29" suitcase on trains - help!

You can do it. Awhile back someone posted something about taking two 29" cases -- EACH. You will have no problems getting it on the train, and plenty of storage available at the entrance to the car. You will not find many people on this site who travel with a suitcase that large but many other people do and survive. You do what you have to do especially on this occasion. Good Luck.

I heard that many people get to the train and the front of the car (luggage area) is full already. Does this happen often?

If you are traveling without seat reservations, then make sure you get away from the middle of the train. It seems that everyone fills in the middle cars first.

We always position ourselves way at the far end of the binaro (track) and get on the farthest 2nd class car we can find.

And...if you are worried about filled cars, it really depends on what time you travel,the month your travel and the route, some routes are very popular and the train will fill quickly.

If the car is filled, you can put your luggage "between" cars, the area in which you get on the train. We've had to do this with our bike cases. It's a bit scary, as we worried someone would just hop off the train with our stuff, but it hasn't happened. We do position ourselves by the luggage, and stand by our stuff as the train comes into each station, just to keep an eye on everything.

I've actually had to use my luggage as my seat on one trip between Pisa and Florence.

One suggestion I would make (but it will cost you more) is to travel 1st class. These cars do not fill as fast.

How about mailing all the wedding related gear before time?

We thought about that, but heard that they customs can charge you up to 100% of the value that you declare, which is just way too much.

But either way, it's too late now, as we leave tomorrow. I'll be carrying it with me!

Deanna, you may have thought of this already, and if so, that's great. But since I didn't know what you had or hadn't thought of I thought I would bring it up. If possible you may want to put the dress in a carryon, just in case the large case doesn't make it. You might also want to split the 29" case stuff into two smaller ones to check. Put some clothes for each of you into both of the cases, that way if one doesn't show up you aren't without everything. Also might depend on what is easier for you to handle.
Either way, take all medicine, makeup & 1 change of clothes in a carryon. Don't forget that you can wash while you're on your trip. Either a laundromat or in the sink. That's how many of us have learned to travel with smaller suitcases. I use the plastic bags that you roll to get the air out of for all undies/socks/swimsuits things like that. They then tuck into small spaces better.I know packing for a wedding/honeymoon makes it more difficult.
Packing is probably the hardest thing about your trip, so once you get on the plane you can relax.
Congratulations and have a great trip!

Deanna,

You'll probably be fine with the 29" suitcase, although it's not going to be pleasant hauling it around. I just returned from almost a month in Europe, and noticed some people travelling with gargantuan "wheelie bags" (unfortunately, some of them were in the same rail cars as I was).

If you end up in a car with "open seating", there's usually a luggage rack at one end of the car. If you find that filled with luggage, you could try another car? In cars with a corridor and compartments, the travellers with "behemoth bags" tended to leave them in the corridors outside their compartments, which made it a bit difficult for others to get back and forth.

If the train isn't too crowded and you're in a car with "open seating", you'll probably be able to put your suitcase on the unused seat.

Good luck, congratulations and happy travels!

Thanks everyone for your replies! Right now I've got the 26" packed like a huge sardine. There is no room to buy one item to take back, but I fit everything. We leave in a couple hours. It is tempting to switch to the 29" but I'm hoping we can make it work.

We have 2 small carryons (1 holding only my dress) and the 26 inch.

Advice to those who decide to marry in Italy: don't get the big dress! :-)

I'm taking a risk and switching to the 29" bag. Anyone who is curious how it turns out I will post when I get back.

I think it is the unknown that is so stressful when you are traveling. Going to somewhere you've never been you don't know what to expect.

But I can't wait for the adventure!

Ciao.