Luggage...Compact or Big?

Get to small luggage. Remember your going to have to lug it around. If you think you'll need more room coming back, pack an empty duffle.

Can you carry your big bags up and down stairs at train and metro stations, sometimes amongst many people, easily? Can you lift those big bags to get them up and down the steep train steps while you have many people behind you trying to get on and off? Can you carry your bags up several flights of stairs if your hotel, B&B or wherever you are staying doesn't have an elevator? Or if the elevator doesn't work? If you can, no reason to buy something new. We use carry on sized bags (21" or 22"). It is much easier to navigate the above scenarios with smaller bags. Many bags expand, so you can buy things, expand the bag and check it on the way home. Or, I bring a tote bag that fits into it's own pouch. I put it in my bag and check it on the way home with my dirty clothes. Any souvenirs or things I want to keep track of stay with me in the unexpanded carryon bag.

We like a compact with wheels. Also in regards to train travel the compact luggage fits overhead or under your feet while the large luggage may end up at the end of the car and out of your sight. Also you will probably pay to check that big suitcase but the compact flies free. We also carry a light weight tote to carry our immediate needs for on the train such as maps, food and prescriptions, etc. Just travel light and laugh when you look at your pictures where you are wearing pretty much the same outfit in every one.

Tami, everyone in your group must be 100 % able to carry and lift their bags, as noted by previous posters you will encounter stairs, you will encounter curbs, you will encounter gaps to board trains etc, etc .
Porters, forget it, hard to find, and same with luggage trolleys in smaller stations. If you are quite capable of dealing with your heavy luggage then go for it, but seriously think carefully about it. In fact pack your big old cases, and take them downtown on the public bus, then walk around a bit, see how that feels for you. I am not a huge shopper so really have no clue what shoppers do with the stuff they feel then need to lug home. I suggest picking out small light souvenirs.

Tami, consider luggage with wheels - the cobblestones (especially in Rome and Florence) are less of a problem than I imagined. I travel with a 21-inch rolling carryon and a daypack or a cross-body messenger bag. I usually take a small lightweight bag for purchases in case I need it, but I never have (all these pieces I bought from the RS Travel Store). I also tend to throw away items of clothing that I'm sick of looking at (I take summer-long trips), which makes room for purchases.

We usually each bring a 20 to 21" expandable with wheels. Like a previous poster I also bring another collapsible bag for extras that don't fit in my suitcase for the trip home. On numerous trips to Europe have seen people struggling with huge suitcases. Not fun! Particularly silly-looking in Venice seeing people lugging big suitcases over the bridges.

Here's another vote for rolling carry-on luggage, but do be sure to get luggage with really sturdy larger wheels, like the kind on in-line skates.

Pack as little as possible, and you will still find that you did not use all your clothes. Do not pack 3 or 4 different jackets so you look pretty, that takes a lot of space.

Ok, I am going to listen to all you guys and buy the RS 20-21 luggage. I have never traveled with so little before. I am sure there are laundramats for me to wash my clothes at. :) Thank each and every one of you!

Tami, your local friends were right.....small luggage is the way to go especially on train travel. On most trains, the seats face each other so there is a small area on the floor behind the seat where you can stash your small luggage. It's always suggested that you keep your luggage close but that's impossible with big luggage. We sat with travelers who agonized over whether their luggage 'was still on the train.' Because of the size, it had to be 'stored' right inside the entrance to the train with everyone else's luggage...sometimes piled on top. When some people arrived at their stop, there was so much luggage to move that some of it had to be placed outside the train...yikes!...and then brought back on. I don't remember any calamities on our train but the situation was an accident waiting to happen. This was our first trip with small luggage and backpacks.......you'll be amazed at how little you really need. Enjoy your trip; Italy is a place you'll want to go back to...amazing!

Leave the big suitcases at home and use carry-on. Rick always suggests to pack all of the things you think you will need into a big suitcases and then go to the closest large city to carry/tote around for a few hours. Buon viaggio,

My threshold is that each person must be able to carry his/her own luggage. Personally, I don't subscribe to the pack-ultra-light camp. At all. And I'm a male not even on my 30s. I can't travel with "carry-on only" overseas, or anywhere more than 4 days. Old suitcases might be on the heavier side (when empty), which is obviously a disadvantage. Once again, personally I stick with suitcases with telescopic wheels (that can be "driven" in all directions). Thus, I can "ride" the suitcase (+ a small backpack/carry-on or notebook case) alongside myself on most places, except those that have steps. But it's, for me, a trade-off well worth not having to pull all the weight all the time on my back just to have an easier time at staircases.

BAGGAGE ALERT If you intend to bring back a lot of purchases from Italy, remember that many airlines now charge a hefty Euro 70-80 baggage surcharge on the second bag/suitcase you check in on an international trip (the first checked in bag is usually free). So check with your airline and when you do so ask if they waive the fee if you have the airlines' mileage credit card. For example United waived for me the second checked in bag fee because I'm a United Chase Credit Card holder (Lufthansa however didn't, although they are partners, so they got me real good!). If you like to shop, I suggest you travel light with a carry on bag only, so that it will be easier to travel around on trains while there. However take with you an empty duffel bag which you can fill with your purchases (preferably on the last day of your trip so that you don't have to lug it around). Whatever you do make sure you don't have to check in more than one bag on the way back, otherwise the baggage surcharge will negate any savings you might have had by buying there.

Tami,
The smaller the luggage, the better your trip will be. I travel in Italy soley by train or bus. Tracks are generally upstairs and the steps to get on the train are generally quite a step up....the smaller the better. I take a carry on rolling bag that fits in the overhead of the aircraft and that is it. I go for 2-3 weeks each year and highly recommend you go small. Purchases can be mailed back.

I forgot to mention...yes, I do laundry twice on a 2-3 week trip. Laundries are available everywhere I have been. I do like to bring back things for people that have taken care of my house, animals, mail while I am gone. I buy nice scarfs and bracelets for the ladies (take up almost no room) and last year I brought back leather wallets, key chains and wonderful Italian silk ties for the guys...again, small and don't take up much room. Have fun!