28 Days in Italy

It should be no bigger than a standard carryon size bag. Wheeled or back pack style (or both) will be dependent on your preferences and physical ability. We use the same bag whether it is 3 days or 30 days. We are awfully close to 70 and are still using backpack style of carryon bags for Europe (use rolling bags in the US) One is an old Rick Steves bag and an Eagle Creek bag that is no longer made. The keys is the weight whether rolling or carrying. Marcia is stays under 20 lbs and mine is a few more because I get to carry the shared items such as guide books, notebook, etc. Our preference is the backpack style of bag for Europe. The response here is 50% for rolling bags and 50% for backpack style based on the hundreds of response given to the same question.

Thank you Frank! We'll look at Rick's site and order 2 of his backpacks.

Don't do it Jan! I have been to Europe many times and started out in my younger years (like 40) with a backpack and I hate to say this, but some trips are remembered by the agony of carrying a backpack ending up carrying it much much longer and further than was planned. Things happen that you never anticipate. For me, a wheeled carry on is the way to go and if you pack light enough it is easy to hoist onto overheads in trains, planes, and buses.

It is personal preference as far as a bag is concerned but we have been to Europe quite a few times traveling with a car some trips and trains on others and have always used a 21" bag with wheels, unexpanded, and it has always fit in the luggage compartment on the trains. I also bring a pac-safe cable lock to use if necessary. I know I personally would not want to carry my stuff on my back and I am in early 50's. I would rather pull my bag over cobblestones than wear it and we pulled bags over some pretty cobbly streets in Warsaw this past July!

I am in my 50's, my husband in his 60's, and the 21-22" wheeled carry-ons are what we travel with. Perfect size for storage and not so heavy you can't carry it upstairs if need be. I bring a lot of quick-dry clothes and hand wash or use the washer at the apartments we rent. Believe me, if there's something you miss having in Italy, you can easily buy it there!

I found a wheeled carryon that converts to a backpack - I took it to Italy for 10 weeks and it was my main luggage (I did have a daypack as well). You can buy it at Rick's Travel Store. I chose this bag because I wasn't sure the wheels would make it through 10 weeks of cobblestones, but they did, and I never actually used it as a backpack. So, I would suggest either the convertible bag I described, or just a wheeled carryon. One caveat: if you are planning to visit hill towns that have lots of stairs, you might use the backpack for that, although I didn't).

Thanks Zoe, Celeste, Janet and Rachelle for your advice and suggestions! We'll check out both wheeled carryons and backpacks on Rick's website to see which will work best for us. Appreciate your help! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours! Jan

Do NOT limit yourself to the Rick Steve's brand of luggage. You need to shop a round. Take a minute to look at ebags.com and see what great house brand travel luggage they offer as well. They have fantastic prices, and I believe their quality to be better. You can do all your shopping in one place, speak to customer service (via phone or on line) to answer questions about the bags BEFORE you buy! ebags.com also carries Osprey, Eagle Creek, etc. I can highly recommend Osprey if you are going for wheeled luggage. I've traveled to Europe (mostly Italy) about 9 x with the same bag...my Eagle Creek ORV trunk. It's a convertible bag, has hidden backpack straps, and I love it. On the other hand, my husband and I just returned from a 2 week hiking trip in France, and after that trip, he's now asking for a bag that wheels...we are 58 and in great shape! I like carrying on my back, both hands are free. In addition to my Eagle Creek bag, I bought a PacSafe Metro bag that slings across my body. I feel very secure with that bag in Rome and larger cities...it carries my money, camera, etc. I've never felt the need for a money belt.

Thank you Ellen! That's a great suggestion! Going there now to check out the bags at ebags!!

Ebags is great, great pricing and quick shipping I've used backpacks, convertible and wheeled luggage and now I all I use is wheeled. You lose space with the convertible luggage with the strap storage and I find a wheeled durable bag is best for me I use an Eagle Creek bag that isn't made any more but you can look at their website and compare
the size of the bag is up to you whether you want to do carry on or checked bag

I've been using my Eagle Creek bag for nearly 11 years and it's worked great. It has wheels and straps in case I decide to carry it like a backpack though I usually don't. The zippers have held up well and many times - especially on the return trip - I stress them to the limit. Mine is similar to the Traverse Pro 22 - 22", Rolling Upright with Daypack (found on the ebags website.) Twenty-eight days in Italy sounds great!

Thanks so much for your comments and advice!!