Lugagge Question- Two bags one rolling, one not

" Hmmm. Wonder how light I can pack? "

My sweetie takes one carry on bag for three weeks. Read a ton of great hints on this board and get r done.

You are a great daughter to take your Momma. Bless you.

One on your back and tug the other.

You see the airline crews using a piggy-back affair, but the top one is compact and light (please no arguments on how much flight pubs weigh, been there).

If you try to hook two good-sized ones together you get something with a screwed up center of gravity that topples over and sprains your wrist or is too heavy at the handle. Also, when you have to hump them, it's a pain in the tail to disassemble the mess. The only way I've ever come close is by using a large rolling duffle and a very small duffle looped through the handle -- and even then the small one keeps flopping over on a tight turn and dumping the whole mess.

Try an experiment with full bags in the driveway for a few minutes and see what happens.

Ed is correct. We have done that occasionally but it is not easy. If you put the second bag on top of the rolling bag against the handle, it makes the rolling bag heavy and awkward and prone to tipping as Ed report. A slightly better solution is use a velcro strip and tie the second bag to the rolling bag so that the bags are side by side. This keeps the weight lower and easier to handle. But not recommended for long distances and lots of rough surface. But if you have to do it, that is the best way to go.

Carol,

Having been married a l o n g time, I will tread carefully. You are about 50ish? Do you really want to attempt to drag 2 bags around Europe? This may be a good situation to ship selected needed items ahead of your scheduled arrival dates. Try to keep to one bag. Bless you for the attempt to take Momma along.

I am 50, but I will have to haul the luggage. (For 50 I am in pretty good shape!) Considering the plans shipping is just not really an option. I have pretty much started planning this assuming the use of more taxis, etc to avoid some of the luggage hassles, but the trip to Sorrento is the "one off". I looked into the bus from Rome but the times are just not good! And I don't think she's going to go for a Taxi between the Naples train station and Sorrento :)

I travel weekly and am used to the attaching a bag on to my 22" bag and hauling it up and down, putting it in the overhead etc. I agree the issue is that the "attached" bag will be as big as the Rolling bag which makes it less stable.... Hmmm. Wonder how light I can pack?

I've been in the same situation - basically, I just decided it would be best to be the 'pack mule'. We scaled way back on clothing = lots of hand laundry, and she carried only her toiletries. Her 'suitcase' was about as large and heavy as her purse, and I could even carry that on stairs, etc., when she needed me to. There are many styles of rolling totes (much smaller bags - watch the dimensions - many are billed as under the seat but they aren't. RS's 'Avanti' Regular tote - not rolling - is the max size in my experience.) OR, she could pull the 22" rolling bag with her toiletries (or whatever) and, when necessary, you could much more easily pick up that bag. Then you can bring home souvenirs, although now you are responsible for both bags! Ugh!

All are correct about not carrying a full-size bag on a rolling bag; I've seen small bags bend the handles, then you couldn't collapse them...Plus, you probably won't make it 15' without having to pick it up off the ground! More than a little annoying.

Of course, take into consideration what your mother's limitations are - my mother can pull a bag short distances and carry one OK, but my mother-in-law's arthritis makes it impossible for her to carry a purse, and her arthritic fingers can pull a lightweight bag for a very short distance.

From experience - allow LOTS of time for transfers! This IS a vacation! Dial back on the stress whenever you can. Too-tight transfers with luggage and elderly parents are NOT relaxing. Don't ask. And don't underestimate the stairs; they're your enemy. TAXIS are your friend!!!

I answered your actual (!) question in there somewhere, plus added some unsolicited advice; I hope that's OK. It sounds like perhaps you've travelled before, so you have an idea of how things go (trains, # of stairs everywhere, finding your hotel, etc.). I think my mother's traveling days are over, so I'm happy for the two of you! Have fun planning!

My husband and I just got back from England. He used the RS convertible on his back, and I used my 22" wheelie. I had messed up my wrists at the gym recently, so lifting was something we didn't want me doing too often. He was able to take my bag up the stairs because he had his on his back. Can you try that? If your bags aren't too heavy to begin with, it might work.

Hubby did try what you asked, and because the are about the same size, the top one kept falling off. You needed a smaller one like the flight attendants or pilots to make that work.

Perhaps by next May your mother will have enough strength and flexibility to wear a day pack. If so, you could wear a convertible bag and pull a 22" (or even smaller) roller bag. If need be, you could also loop the day pack on the handle of the roller bag so your mother doesn't have to carry anything.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml01/01203a.jpg :)

Perhaps your best bet would be to purchase a larger rolling bag, say 25", pack light and then attach a smaller bag to it for rolling along.

We were in a similar situation due to my having had neck surgery. We solved it by having one rolling and one regular convertible back pack. The others are right about the weight/balance issue, but that can depend on the particular bags you choose.

Rather than doing straps or piggy-backing like the pilots do, we used a bungee cord to loop around the backpack and attach to the handle supports of the rolling bag. It worked fairly well, and was easily undone and redone. We switched around a fair amount, as I was able to roll a case, just not have it on my back. If you tried this option out, I'd just recommend making sure you get the right size and strength of bungee cord.

Thanks everyone.

I have some time to decide.

I have done three weeks in Euorope in the Rick Steves Rolling suitcase so I know that I can pack light. My mother prior to now has been CONVINCED that a 24" was as small as she could go. She has agree to move down, but... I don't see her carrying the thing up and down steps.

Actually I am going to do some "expirments" with luggage I own to see what I think I can deal with and work from there.

If you can convince her to share a slightly larger bag with you so you only have to deal with one bag, that could work out. If not and she will go with a maximum 22" roller bag I think the solution of a convertible bag for you and the roller bag would be your best option. That way you could navigate with both, pulling one and carrying one on your back, if necessary. On our upcoming trip my husband and I were both planning to take convertible bags. I have recently had issues with my back, and am a little paranoid about it going out on me midway through our 4 week trip. I may revert to my 22" roller bag so I can pull my own bag, but my husband can help with it going up/down stairs, on/off trains, etc.

I hope you and your mother have a fantastic trip together. I wish I had been able to travel with mine... :-(

Hi Carol,
Alice's suggestion is the best. Get a 26 rolling bag for your mother (you can also stash your Italian purchases in it) and a matching (so they fit well together) carry-on size for you. (May as well check both so you don't have to hassle with it on the plane. It really isn't a sin to check bags :))

On our trip last month, I used a large Baggalini tote for my carry-on. The empty bag only weighs about a pound and it's strong enough to carry everything the two of you need on the plane. Maybe your mom can carry it in the airport after you get the checked bags--if not, mine easily fit over the pair of roller bags.

For the roller bags, if you need new ones, you don't need to spend a fortune. I have Atlantic brand luggage which is reasonably priced and has made eight overseas trips and is still in good condition.

Well at least you have time to practice. :)

Have you considered using one backpack style bag and one rolling bag? The RS frameless bag is really quite comfortable (good center of gravity), most difficult part of using it can be getting it on when it's loaded.

A tip re travelling by train to Naples. When you arrive you will be accosted by men in blue coats claiming to be official porters and offering to help with your luggage. Do not be tempted, they are not official and there are stories of them only going so far and then demanding a ridiculous amount in payment.

The way to the Circumvesuviana is well sign posted. The internal station improvements, including a working escalator down to the Circumvesuviana station, are more or less completed

http://www.grandistazioni.it/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=dd1172ceeae7b110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD

If you can afford it a pre-arranged private transfer from the Station to Sorrento would make life so much easier. The last time we did it, about a year ago, it cost 80 euro for the two of us including luggage.

Edit - meant to say that a private transfer would also deal with the issue of getting to your hotel from Sorrento railway station which, if you take a taxi from there, will cost a minimum of about 15 euro