What do you use for luggage?

We pack light and do carry on only.

Here is an excellent resource to introduce you to the concept.

http://www.onebag.com/

I usually stay for 2 to 3 weeks and use a checked bag and a small carry-on duffle for items that I don't want to check. I pack two days worth of clothing in my carry-on just in case the checked bag is delayed. Some on this helpline will just use a carry-on bag for a trip and that's fine if you intend on doing laundry while you are gone. To me, a vacation doesn't involve domestic chores. But that's just me. My bag is a 24" roller for a 3 week trip, a little large, but you could probably get by with smaller (20" or 22"). I wear my clothes at least 2 days (if they are presentable), but I buy cheap underwear and throw it away as I use it, thus the need for the larger bag (undies do take up a little room). My bag gets lighter and roomier as I go, making room for my souvenir purchases.

I use a 22" expandable roller bag and a tote bag that slips over the handles. I carry on going over because I don't want my bags to disappear. I also take a foldaway tote bag (bought on this site) that I can use on the way home. I use the foldaway bag for my dirty clothes and then have room for the other things I buy. I don't always use the foldaway tote, but I am glad to have it if I need it. It is small and lightweight. I have used this method on trips ranging from 1 - 4 weeks. I do hand wash clothing on a longer trip. On a 4 week trip we went to laundomats twice. I travel light primarily for the ease of getting around once I am there. Don't underestimate the difficulties of stairs, etc. Not only are there plenty of stairs in Europe, but staircases in my experience are usually winding and often narrow.

I use an expandable 24" but so far haven't ever used the expansion. Then I use a backpack with wheels that is small enough to wheel down the airplane aisle and fit under the seat in front; this way if I'm using the train I can put the carry on backpack on my back and wheel my 24" one then hubby doesn't have to help me. Try to pack light for 25 days this May will 4 adults in a car.
Jean

Laura,

To begin with, it would help to know what type of luggage you presently have (and therefore what your choices are)?

So far, I've used "a combination of checked and carry on". I always use a Backpack system, which consists of a main Pack and a detachable Daypack. The main Pack is checked, and I use the Daypack for carry-on. I also carry a medium-sized Camera bag.

I had to buy a slightly larger Backpack this year, as I'll be travelling with more Camera gear (part of the trip will be a Photography Workshop, so the extra gear is essential).

I much prefer a Backpack to other forms of luggage, as it's much easier for most travel situations that I've encountered - stairs, cobblestone streets, boarding or disembarking from trains, etc.

Good luck with your decision!

We use a combination. We have a 26" large suitcase with wheels - we both pack in that and check it. Then we carry on one 18" on wheels and one back pack (with my camera gear) We pack a couple of days of extra clothes in the carry on - just in case the checked bag doesn't arrive with us.

This year that 26" bag won't go. We will check a 22" bag in an attempt to go a little lighter. We also are not going to any new places this year so souvinier shopping will be nil.

my wife and I both use a Ricks Classic to go on vacation. Our carry on only weighs 12 pounds, and I also have a carry on with my medicine. We stay for 30 days doing laundry 2 times while there. Our 1st trip 10 years ago we took all but the kitchen sink and didnt have a good time cuz we had so much to carry. We learned over the years from reading posts here. Hope you have a great trip....

i only take one bag...a carry on...i used to use rick's classic bag which is great and 44" total dimension...but over time i have packed even lighter and use a patagonia mlc... (39")...but both have the optional backpack straps...a must on any bag i would ever use...i would never check a bag...and yes it was a girl that years ago that showed me the way on packing light so anyone can do it...traveling light and being mobile and hands free is key...

We take more than other folks so far. What we take is on rollers, two duffels and makes for easy transfer from place to place.

We pack light and carry on only. My wife uses a roll on and I use an ebags weekender convertible carry on.

I bought a digital scale to weigh our bags and decided my wife's weighs too much (8+ lbs.) so it's time to buy her something lighter.

Here is what I pack in my carry on. Hopefully it will give you some ideas.

http://www.polyvore.com/mens_travel_pack_list/set?id=1440268

Laura, I've decided that from now on I'm going to encourage people to check luggage. Here's why--and it's an ulterior motive:

The more people I can get to check luggage, the more space there will be in the overhead for my one non-wheeled, carry on bag.

:)

Thanks everyone - you're very encouraging! I'm really going to try and just do carry on and so is everyone else in my family (that's the plan anyway). I have a 21" roller bag and will also take a messenger bag of some sort.

It's a real challenge to try and fit everything in that little space. The hardest part as everyone has stated is shoes and toiletries.

We use a combination Carry-On and Check-in.

Carry-ons are the little rolly bags. We could do the whole vacation on just these bags as they contain everything we NEED on the trip. But we do check-in also with the Big Rolly Bags. These have all the stuff we WANT to have on the trip and room to bring some stuff back. Mostly Books. And if these big ones get lost on the way in, its no problem at all and we couldn't care less in transit. And as Rick found out, a lost check-in gets you 50E in compensation on the way in. On the way back, we remove all the very important stuff like cameras and check everything since the cheaper flights have you going through more airports. The airline's, if they lost stuff on the way back, have always found our luggage, eventually, and delivered it free to the door. And they find them because they are clearly identifiable out of the sea of near identical looking luggage. We tie bright colored ribbons and add extra ID Tags.