Suitcase challenge

My wife is very well dressed, and she's able to haul all her clothes in a 21" rolling carry on bag and an oversized purse. I carry the same 21" rolling bag and a small backpack.
Rick Steves' packing list is a product of experience and it does work..
Suitcases are personal items, and any 21 year old doesn't need to share their suitcase
I remember my poor father, a world traveler, hauling my mother's oversized suitcase until about age 80. And every time I see those huge suitcases being checked in airports, I think about those that have to deal with loading such rocks. I won't travel with anyone that cannot handle their bags by themselves.

Thanks for your help...

21 yr old is not sharing a suitcase...she will manage her own.

This particular tour isn't about travelling between cities, on/off busses...Given we are only visiting 3 cities/hotels I wondered if my plan was considered do-able particularly by those who have done this tour. Thanks again!

don't bring the larger suitcase, go out and buy a cheap smaller one. Even though it won't be full it will still be awkward to tote around and has the potential to become full.

Sounds like a lot of luggage/bags. You will find it easier to take one 21 or 22 inch suitcase on wheels and a smaller carry on/ tote bag. Yes, even if you are only changing hotels three times. I never take more than that even for six weeks of travel. If you think you'll be buying a lot of things, pack a collapsible bag to use at the end.

David must have read your post before he had coffee!

I think your plan sounds fine - the only other real option would be to buy a new bag. The bigger bag should work just fine especially if you do not pack it full.

Have a great trip.

Your plan sounds very reasonable to me. Sometimes people get locked into a narrow perspective and can't reassess for a specific situation. I'm glad to see you aren't one of those people.

I, too, agree with your plan. It is fairy easy to manage your luggage on an RS tour. All you really need to be able to do is carry your suitcase up stairs in case you have to do so. There were many people on my tour who appeared to have that size bags, including the guide. Checking is also nice so you do not have to schlep your luggage around the airport and onto the plane.

You don't state whether this is a Rick Steves tour. If so, the tour rules state that you are allowed only one bag and it must meet carry-on size limitations. Going "next size up" from your 23-24" size bag will be a significant violation. We've been on two Rick Steves tours of 14 days duration each, and no one on either tour violated the 22" bag limitation. I wouldn't want to be that one person who did so. On a recent 12 day trip to Italy (traveling independently and not as part of a tour) I used a 22" bag and with the magic of mesh packing cubes, I was able to fit in 3 skirts, 2 pair of capris pants, 8 tops, 5 dresses, 2 light sweaters, a swim suit, a swim suit cover up, and one extra pair of shoes. I could have gotten by with fewer outfits, but they all fit, and for this particular trip, I wanted a lot of clothing options. I didn't have any spare room in that bag to bring home souvenirs, but I packed a folded up extra bag just in case. (It ended up un-used, as I arranged for shipment of the one thing I bought.) At the urging of myself and my husband, each of the other 8 people who traveled with us also limited himself/herself to a carry-on sized bag, and everyone thanked us for it after the trip was over. You state "I know the recommendation" but it is "not a deal breaker." If this is a RS tour, bag size isn't stated as a recommendation, it's stated as a rule. When you go on a tour, you should be a team player. The cost of a new bag pales in comparison to what you've spent for the tour. Even if this isn't a RS tour, I'd still stick with a carry-on sized bag. You are not worried because travel to/from hotel only happens 3x. The streets, lanes and sidewalks in Venice, Florence and Rome can be crowded and narrow. In Venice, making your way to a hotel can involve a number of bridges with stairsteps. A bigger bag is going to be a burden to you and the group.

Hi Vickie

Yes it is a Rick Steves tour. I have already checked with them...it is NOT a requirement, merely a suggestion they provide to would-be travellers.

I think you need to do whatever makes you feel comfortable on your vacation. I always travel with a 20inch carryon and a large crossbody purse because I know that ultimately I am responsible for getting my bags from point A to point B by myself. There may be someone to help you get a larger suitcase up steep stairs or you may be comfortable doing it yourself. After many years of travel, I know what works best for me. A larger suitcase is perfectly fine if you are able to maneuver it by yourself throughout your trip. Don't forget to consider transport to and from airports with your bag. Have a great time!

Where does it say you cannot bring anything other than one carry on sized bag for a Rick Steves tour?

It is suggested that is all you bring, but I have taken 10+ tours and on every one someone had bags way over that size. On one a guy (who I ended up sharing a room with) took TWO steamer-trunk sized bags. No one said anything to him as he managed to drag them around on his own.

I never bring anything larger because over the years I have found 18 pounds of stuff packed into the one RS classic bag I have works fine for any length trip. It is a joy to not drag tons of stuff I will never use with me.

The only disadvantage I see to the not-full larger suitcase is that it weighs more empty, so you will probably be dealing with an extra pound or two of weight even before you start shopping.

However, I'm a small, non-athletic, 65-year-old female and my bag is that size. I can't say that I enjoy moving it around, but I've been doing so for over 2 months, on and off trains. I'm guessing that your bag won't have several inches of paper in it, either, so it should be lighter than mine.

If you have stairs in your home (or stairs at a friend's house you can borrow), do a trial run. Pack what you think you will take in it, then toss in an extra 10 lbs. (just in case). Carry the packed larger suitcase up and down the stairs about three times in a row (without stopping), and also have a tote bag over your shoulder. If all goes well, then you have your answer.

To be extra sure, just in case, you might drive it to a medium steep hill in your town and lug it up the hill (in the full sun on a really hot day), then immediately after that do the up/down the stairs three times without stopping...............and if you do all that without (major) problem, then you are all set.

As long as you can move it, take what you think you will need. Keep track for next trip, you will probably need less, but that's up to you.

One advantage of taking carryon only is that you won't have to worry about luggage delay/loss.

What would get you in trouble with the RS tour, is if you're unable to keep up with the group due to luggage, causing delays. The schedule is tight requiring strict departure times. The bus doesn't always get close to the hotel, requiring a longer walk. Getting on and off a crowded vapporetto, and the ubiquitous stairs in Venice, can be a challenge as well. As long as you can manage, you should be fine. Many of the people end up accumulating another bag of souvenirs along the way.

In order to get to your hotel in Venice you will have a long walk over uneven stone surfaces, and stairs on the sidewalks to carry suitcases up and down, before you even reach the hotel and the start of your tour. Every bit of larger/heavier suitcase will be a nuisance to you in Venice. In addition you'll most likely be taking a smallish boat from the airport to the island, again requiring you to maneuver the suitcase up and down steps on the boat, which may be wet and slippery. I take a 21-inch suitcase and a shoulder bag or small backpack, because I often find that it is much preferable to actually carry the suitcase rather than to roll it on the sidewalks in Europe. If your "next size up" suitcase from the 23/24 inch one is 26 inches or larger, then definitely test it at home by loading it up and carrying it up & down stairs, before you commit to taking it to Venice.

Oops. Reading Kathy's post, I realize that you said one size up from 23-24", not one size up from a carry-on. I've found anything over 23.5" (counting handle and wheels) quite hard to deal with. But again, I was carrying a great deal of travel info in paper form, plus 4-1/2 months' worth of vitamins and supplements. A bag that started out weighing 38 lb. was a nightmare for me. I can deal with 28 lb. but would love to get down around 22.

Waving hello to my tour buddy Kathy in Orono!

Agree with the stairs test at home. As others have mentioned the bridges in Venice are actually steps not ramps so you have to carry a roller up and down. When you depart Venice, as a group you will take the Vaporetto from the closest dock to the hotel (will likely have to go over bridges to get to the dock) to the Tronchetto stop which is the bus parking lot. Managing luggage on a crowded vaporetto is difficult at best even with smaller luggage.

In Florence it's likely your bus will not be able to get to the front door of your hotel and you may have to walk for a few blocks.

In all hotels you'll have very small elevators so you'll probably have to send someone up with the suitcases while others walk up. In general, I like to have my suitcase light enough I can carry it up a few flights of stairs.

I agree with Mark. I've been on RS tours where people have had giant pieces of luggage. As long as they can handle it themselves it's OK.

The tour will be wonderful!

You will not be the only person on the RS tour with a large bag so take whatever bag you are most comfortable with!

My husband and I have been on two RS tours and only take carry-on sized backpacks. Both times, we were the exception! Most people had carry-on sized roller bags, but I saw a surprising number of very large bags. Nobody cared. I have not been on the V/F/R tour, but I was pleasantly surprised on the two RS tours I have taken at how close to the hotel the bus would drop us off.

When we took our 10 day trip to Scotland, we only took carryon bags. Even though we had a rental car, we were changing locations every couple of days. When we went to Italy, we stayed in an agriturismo the entire trip. We took checked luggage. Again we were in a rental car.

I don't know where you'll be going, but when we were in Siena, San Gimignano and Volterra, we saw a bunch of tourists struggling to drag their big suitcases up the cobblestone streets. I made a mental note to pack light if we ever took trips to those cities.

I will be joining my wife on a business trip to London in October. We will make a side trip to Paris before returning home. We've discussed our luggage. I will be taking my classic Rick Steves backpack that I took to Scotland. My wife will be taking a 21" rolling carryon bag.

I agree with others. Pack as small and light as possible. Careful clothes coordination will help minimize the number of clothing items you need to take. Your fellow travelers won't care if they see you wearing the same clothes more than once.

Your making room for souvenirs reminded me of a trip I took to Nicaragua. Since I was going to be helping to build a bean arbor and a pig pen on a farm, it took mostly old work clothes. I gave away all but the clothes on my back when I returned and used the space to bring back gifts.

Only you can decide what works for you - your post however, reminded me of our family's last trip to Venice. My two sons (17 and 19 at the time) were walking ahead of my husband and I. As we approached one of the many sets of stairs there was a "woman of a certain age" struggling to lift her large suitcase up the stairs. My younger son, without missing a beat - or the conversation with his brother - picked up the case, carried it up and down the steps and then waited for the woman to retrieve her bag. Sadly, I saw many more people struggling to lift there suitcases up and down the stairs and far fewer men like my son.
Bottom line, if you can comfortably maneuver your bags up and down stairs, onto and off boats (i.e. the vaporetto) then you are good to go. If you can't - then you need to re think your choice of suitcase.

Obviously, the tour is not going to send home anyone who shows up with a bag that exceeds the size limitation. The company would be out of business. When you call the office with a question about a tour, they're going to try to be as accommodating and flexible as possible. But the bag size IS stated as a rule in the company's printed materials. Mark, it is found on the website. Click on a tour, click on "What's Included," and under that you see "Fine print," a link that takes you to the Tour Conditions Agreement. It states:

"Pack light: Each tour member is allowed to bring just one airline carry-on-size piece of luggage (approximately 21" x 14" x 9") plus a small day pack or shoulder bag. Your Pre-Tour Planner includes tips for packing light and creatively."

In one of Rick's blog posts, he wrote about the rule: "On our tours, everyone packs light (carry-on sized bags only), and everyone carries their own luggage. That requirement helps shape our clientele — attracting a hardy and fun-loving gang of travelers…and prompting high-maintenance travelers to choose another tour company."

Even if you know you're not going to act like a high maintenance traveler, I'd never want to be the one who appears to be in that category.

leti_35,
If the bag you are planning on checking is 23-24", why not pare down just a bit and go with a 22" wheeled carry on? You won't be sacrificing much in terms of space but you'll gain a great deal of freedom by not having to check your bag. I've used Rick's packing tips for the last decade or so and will NEVER check a piece of luggage again. There really is no advantage in hauling more crap that you don't need.

That statement about bag limits is relatively new, at least worded the way it is now. It has always been just a suggestion in previous years, with a note stating you are responsible for lugging whatever baggage you bring on your own and to not expect any help with it. I'm not saying I don't agree with it, and I am sure the bus drivers also are happy when everyone follows it, but I doubt anyone would be kicked off the tour if they didn't abide by it. After all, many people have medical devices and drugs they require during the tour that can fill up an entire suitcase alone. Who is going to deny them what is necessary?

I was going to suggest that in Venice you could just unpack what you need into a smaller bag and leave the larger suitcase on the bus (which is what we did on our BOE), but you're starting out in Venice and you've got to get yourself to the hotel. Given that, I agree that you're not going to want that big suitcase, no matter how lightly you pack it. You've already gotten good info about the steps up and down the many bridges you'll encounter, and the cobblestones on the likely long walk to/from the hotel, on/off vaporetto, but you may also be faced with climbing very narrow and steep stairs to your room, with no elevator. Even a small suitcase is a challenge when you're carrying it plus a purse up stairs. In Rome, the hotel had an elevator but it was big enough for maybe two people and two small suitcases. My husband and I grabbed our bags and hoofed it up the stairs again.

Sure, you can handle the larger suitcase but do you really want to have to?

Leti_35
It sounds like you are planning to bring a 26 inch suitcase and an 18 inch also. Is this correct? And you will have some kind of purse/day bag as well?
I would encourage you to go to Ross or Marshalls or another discount store and, at the very least, replace your dented bag with one of the same size (or smaller.)
I have made 12 trips to Europe with a 22 inch roller and a day bag and one with a 19inch and a day bag. I have now acquired a cpap so on my last trip (#14) I had Rick's 21 inch roller and the Eurobag (which fit over the handle) and a cross-body purse. And I was traveling for 7 weeks, 2 of which were a RS tour. That was difficult enough ... I wouldn't have wanted a larger bag and wished that I didn't need the Eurobag for the cpap. (At least it's a medical device so I could carry it all on board in the cabin of the plane.)
I've done 6 RS tours and on only one of them did anyone have a 26 inch bag. And she was kind of embarrassed by it. Everyone else has had a 22 inch or even smaller, a backpack. There might be one or 2 24 inchers. And everyone looks nice
I always carry on going over and usually check the roller going home. Any souvenirs will fit in the second bag and I carry that on.
You really can pack smaller and if you bring a little collapsible sack (or buy one in Italy as a souvenir) you can bring home more than you think.
I hope you have a wonderful time! Italy is wonderful!

I was on the VFR tour in June and had a magical time! I'm an overpacker and packing only a carryon and tote was extremely challenging, but I (and my husband) were very thankful I did--especially while toting luggage up and down many bridges and stairs. Tour mates brought varying sizes of luggage, no one commented. We stayed at the Hotel Silla in Florence; they provided sameday laundry service at $15/7 pounds of laundry which was extremely generous and appreciated.
Happy safe travels.

You plan not to over-pack, but the bigger the bag, the easier it will be to put in just a few more items. Even a carry-on sized bag can hold enough weight to be unwieldy. A smaller, collapsible bag might be a better plan for souvenirs, then you rearrange items based on what's fragile, etc., for the next move.

Good move to get a new suitcase to avoid the probable breakdown mid-trip! My old rollaboard had a handle malfunction the night before we flew out -- too late to get another -- so when I couldn't use the wheels, it had to be carried by the side handle -- very awkward! For two months.
Since you will be in the same location for several days after your transAtlantic flight, you should be fine checking a bag. BUT there's nothing that says you can't check a carry-on size bag. And lighter is freer.
Side note -- we were at a thrift store yesterday and found an almost new 20" roller for $22. So we bought it to downsize from 22". But will probably check it both ways.

So I contacted the tour office and as suspected, they will not deny anyone access for having a suitcase larger than 21 inches. He went on to say if you can manage with no elevator access, walking on uneven walkways and no porter/bell hop service you should be fine. It is all a matter of personal preference and needs at time of travel. Just wanted to post this update for those of you who believe it is a hard fast rule...

Happy travels all!

I have traveled around Europe by train with a 25" bag. I prefer a smaller bag. Just do not get a bag bigger than 25" if you are traveling by train. Also, airlines have a 50 Lb. Max. for checked luggage. For these reasons, limit yourself to 25" or smaller. I would still take a carry- on on the plane (even a purse) for flight comforts and your essentials like passport, etc..

Since you're leaving in a week, I'm assuming you've already decided to go with the giant suitcase. I predict that during your next trip to Europe, you will gladly replace it for a smaller one, seeing the benefits when you're there. Venice is our favorite European city; we've been there 3 times. My husband was talking to a co-worker who was complaining about Venice. She described "the awful bridges with all of those steps" that she had to keep carrying her large luggage to finally arrive at her hotel.

Please, don't fill the suitcase more than half full. It would be a shame to injure your back or shoulder in lovely Venice and miss out on so much fun.

Just wanted to post this update for those of you who believe it is a hard fast rule...

OK, but I don't think you're getting the point we're trying to make. There have been several who have tried to point out that traveling small and light is not only possible but preferable. Many who have responded have made longer trips than what you plan with 21" or smaller luggage. I travel for work and usually travel light, unless I'll be at the same site for more than two weeks. You can always spot the seasoned business travelers because they travel light as well. My wife just returned from a two week business trip to Tanzania. In addition to her carryon, she did take a large checked bag. However, it was filled with 50 pounds of medical supplies she was taking to a remote clinic. All her personal items were in her carryon.

The bottom line is your trip, especially with a stop in Venice, is not well suited for luggage larger than 21". If you insist on taking a larger bag, I'm pretty sure you'll be the odd egg and will regret your decision after a few days in.

I'm a 'pack heavy' person. While a 25" suitcase is not precisely fun on the Paris metro, that kind of connection is a small part of the whole trip, and once we're safely in the hotel room (even in a multi-story hotel with no elevators) I'm glad to have both ample stuff and ample free space for any larger items I want to go into checked baggage on the way home.