carry - on only for family of 8

Whether you check bags, carry-on bags are do a combination, make sure to cross-pack so if a bag goes missing, everyone is more likely to still have at least one change of clothes in someone else's bag.

My daughter has different packing cubes colors for her boys. She then packs both of their things in one medium size bag and the same for her and her husband. She keeps it to about 20lbs each. that way they are only wheeling around 2 bags instead of 4. Her boys are 9 and 11.
You might be able to put 2.5 or even 3 if you’re going to do laundry, into a bag. It might be better than toting 8 bags.

Slow down and breathe!

You'll find some folks here love their backpacks and some love their spinners/roll boards. Some always carry on and some always check.

I travel with a spinner bag that weighs just under 5 lbs. empty. Fully packed I am at 17 lbs. My current personal item is under 4 lbs packed and has a trolley sleeve. I tried a lightweight backpack for a personal item and didn't like it. I always carry on my bag on the outbound flight. I almost always check it on the return because it's heavier due to purchases.

I pack for roughly a week or so and plan a visit to the laundromat about every 7-8 day. The only sink washing I might do is underwear. I pack a pair of shoes /booties in addition to the pair I wear on the plane. I know I could leave a few pieces of clothing and other items at home and travel lighter if I wanted to. Make wise choices when deciding what to pack. If you can save a few ounces here and there, suddenly your bag is a few pounds lighter. My bag weight also includes a small 1st aid kit and a small laundry kit. Obviously, you won't be bringing 8 of those types of things.

Whether backpack or suitcase, get the lightest weight bag that will work for each person plus a lightweight personal item for things they want/need on the plane. The personal item should work for the individual. Some of your kids might want a roller plus day pack backpack. Some, a backpack plus a crossbody bag.

More is not better. You don't want the headache of keeping track of more than 1 carry-on and 1 personal bag per person.

Your going to get lots of good suggestions on making this work for your family.

You don't fly into Amalfi as there is no airport in Amalfi. I believe the closest airports are Naples or Salerno. And since Salerno has no flights from Switzerland, I'm guessing you are flying into Naples.

How are you getting from the airport to your accomodations?

Let's look at baggage allowance.

I'm guessing you are all flying in business or first to get two carry ons. However, you are only allowed one personal item each

https://www.swiss.com/no/en/prepare/baggage/hand-baggage

You do not want two carry ons and one personal item each. Trying to corral all that on trains and up stairs will be difficult.

If you have not traveled with a backpack in the past, I suggest you get one, or borrow one, and fill it with the same amount of weight you would have on your trip. And also the personal item.

Then take a walk. Not just around the house but around the block, up and down stairs, up and down hills. If you don't have a problem, then the backpack may be the way to go.

If not, a roller bag would be easy because you can slip the personal item over the telescoping handles of the carry on.

There are plenty of wheeled bags lighter than the Cotopaxi. And a 28L bag is way too big for Swiss' personal size item.

For packing, make out a packing list of everything you want to take. Then sit down and go through each item and ask yourself...will you use it enough to warrant taking it. Don't take lots of extra toiletries. You can buy things there. Don't pack for the worst case scenarios.

Since you are traveling with small kids, I'm guessing you are traveling in the summer. If so, assume it will be hotter than....well, I won't say it. Backpacks are not a lot of fun in very high heat.

And face facts, to do carry on for a two week trip you are going to have to do laundry.

Okay. Not a bad situation. Plan on doing laundry and pack 4 - 5 days worth of clothing. Use packing cubes. The “kids” aged 14 - 20 can manage their own bags and must! Only the 9 and 11 year olds need help. My daughter used (and continues to use) the Rick Steve Appenzell as her main bag; she gets her stuff in it and it fits under seat. This is a good option for the 9 and 11 year old. This pack can be carried backpack style.
I traveled to Italy with one backpack and it weighed 13.5 lb.s (bag + contents).
Backpacks (no wheels) mean less weight. So, easier to stay within 8 kg.
One backpack per “kid.” That’s it.
Options: Patagonia Terravia tote pack, black hole 25 liter pack. Amazon.com backpacks. I will come up with a few more for you. Amazon.com - light flight 30 liter pack - underseat bag. Cabin zero - “military” 28 liter bag.

Watch a few “one bag” travel videos on YouTube. Honestly, it’s not that difficult. Just have to stay with basics. Get lightweight backpacks for the younger kids to place underseat. 28 liters or so. The older “kids” can have larger backpacks that can go in the overhead bins. But, keep the packs under 35 liters to prevent over packing and weight issues. Buy a cheap, hand held luggage scale for home.
Example of “larger” pack - Patagonia - 32 liter black hole pack.

Wow. You guys are amazing. This is so helpful!

Still debating whether it's worth doing everything carryon - We fly DC to Zurich to Naples, so there is potential with lost baggage due to the connecting flight, but I have no idea how frequently airlines screw things up and how much of an actual risk this really is. I have to admit I kind of like the idea of the challenge of doing this as all carryon out bound, and checking it as needed on the way home (rome-DC direct flight). I'm fairly sure I can get us all in under the weight limits after reading everyone's replies, but I am wondering, what do we do about any souvenirs we might buy? How do I get those home if we're already maxed out for luggage? I don't mind checking a bag or two for the return trip, I'm more wondering if there will be space in the bag. Can you check those backpacks? Like if we have a 32L bag and there's extra room in it, could we check it b/c it would be over the 8kg carryon weight?

Frank II you're right, we are flying into Naples, and visiting Amalfi. Our AirBnB host has arranged a car to pick us up at the airport. She knows we are a family of 8, but obviously, I am also concerned about fitting all of us and all of our luggage into one vehicle!! Baggage allowance - also correct! I looked too quickly at the Swiss website. We get TWO carryons, 8kg max each, and ONE personal item. You guessed correctly, we are traveling in early July. Well aware of the heat, my husband and I have both been to Italy before during August. We are from Virginia, USA, though, where temps in the upper 90's with beastly humidity are the norm so the temps don't scare us. It is what it is!! We absolutely plan on doing laundry, we always do when traveling. All of our accommodations have washers. When you've got 6 kids, there's never a break from laundry lol.

The kids are all used to toting heavy backpacks, they shouldn't have a problem with something that weighs less than 20 pounds.

We have traveled quite a bit before, our usual process is every family member has their own color packing cubes, and we usually throw everything into 3 large LLBean duffel bags. The duffels are usually maxed out at 45 pounds. Given the stairs we'll have to navigate and the train, I didn't think this would be a great way to travel even though I have 4 young adult/ teen boys who are all quite strong and used to hefting the family's luggage.

Sun-Baked in Florida thank you for all the bag recommendations, I will check those all out. Also off to find some "one bag" videos...

Regarding what to do with souvenirs coming home. Either you only buy items that will fit in your checked bag for the return or you buy/bring a lightweight packable tote bag that will be used as your carry-on bag.

I have a tote purchased from IKEA several years ago that only weighs a few ounces and folds up small. Unfolded, it's almost the size of a carry-on bag if fully packed.

As a family of 4, I wouldn’t place too much importance on having a washer in the lodging. Washers in Europe tend to be tiny. You MIGHT fit 4 outfits per load, and it can take up to 2 hours per cycle. So EVERY DAY you would need to spend 4 hours doing laundry. Odds are, you will have a drying rack, which probably won’t fit 8 outfits at a time. Laundry could be a daunting task.

Alternatively, you could go to a laundromat and have a week’s worth of laundry for the whole family done in 1 1/2 hours, while you grab breakfast at a nearby cafe.

As for luggage, unless everyone can manage their own bags, I wouldn’t do carryon only. I would probably look at 3 checked bags plus two carry on roller bags. Each person packs 6 outfits and 1 pair of shoes. Mix up the clothes between bags, so each person has clothes in more than one bag. And everybody has a backpack/belt bag for their personal item. This will be easier to manage on trains.

When you arrive, buy full size shampoo, body wash & toothpaste. Bring a packable tote bag with a trolly sleeve. When you move locations, put your dirty clothes in the tote bag, along with your toiletries.

There are many packable bags out there. Amazon.com has GoX and others. Rick Steve has a packable tote bag and a packable duffel. These things pack up small into their own pockets. Can be used as day bags or for personal item for coming home with souvenirs. RS civita backpack is not a “packable. But, it lays flat as a pancake and can be rolled up or stuffed into another bag. It makes a good day pack as well.
If the older members have larger carry-on backpacks - try not to Max them out. Then, you have space for smaller souvenirs. Alternatively, buy a really, really expensive Italian purse and use it as both your souvenir and personal item (joking here - unless this is your style). Italian jewelry and watches (Panerai - Florence) can be worn home and save bag space. For the kids, pack less and buy t-shirts to use in Italy and as take home gifts.

Can you check those backpacks?

Yes, you can check a backpack. Most of the ‘travel backpacks’ are designed to be able to tuck the straps in. That keeps them from catching in the conveyor machines. We have checked our Rick Steves convertible carryon with no ill effects. If you’re worried about the bag coming open in transit, you could consider using something like a zip tie to keep the two zipper tabs together as the bag is jostled or moved. If the bag would need to be inspected/opened by airport security they would cut the zip tie though.

You asked (perhaps rhetorically) how often bags get lost. That is a good question. It seems like all it takes for someone to forsake checking a bag is to have their bag lost once (or the bag of someone they know, or have heard of.) I've had very few delayed bags and never have I ever lost a bag for good, even with connecting flights. I say, do some cross packing and check some bags, enjoying carefree transit through the airport and at the gate, and don't worry about you and the kids competing with others for overhead bin space. You've flown a lot before so my purpose is just to encourage you.

Your more challenging baggage handling issues will be onto/off the train and up those 100 steps - I defer to other posters for how to pack light.

Hi Liz, I havent read all the responses so this might be repeat info, and Im sorry. I have traveled with my three kids since they were 9, 12, and 14. We always do carry-on only, and we all carry the Osprey Porter 46L. Here's how we do the weight, and extra bags. First, obviously (oh, and we travel for 4+ weeks at a time), we pack light. I could go into detail but you've probably received enough about that. Then, every person has a Sea-to-Summit day bag, which is a polyester backpack that crunches down to the size of your fist and has its own little stuff sack when not in use. Anyway, we pack that with all the things we will need on the flight, so eye mask, warm layer (planes are always cold), neck pillow, snacks, kindle, etc etc. I also pack my cross-body bag in there (with wallet, phone, meds, etc). In all of our commuting (to/from airports, in airports, on trains...), that Sea-to-Summit backpack is packed in the Osprey. So everyone has one bag on their back. When we are in the airport, we take the sea-to summit out at checkpoints only (security, in the line to scan the boarding pass where we wear it on front). So we have a backpack and a front pack just as we board. When we get to our seat, the sea-to-summit with all our supplies goes under the seat, and the Osprey goes overhead, and we dont need to get it out for anything during the flight. If our Osprey weighs a little more than is ok, we put something heavy in the Sea-to Summit (Computer battery? Toiletries?) and then readjust when we are on the plane before we put the opsprey overhead. We ended up getting different colors of Osprey bags, so each kid has a different color, which was a great way to easily know. And my 9yo brought two big stuffed animals and it worked. I think we all brought two pair of shoes (sandals and sneakers), etc. We're heading out in 3 weeks, and the Osprey packing plan is still how we do it (kids are now 17, 20, 22). Good luck and enjoy.

You may come from a hot n humid locale, but I suspect you spend most of your time in an air conditioned car, home or office, not outdoors playing tourist.

The a/c in Italy is unlikely to be the US style that the locals would consider a “meat locker “ temp.

Meaning no disrespect, but be prepared for a different degree of cooling.

Have fun

joe32f no disrespect taken!! I completely appreciate the heads' up. Not to worry, my husband and I have been to Rome before during the hot excruciating August sun, and are fully aware of what's in store for us - and I hate freezing cold a/c, so I'm actually glad it's not like that in Italy!! It is what it is, can't change the weather or the timing of our trip, all we can do is manage our expectations and our attitudes! And bring cooling towels. lol.

Jessica - this sounds like a terrific idea. I love it. Thanks for the suggestion, I will be looking into the Osprey and the packable backpack - I actually have an LLBean one that sounds very similar to that.

KC thank you for the encouragement! I think my approach is going to be to attempt to do all carry on, but not sweat it and if I have to check a bag or two, then so be it. You are right, the focus should be on ease of moving around - although I will say, when you're finally in those glorious years where you don't have to tote along a car seat and a stroller, anything else feels like traveling light!! lol. Yeah those steps.... packing light is the key I think!

Sun-Baked in Florida HA! I am totally NOT the fancy purse kind of gal. Or the fancy jewelry and watch kind of girl... but there is something to the idea of wearing as much on the plane as you can get away with!! This is all reminding me of a funny little skit I watched online once, where some british fellow was appalled at the store at being told he had to pay a few cents for a grocery bag, so he decided he didn't need a bag, and proceeded to stuff all of his groceries into his various pockets. It was quite hilarious.

travel4fun Yeah, a friend who was recently in Rome also warned me about the looooong laundry times and small capacity of the washers in the AirBnBs. I'm approaching this thinking we will only wash underwear and socks, outfits only occasionally if we must. She did warn me to bring a clothesline. So, I know I will be doing laundry, but I'm thinking it will be a small load every day, hung to dry while we are out and about. We are "eat breakfast at the house" kind of people, we've got some dietary restrictions and such and it's just easier to buy eggs and make our own at whatever rental place we're at, so, hoping it won't be too big of a deal to get up early, throw in a load, and let it run while the kids get up and we eat and get ready. I guess we'll find out!! Good to know about the laundromats being much faster, I will definitely keep that in mind, thank you for the tip!

I am very grateful for the wealth of information you all have shared!! So appreciate you all taking the time to help me. More importantly, my husband thanks you all. His eyes were glazing over at all my talking through this, and the kids are cracking jokes about mom shopping for backpacks. :)

Also be aware that some washers are exceedingly loud. We used one once that sounded light a jet engine and went on for 3 hours. So be aware of quiet times in the rental. That may mean no early morning or late night washing.

While the many virtues of traveling only with carry-on bags are well represented here, it is not a sin - nor a setup for certain disaster - to check bags when flying internationally. Many of us do that all the time and live to tell about it. If you want to check bags, don't be afraid to do so. Just be smart about it.

While we hear about lost-bags disasters all the time (and those are real), what we don't hear about much are routine problem-free experiences with checked bags NOT getting lost, which is by far the norm. Odds are that if you check bags, they will arrive with you and the whole bag thing will be completely uneventful, even boring. Sure, every airport you connect through adds some potential for a bag not making it, but the vast, overwhelming number of bag transfers happen every day with zero surprises. Yes, occasionally one goes sideways (usually even then it's just delayed, delivered to you within 24 hours). Baggage mishaps are rare by comparison to successful, uneventful transfers. The odds favor you here; bags getting really "lost" are rare (I've never had one go missing).

To mitigate the impact of a bag not making it with you, do the following for every checked bag:

1. Make sure you have bag tags on every bag; don't include your home address or other home details on the tag, but DO include your name and email.
2. Ask the person tagging your bags to verbally confirm the bags will be checked through to your final destination. Then watch when your bags get checked to be sure that every bag gets the correct tags (with your itinerary, eg to Zurich, Naples, etc. - each airport that you're going through, showing the airport's 3-letter code - those should appear in sequence on the bag ticket). Watch carefully for this before your bags disappear down the belt into the depths of the airport,
3. You might consider getting some AirTags or similar tracking devices and stash them in your bags. While not perfect, these can offer some peace of mind as you should be able to see your bags moving with you.
4. Then board your flight and stop worrying about it. Your bags will almost certainly show up at your destination when you reach it. If not, you'll have some recourse and it won't completely derail your trip.

Now, even though checking bags is (I think) a low-risk behavior, you can still apply many of the lessons of the "carry-on only" approach which still apply: just because you are checking bags does not mean you should abandon efforts to minimize what you bring, you should still employ some self-discipline about how big and heavy your bags are...because even if you do not have to worry so much about baggage dragons, you are still going to have to carry/roll your bags after you leave the airport (and yes, up some stairs). Set aside some essentials (a change of clothes, prescription meds, anything you couldn't easily do without for 24-48 hours after arrival) and keep those in a carry-on just in case.

Many, many people check bags (a majority of them, I suspect) and have zero issues. While there are plenty of benefits of "carry-on only" that doesn't always work well for everyone, and checking bags is perfectly acceptable and can make your trip easier and more pleasant. It's a personal choice. Either way, you can do it!

LLBean - stowaway tote backpack. About 23 liters. Would work for 2 youngest ones.
Having a packable tote will help with groceries/ beach bag/take home souvenirs. Have a designated one for dirty laundry. My family just goes to a laundromat. We either do it ourselves or pay for laundry services at laundromat. Haul a few laundry pods or laundry powder, so you don’t have to buy a big container of them.

I like the idea of buying family size toiletries on arrival and sharing them. Then, throw out the rest at end of trip. My family does this with shampoo. Lightens the load. No TSA or spillage issues.
Bring some plastic bags - like the kind you get at grocery store or kitchen size garbage bags. Good for dirty shoes, wet clothing, trash, dirty laundry, etc.. Pack flat, light weight.

Amazon: bagsmart travel backpack = 30 liter

Hi there, and welcome! You've gotten some great advice, & there really is no right decision, just what works for you.

You asked how often bags go missing - I can only speak from my experiences, traveling around the world for 50 years, I've had 3 bags go missing for a few hours. All 3 were delivered to our next hotel / home within 1/2 a day. I almost always check a bag now, because I dislike having to schlepp it through a connecting airport. However, I never pack medications, important documents, etc in my checked bag. And always take a fresh pair of underwear in carryon. I also pack a puffer coat, but don't know what time of year you're traveling? I would consider Apple Air Tags for this large family, provided several people can track what might be missing, would be good to keep in your personal items when out and about too.

My head is kind of spinning at the idea of having 16 bags, though.
16 bags with 6 kids?? No way, not me. But maybe you're super organized?? Or could some of the stuff go into 2 checked bags, reducing the number of things you're carrying on board? The concept of traveling light does still apply, but maybe relax and check a few bags?

I would suggest you decide what carryon / backpack or roller bag each person will have, leave tags on so you can return them, get all 8 of you into packing mode, and see if you can wander around, take a walk around the block, go up and down stairs and how do you feel about all those bags?? HA. Personally, I dislike spinners because they weigh more, though they really are cool getting around airports. Take the whole family to REI? Have them all try on (weighted) bags with their personal item and wander around??

Do I just take a deep breath and buy normal carryon sized roller bags?
Well, I would seriously consider the weight of the bag. I just upgraded to a bag that only weighs 2.5 KG, it's a game changer for carry on. Here's my bag, in blue. https://www.outnorth.com/int/brands/samsonite/ecodiver-duffle-wh-underseater-45-cm-192669-P426-0751.

Wondered if you've read any of the packing light posts that have popped up recently?
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/packing/first-time-traveling-to-europe-packing-light-tips-needed.
This is an interesting thread because of how ultra-light she packs - https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/packing/packing-overthinking-it. Good luck & let us know what you decide!

I just wanted to add three things:
1. We almost always carry on but from my perspective the more important thing is having luggage you can handle in Europe. In other words, I would pack light regardless. To me that means one carryon suitcase or substitute back pack and a day bag. I would not bring a bunch of different bags to manage the weight limitations of carry on.
2. One advantage of checking is don’t have to keep track of luggage when you change planes in Zurich. We have checked when carrying hiking poles on Swiss Air to Crete (so two plane changes) and it all worked perfectly.
3. We traveled with 7 people (all adults) in Italy for two weeks and managed well with the washing machines in the apartments we rented. We never went to a laundry mat. There usually was a short cycle and we used that. Someone put laundry in most mornings and then a different person when we returned for the evening. There were no dryers but lots of racks or clothes line to hang out window. The only wrinkle we had was in Verona a fierce storm blew up and some of our laundry ended up on the ground two floors down!

Regarding laundry, head to a Laundromat once a week. In and out in less than 90 minutes and your done. No worries that something isn't dry or you have clothes strewn about your rooms. Maybe you'll interact with locals, maybe you'll enjoy a coffee next door while you wait.

Look for laundry detergent sheets. Weighs very little and takes up minimal room. Try at home first to find a brand like. I've been using Beyond brand with good results. Since I'm only doing laundry for 1 or 2 persons, I bring Shout Color Catcher sheets so I can throw everything in 1 load.

JeanM,
Great advice. Do laundry later in day for a break. Then, (since this is Italy), wander next door for wine, locals, and porchetta or other lovely food item.

We often rent apartments because of the washing machine. Ask the owner or check the instruction manual for a 30-minute cycle. That way, you can do several loads (likely small) in just a few hours. The drawback is that there generally is no dryer, so you'll have copious amounts of clothing strewn about. We've also used laundromats if staying at a hotel. Dryer! Done in 1.5 hours and hobnobbing with the locals is pleasant. You'll need some sort of bags to tote it all, though. I swear by my Tide pods which I double pack in Ziplocs.
You seem pretty adamant about no check-in bags. We were too, until my husband was prescribed lotions for a skin condition he has. We then had to do one checked bag. It's a relief to hand it off and it doesn't have to be big or weighty. We've had only two incidents where our bag had to be delivered to our lodging, and that was done quickly.
Can you consolidate the younger kids clothes?
I admire your spunk in taking the whole family. What wonderful memories you'll make.

Also check your airline for weight limits for carry-on. You can buy a small hand held scale to weigh all the different bags and backpacks you are taking. And you can weigh each item you pack individually with a kitchen scale. It's amazing that one pair of pants is 1.5 lbs and another only 10 oz.

I travel relatively light at 15 lbs per 1 bag or backpack but don't have a problem checking a bag if it's a non-stop flight and especially on the return flight as it's one less thing to keep track of. Also it's amazing what you can fit into a personal item and those aren't always weighed. But some airlines are starting to count both bag and carry on item in their total weight count for carry on. It's could to know all this before you pack.

Here is a great option for the older kids and adults. It comes in Small/Medium and Medium/Large sizes. This price is VERY good:
https://www.sierra.com/eagle-creek-tour-travel-40-l-backpack-small-medium-black~p~7gkfj/?filterString=s~eagle-creek%2F
Another good option in the 40L volume range is the Osprey Farpoint (men's) and Fairview (women's). They have adjustable harness lengths. These bags are compatible with the Daylite daypacks, which can be attached at the front (what they call kangaroo style, I think) or the back. This combo would last a lifetime.
Someone mentioned the Osprey Porter 46L, which is a very good bag. It has been renamed the Sojourn Porter 46 (and it's currently on sale at REI). It also comes in a 30L size. These bags are very easy to overpack, and when overpacked, the 46L does not meet carryon size restrictions. OTOH, it's easily checked on the way home, so it's good for souvenir buyers.
The good news about smaller people is that they wear smaller clothes. You don't say when you're going, but assuming it's in the summer, the clothes are even smaller (and lighter). The best way to find a good fitting backpack is to take them to REI and try them on. They should have weighted bags you can put in the pack to see if they can manage it. If you have a Sierra store near you, they also have these weighted bags. Of course, you'd want to know the weight of their stuff. Kitchen scale is really helpful.
Finally, I suggest bringing another pair of shoes, even if it's flip flops or slides, for wearing around your AirBnB or for water situations.

The kids are all used to toting heavy backpacks, they shouldn't have a
problem with something that weighs less than 20 pounds.

I was thinking the same, Liz. While not fortunate enough to have small persons of my own, we live spittin' distance from an elementary school and it's amazing how BIG and heavy-looking some of the backpacks are that they trot to school with! The young people sure are tough little critters! As well, it's not like your youngest will have to tote them all DAY; just to from train stations and whatnot, right?

You are going to be traveling for 15 days! You are not moving to another part of the world! Why doesn't everyone pack a weeks worth of clothes in one carryon bag and plan on doing laundry as you go?

Hi Ed,
yep, that is exactly what we're hoping to do, is pack only 1 week's worth of clothes (actually, a bit less ideally). The issue here is whether that one week's worth will come in at under 8kg or not. If it doesn't, then too bad we'll have to check the bag. But either way, the plan is definitely to pack light and limit to one bag and one personal item per person. And, pretty sure that at least 4 of the kids can get all their stuff in together in one bag, so if all goes according to plan, we'll just have 6 bags. I don't think we even have 2 weeks' worth of clothes, lol!

I wouldn't worry about the bag weight. My wife and I flew Swiss from JFK to New Delhi last March via Zurich. No issues. Now granted we were in Business Class., but I did not notice any issues with anyone boarding the flight.

omg! my head is spinning too. I've been listening to a great travel podcast called "Travel Secrets" - it's very luxe but filled with good tips. One guest does what I do if I have to check something - I put my address securely on the inside of the bag. That helped her when her luggage once got lost. She was on a ski trip with her family (6 people) and the entire flight's luggage didn't make it on board. Her son's luggage got home first...so she decided that on future trips, each piece of luggage would have a few things for everyone so at least if a bag got lost, that person would not be out luck. Clever! if you are checking, at least carry on your toiletries, some underwear and a change of clothes.

Whatever solution you choose, I want to applaud your decision to take the whole family overseas! The kids will learn new skills in managing their own stuff and navigating new places. Valuable life lessons, beyond the fun of encountering new cultures.

We have 2 kids, trained from a young age to do carryon. My adult kids now travel carryon only by their own choice. Yay us. :-) IMHO your 18 and 20yo kids need to know how to travel with only a modest backpack (without losing stuff), because they’ll be using those skills right away. Your 14 and 15yo kids may be ready for the same.

I took my 14yo to Rome and Paris—he managed a small roller and packable backpack with no problem on trains and subways. Of course, that was 1 parent to 1 kid ratio…way different scenario. But he worked hard to stay organized. Cheering you on.

Thanks everyone, this has been so so so helpful!!
I wound up deciding on the Osprey Porter 46L. All three of the older boys wanted one, we did a "trial run" with packing up what we thought we'd take, over-projecting, and the whole thing weighed just 15 pounds. Wohoo! My eldest son flies to and from college when he comes home on breaks, so this bag will definitely serve him well in the future. I got them on sale at REI, so that was a huge help, too. The youngest boy desperately wants one, too, lol but it is huge on him and I don't think he'll be able to heft it despite his assurances to the contrary. He's got to grow a wee bit more. I also got an Osprey Porter 46L for myself. Haven't test-packed it yet, but, I'm confident I can do it. :) My two youngest will share a carry-on sized rolling suitcase. We'll see what the weight comes in at, and check it if we have to. My eldest daughter will pack in the same (she was just given a very nice one as a graduation present from her grandparents), and she will definitely check it. She could not be persuaded to part with the slew of toiletries that she has deemed necessary, lol. My husband is still mulling it over, my guess is he'll also pack in one of our existing carryon sized. So all in all, we'll have 4 carry on back packs, and 3 rolling carry-ons that get checked. I can live with that!! Everyone will also have a small backpack with what they need to access during the flight, as well as a change of clothes for the ones that are checking their bag.
Our itinerary looks like we'll have to walk a decent bit from the train station to our accommodations, but I think we can handle our load. I will be sure to update upon our return as to how it went!!

Thanks to everyone for your well wishes and advice and for cheering us on!! we're 15 days out :) likely more questions will arise!!

My eldest daughter will pack ..................... with the slew of toiletries that she has deemed necessary, lol

Sure hope she can quickly apply all her stuff in the AM when everyone is ready to head out the door.

Well, there you have it. Two posts positive for checking bags. A rare occurrence. And given the concern you have for weight of the bags and the overwhelming number of bags for your family, I would seriously considering checking bags. Keeping track of all those bags and shlepping them through on the layovers seems fraught with a possible left behind bag. The sheer number of bags you propose is a recipe for something going wrong.
Don’t worry about the weight. Condense everyone down to one checked bag and a small personal bag for the plane and free your whole family from anxiety.

I assume that your older kids are responsible enough to keep track of their belongings.

If I were your daughter I would conveniently forget to pack most of my toiletries. She would had a lot of fun shopping in Italian drug stores and supermarkets for shampoo and cosmetics.

Well done Liz, that's great and you've done the hard work of working out the logistics and sizes ahead of time! The more you think ahead, eyeball what you're taking, maybe laid out on the table for awhile, you may find you can cut back even more. Funny, I finally tried the contact lens container idea for makeup, easily worth a week's trip.

We had a washer/dryer in a cottage in Scotland. It took HOURS to run a load of laundry.

In Florence and Rome we have gone to a laundromat first thing in the morning. No problem

Update!!
We wound up getting Osprey Porter 46L bags for my husband, myself, and the 3 teenage boys. My two youngest are sharing a rolling hard-sided carryon size suitcase, and my oldest daughter is checking her carryon sized suitcase (which was just a smidge too large for Swiss requirements, it's 57cm and they top out at 55cm).

All of us came in well below 8kg!!! It wasn't even hard!!!! Everyone has a personal item where their toiletries are stashed, and we've got an extra small backpack with some heavier items in it that my oldest daughter will claim as "her" carryon since her bag is being checked. We've even got an extra carryon allowance we're not using, since two of the kids are sharing a bag.

Whew!!!

Thanks for all the encouragement!

For those of you worried about my daughter and all her toiletries - she has very sensitive skin, and is particular about the products she can use on her face, so just purchasing things in Italy is probably not a good idea for her. Teen acne is difficult enough as it is, she's got some good stuff she uses to manage it, I'm not going to mess with it. She does not wear any makeup, thanks for the concern over how long it'll take her to get herself ready in the morning - she's actually very fast, faster than her brothers most days!

The kids are all experienced travelers within the US, and are very used to keeping track of their belongings on airplanes and airports. Not anticipating any problems managing all of our "stuff" - especially since it feels luxurious that we're traveling light, with no strollers or car seats, lol!!

So all in all, we've got 8 travelers, and 7 bags, not including personal item bags.

Congratulations, I hope your trip is just as successful!

I'm seriously impressed! Have a wonderful trip!

Dear OP,
It’s always good when travelers can minimize their bag weights and number of bags. Not only does it free you up from a load - it always reduces cargo weight and frees up space on the plane. This allows travelers who need extra space for medical supplies or work related gear to carry what they need. Reduces fuel consumption by the plane. Good job!

Sounds great! / thanks for letting us know how packing worked out for you... If you're up for it after your trip, would be wonderful to hear how it went. Bon Voyage!

Liz, I don't remember if it was mentioned above. But, you might want to pack a super lightweight foldable tote for any purchases along the way. Since you've still got the extra bag allotment, you could carry it on coming home. I found a foldable tote with trolley sleeve at IKEA a few years ago that weighs a couple ounces and comes in handy.