Packing for a month...

Yes, I have been in Italy for an extended period of time on a couple of occasions. With that, I would definitely recommend still sticking to a single bag. If your course is 5 weeks and you pack enough for a week, you can just do laundry 4 times and that's it. A carry-on sized bag can easily hold roughly a week's worth of clothes, especially light summer clothes (which I take it is when you are studying). Regardless of how much you pack, if it is in a single carry-on bag and no more, then it will be a breeze traveling, getting around town, around train stations, up and down stairs, etc. If you decide to do any overnight side trips before, after, or during your stay, you will always have that light load to get you around easily. Plus, traveling lighter and carrying fewer things, you will have that much less to worry about. The first time, I packed a little heavier since I was based in one location, but after seeing how I easily could have gone with a lighter load, which would have made it easier for me in the first place, the second time I definitely stuck to the 'single bag' approach. Even though I was based out of one spot, getting around was much easier, and I still had all the clothes, etc. that I needed. Enjoy your travels!

Hi Chris, First of all I was born in Conneaut and raised in Ashtabula. Now to your question: My wife and I have stayed in Europe for over 30 days with each of us bringing one wheelie that fit in the overhead airplane bin and one small bag for toothpaste, razors, etc. If you pack correctly, you can get about 7 days worth of clothes into the wheelie along with an additional pair of walking shoes. You will wear one pair on the plane. It is best to have another pair and rotate out so the bottoms of your feet don't develop pressure points from wearing just one pair of shoes. Or you can bring one pair and buy another pair in Europe. Dark clothes are best and if you bring dark pants they can be worn for more than one day. Anything you need you can get in a local market or pharmacy in Europe so don't over-pack. We found that sightseeing for 4 days and then spending a couple of hours doing laundry on the 5th day was perfect, it allowed us to mingle with other tourists and the locals in the laundromat. Since you will be based in Florence just ask where you can find the lavanderia (laundromat). You will be fine. Ciao!

We go to Europe every summer for 3 to 4 weeks. We each only take our 21" RS roller bag which we check in when leaving the US so we can take things that will not go thru the carry-on screening. We each take a small carry-on bag that contains stuff we do not want to loose to security like cameras and medicines, etc. In each carry on we take 3 sets of quick drying clothes including underwear and we do laundry when necessary in our room sink, hanging it up and having it dry in the morning. RS manages, he claims, to do 3 MONTHS with one 21" carry-on. We do move around during our stay including taking one of RS tours. If we were going to go for an extended period of time, say one to two months, and stay in the same place most of the time, taking side trips, we might be tempted to take a large suitcase with more stuff but I will have to cross that bridge when I get there.

We did 33 days last year with one carry on bag. Just be sure you are close to a laundry service. And you might buy some supplemental clothing once there. You can always carry an extra bag home.

We did six weeks one year - with just our backpack bags. And on our first ten trips to Europe we did all our laundry in the bathroom sink. On the six-week trip we did have a washing machine for the last two weeks, when we began to get spoiled!

We traveled for 26 days with our 3 teenagers. We each had only a convertible bag and a daybag, and it worked really well. I loved the expression of the agent when we checked in at the airport and she asked us how many bags we were checking and we said "none." I think she thought we were crazy. That said, if you have a place to leave a 3rd larger bag while you do your side trips, I don't see any reason not to check one bag for a few extra things during your time in Florence. Then you will have a bag to bring home all of the wonderful things you find during your stay. But do carry on a bag with at all of your essentials and a few changes of clohtes just in case your checked bag takes a while to arrive. Your carry-on bag then becomes your weekend/side trip bag.

Hey Chris, My wife and I travel 4 weeks every year. One small carry-on is it. Remember, you can buy things there. That's part of the fun. And Jerry is dead on. I wear dark, microfiber, anti-stain, anti-wrinkle pants. I throw in anti-wrinkle golf and long sleeve shirts, plus some "indestructable" tee-shirts. You can layer 'em up if it gets cool. No jeans! too heavy, too hard to dry. I also switch out my shoes every couple of days. When you get there and watch people dragging these giant bags up and down the stairs at train stations, or up 5 flights of stone steps in hill towns, you will smile a little. Experience is a hard teacher. First, it gives the test, then, it gives the lesson. Have fun!

My GF loves to shop for clothes and shoes, and I love to cook. So, we need space to return with more clothes and shoes and Parmesan cheese then we left with! We pack one or both of our smaller, rolling carry-ons INSIDE two larger suitcases, and check them. So, we have extra space to return with stuff. That is our technique. As others have said, you need to find a laundromat. No big deal.

My husband and I both carry on our bags, no matter how long the trip. I do take a folding tote bag that I can use on the way home for dirty clothes. Then I have room in my carry on for the goodies I bought! As for the debate of jeans vs. no jeans - I do bring jeans. They can be worn several times between washings. The don't sink wash well, but if you have access to a washer they don't take more than 24 hours to hang dry.

I would stick to a single bag, but not necessarily a carry-on. (Yes, it can be done! But not by me.. I "need" too many clothes haha) Last summer I was there for a month, studying as well, and I fit everything into one suitcase and then a backpack. You will wear things over and over, but that's fine. People say "find a laundromat" but at the same time, you can wash them in your sink and hang them to dry (everyone in Italy hangs their clothes to dry anyways). I lived like that for a month, my parents lived like that for four months when they studied abroad in Russia in 84. For the side trips: I would bring along a carry-on or similar small bag that you two can throw stuff. You don't want to have to bring your larger suitcases with you when traveling around. When you are taking this course will also make a difference. In the summer you can get away with much less clothing, whereas in the fall or winter you will need heavier clothes and it can take up more space. I'm going back in August to study August through December and that will be much harder to pack lightly for, but I'm glad I have last year's experience because each time you go you realize you don't need as much as you thought you did.