and bulk I had elimated he more than made up for in those three items!

Anonymous had great ideas. I also agree that you don't have to wear different clothes every day. I wear the same out fit to and from on the plane. Might wear the pants or the shirt again. Plan my wardrobe by what I can wear with my black (or brown) shoes. If an outfit requires different shoes, I don't take it. I usually end up with a much smaller bag than even my husband.

Budswife - throw away T shirts? If you must get rid of it, leave it in the hotel room at the end of your trip. At least the maid can take them if she wants.

You are all so amazingly helpful. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with a not so savvy traveler.

Based on all this great advice, we've decided that each member of the family will have their own med size suitcase plus a carryon backpack or bag. We'll tuck another collapsable duffle into one of the bags so we have a way to get our treasures home.

I would normally pack an "overnight" bag with all the shampoo and "wet" stuff in it, but since we'll be stopping at a WalMart or similar to buy a cooler and other supplies for the driving part of our trip, we'll buy all those toiletries there.

I really appreciate all the awesome suggestions!

We use our collapsible duffle for laundry and other nonfragile stuff, and put the souvenirs in one of the "good" suitcases.

This year we discovered those vacuum space saver bags. We bought them at Target in Los Angeles. They're the kind that you stack the clothes inside and ziplock it and then roll it up, pressing the air out vents at the bottom. They're amazing, a big stack of stuff rolled into what my boyfriend called a "clothes loaf". Highly recommended and with minimum wrinkling too.

love
roxy

Again, be careful with the space saving bags if you are going to fly. I've heard quite a few stories of folks being able to fit so much in their bags that they exceed the airline's weight limits.

this may sound cruel, but if there are things the kids 'just gotta have' with them & it puts you over limit - make them carry it themselves. good way to prioritize the next time!

good thing is, you are going somewhere warm so you won't have bulky stuff to carry.

don't forget the sunscreen! and a hat you can crush - one per person.

So may good ideas. i'm gleaning a lot. Thanks for the question. It prompted me to go window shopping to update. New technology allows so much better solutions.
I haven't read anyone mentioning water bottles. Maybe everyone is ok with buying and throwing away bottles. I've camped/hiked canyon country for 10 years. Am always dismayed when I see anyone without lots of water. I really urge a bottle holster for hands free and easy access. Dehydration is a serious problem. Once took a 10 year old neice who hated water (?! Kids!) Despite my actually stopping every 15 minutes (90+ degress) , she started to get cranky and then to stumble. I called off the hike and we did get her out OK but when I went to wash her water bottle, I found it full. She had been pretending to drink. I even take the lid of a peanut butter jar so that I can squirt a drink for my Bichon as we hike. Now my 30+ kids all swear by Gatorade powder for electorlite.

Arizona is beautiful. I know you'll find it awesome!

Everittp, I am an adult (have adult children), still can't drink water. Just can't.

I make herbal tea at home for the road, then at the hotel room (running the coffeemaker on empty), let it cool, and poor in my empty water bottles. I don't add sugar, and use berry kind of teas, for example now at work I'm enjoying raspberry flavor.

Herbal teas, especially lemon tea, are as good for thirst as water. Besides, no calories! By the way I hardly ever drink sodas. And tea packages take very little room in luggage.

When traveling with my teenage son we too carry a backpack each. That way if he HAS to have his gameboy and CD player he can lug it around. For a week or so we get by with a backpack each and a small checked bag. Softside of course. A couple trips we ended up purchasing a duffel bag to get the purchases home. I do enough travel for work that an extra duffel bag always comes in handy. On the return trip all clothes go into the checked luggage and any breakable souvenirs go into the backpacks. No problem if our clothes don't make it back on the plane with us.

The water thing cannot be emphasized enough. Those that can't drink water should carry something that would prevent dehydration (gatorade)

Faina:

I carry a few herbal tea bags for a different reason: I'm cheap!

Years ago, a colleague and I had to go to a meeting in downtown Taipei, Taiwan. We were half an hour early, so he suggested that that we stop off at the nearby coffee shop "for a cup of coffee". The total bill for his cup of coffee and my cup of tea (in an Earl Grey TEABAG!) came to $30 US!!! When the waiter came to collect our money, he refused to leave unless we gave him his 10% tip as well!!!!!!!!

Even on company expense, this was a ripoff!

Since then I have always carried a couple of teabags of my own. Hot water usually costs nothing or $1. :)

FainaAgain
Super idea. Whatever works! A shame to waste a holiday on preventable illness.
isn't it a kick watching adult children enjoy activities we, as parents, introduced?

This will work only for the females in the group, but I always throw my pashmina into my carryon bag. Great for a coverup on the plane, and then I can use it to dress up an outfit or to keep warm, if need be. Also I do use a large size ziplock bag for underwear; even with the plastic gloves, I don't appreciate the baggage checkers going through my personal items. Also use a large fold up bag as a carryon and put my purse,etc. in it when boarding the plane. Then if need be, fill it up with lighter stuff when bulkier, heavier items are bought on the trip and they are placed instead in the suitcase.

Wow! I couldn't read all the replies so sorry if this is redundant, but on the topic of bags for clothing: How about using those plastic zippered bags that linens are packed in from the department stores?

This works just as well as the ziplocks, and you probably have a variety of sizes in your home. Just ask your wife if she's got any around.

guamgirl -- I love those zippered linen bags! The are so durable and you can see everything that's inside. I always take one for makeup, lotions, razors, etc. This is kind of funny, but I also keep a tin box (like Altoids) in there and use it for carrying earrings and rings.

What are space bags? Also, does packing things in ziploc bags save space or just keep you more organized? If it is a space saver, how? Does removing the air just really compact things? Thanks! :)

Oh my yes, air takes up a lot of room.

Take a gallon zip lock bag and put several pairs of underwair in it, zip it almost closed and squeeze the air out. You'll be surpirsed how much less space it will take up.

It doesn't work for things that you can't squeeze air out of but is good for liquids that can leak. I double bag those items.

I like to organize my clothes by days in my space bags--shorts, top, underwear. That way I don't have to open up and, more importantly squeeze shut again, three differerent bags to get out those items. I only have to open and close one bag a day.

On the subject of detergent, you can buy detergent cubes. Takes up less room and there's no chance of spilling.