Will these bags work for our travel party of 3?

Does you Mom have some special needs that she plans on 25" bag, rather than a more manageable 21"?

You should be OK, but may have to keep your tote on your lap.

My parents were world travelers, and I remember my poor father hauling around my mother's huge suitcase. I long ago made our family travel rules that includes everyone carries their own bags. And there's a vast difference in the average weight of a carry on bag (22 lbs.) vs. a 25" bag (45 lbs.)

Ask Mom to please pare down her stuff to a 21" TravelPro swivel wheel bag too. If my wife can travel indefinitely with the same bag and a oversized purse, so can she.

My sister will have a smaller roller bag....TravelPro 21" spinner.

Can your Mom get the same luggage as your sister?

Travelpro
CLOSEOUT! Walkabout 3 22" Expandable Carry On Rolling Suitcase, Created for Macy's. It's about 6 lbs empty.

CLOSEOUT! Travelpro Walkabout 3 21" Expandable Carry On Spinner Suitcase, Created for Macy's.

The spinner is 1/2" shorter and is stated to weigh 5.9 lbs empty. I have the 22" two-wheeled. It fits a lot of items. The front pocket is deep. Very sturdy luggage. And, it expands if needed.

Both have been on sale. And, sometimes Macy's will offer an additional coupon for extra savings (especially is you have a Macy's card.)

Also, if your Mom is taking a Kipling tote too, then you know she can fit a lot of stuff in the bag since it's so pliable but sturdy. For example: https://www.kipling-usa.com/new-weekend-travel-bag/SL4770.html

You can find it cheaper elsewhere and in many colors. It has nice full, zip compartments* - even in the front - and it fits under the seat. Dimensions: 16" x 11.25" x 8"

*Some models of this bag have a zip compartment in the back of the bag or a trolley sleeve. I think the newer models came out with the trolley sleeve.

eta: I guess I misread your OP. I read it as your mom carrying on a 25." So, the larger luggage 21" - 25" will be checked. And, three of you will carry on either a tote or backpack.

Yes, this luggage is perfectly manageable for the three of you, even if you need to handle your mother's checked bag. Do ask that she keeps the weight of her 25" down, but I suspect she's mostly packing clothes in that bag.

I'm glad to see you are checking your bags. It makes things so much easier in the airport. You might want your mother to have a very small underseat wheeled bag so she can manage her personal item in the airport unless she can manage with just a light purse. The airport hike and wait can be tiring. If she does get a wheeled underseat bag, she might find she can downsize slightly on the checked bag.

.......we can each roll a bag with a smaller tote sitting on top, with a backpack on our backs....... That is three bags each. At least one bag too many. Your mother's choice should be either one, 21" roll bag and one carry on OR one 25" roller. You have too much luggage for the average taxi. You are correct in that the average taxi is smaller.

Your mother needs to be more understanding of what problems her luggage size will cause you and your sister. A 25” piece of luggage is too large. Her luggage will be a huge liability no matter which way you travel, taxi, or car service. The only time I see luggage that large is for people who are on cruise ships not moving around independently.

I am not going to comment on Mom's luggage but 3 people and all that in a taxi is going to be a strain unless people are prepared to have bags on their laps (if allowed). Ensure the car service knows size and quantity of luggage

I'm a firm believer in packing cubes and the "ranger roll" method of packing them. if your mom does that, I bet she finds she can fit more clothes in a smaller bag.

Thanks for all of the comments.

You should be OK, but may have to keep your tote on your lap
That would be okay with me!!

Ask Mom to please pare down her stuff to a 21" TravelPro swivel wheel bag too. If my wife can travel indefinitely with the same bag and a oversized purse, so can she.
Unfortunately that's not going to happen.

Yes, this luggage is perfectly manageable for the three of you, even if you need to handle your mother's checked bag. Do ask that she keeps the weight of her 25" down, but I suspect she's mostly packing clothes in that bag.
I will definitely encourage her to keep it packed less.

I'm glad to see you are checking your bags. It makes things so much easier in the airport. You might want your mother to have a very small underseat wheeled bag so she can manage her personal item in the airport unless she can manage with just a light purse. The airport hike and wait can be tiring. If she does get a wheeled underseat bag, she might find she can downsize slightly on the checked bag.
Yes, we are each checking a bag. So the idea is all my mom will have to do is walk through the airport (we will carry her tote). And then when we get the checked luggage, my sister and I will continue to manage the bags.

You have too much luggage for the average taxi. You are correct in that the average taxi is smaller.
I appreciate knowing this. Which means I need to be prepared to have us use 2 taxis. Better to know in advance.

Your mother needs to be more understanding of what problems her luggage size will cause you and your sister. A 25” piece of luggage is too large. Her luggage will be a huge liability no matter which way you travel, taxi, or car service.
I appreciate your input and I'm glad to know in advance that it will make things difficult.

I am not going to comment on Mom's luggage but 3 people and all that in a taxi is going to be a strain unless people are prepared to have bags on their laps (if allowed). Ensure the car service knows size and quantity of luggage
While I haven't booked the car yet (that's another post, LOL), when I have looked into booking they all have a way to note the quantity of luggage.

I'm a firm believer in packing cubes and the "ranger roll" method of packing them. if your mom does that, I bet she finds she can fit more clothes in a smaller bag.
I love packing cubes as well! Yes, she has the ones from eBags, the same as me.

I appreciate everyone's input.
For those who have noted that the 25" suitcase is too big, am I really any better off with a smaller roller (the same as mine), but an additional small tote for my mom? I could probably get her on board with that.

Commenting as a 70 year old who loves to travel - I wanted to pass on my own experience learned about 15 years ago when traveling with my Mom. We both had roller bags and personal items walking through the airport. We noticed that all the flight attendants were carrying their extra bag, not on top of the roller bag with a trolley sleeve, but hanging down from a hook attached to the roller bag handle. We both experimented rigging our bags like that to see if there really was a notable difference. And it was a noticeable difference. In case your Mom will ever need to be rolling her own or one of her daughter's bags, I would consider lessening the weight of pulling the bag while going through the airport or out to the taxi or rental car, by getting one of the add-on type straps. Just for comfort. I guess this is much less of an issue with 4 wheel spinners at least until you need to pull it for some reason. Have a fantastic trip!

....... the 25" suitcase is too big, am I really any better off with a smaller roller ...... Assume that that much capacity is needed, you would be much better off with two, perhaps 19" or 20", bags. Far easier to handle two bags of average weight than one large bag that is overweight. We pack our bikes into 28" suitcases so I know you don't need a 26".

You might find a smaller roller bag and tote fits the taxi trunk better...with totes on laps.

Assume that that much capacity is needed, you would be much better off with two, perhaps 19" or 20", bags. Far easier to handle two bags of average weight into of one large bag that is overweight. We pack our bikes into 28" suitcases so I know you don't need a 26".
If two smaller bags is better I can totally do that. Thanks for the suggestion.

You might find a smaller roller bag and tote fits the taxi trunk better...with totes on laps.
That's good information. I am okay with that as well if it's better.

Thanks again.

I don't know how old your mom is, but I'm commenting as a 68 y/o who just did a test pack for her South of Italy tour. I fit my clothes, a pair of shoes, a pair of sandals, 311 bag, toiletry bag, laundry supplies, jacket and hat into the RS Rolling Carry-On. It fits within Delta's carry-on rules slightly squished. In my tote is my camera, electronics bag, packable backpack, knitting, inflatable pillow and make-up bag. My small purse fits into the tote for plane boarding.

The tote has a trolley strap so I only have to pull the suitcase around. When necessary I can carry and lift each. Carry-on weighs 22#, tote weighs 11#. That's probably a little heavy for some on the forum but it works for me. I had to pare down my packing list and consolidate some things. But I refuse to check luggage. Delayed luggage on Aeroflot to Leningrad from Helsinki years ago was not fun. Ask your mom what she's going to do if her checked suitcase is delayed or lost by the airline.

I don't know how agile your mom is, but I suggest if she is not in shape, help her start walking and lifting weights (soup cans and wine bottles work great in place of weights) to have the stamina to sight see and enjoy the trip. My back and feet are not great but I can walk 3 miles in an hour and clean horse stalls three times a day. All of the above is doable.

I don't know how long you're traveling for, or the weather you'll need to consider, but last fall I traveled with my mom (who is 80) and my two kids (my husband joined us a few weeks after we arrived) for five weeks (three weeks sans hubs, two weeks with) and my mom managed to get everything she needed into a 21" roller + a lo & sons tote with trolley sleeve.

I was actually shocked by how much she managed to get into her bags AND stay under the Norwegian weight limit for the two bags combined! She wore her heaviest clothes (which included her jacket) and shoes on the plane, had another pair of walking shoes and a pair of sandals in the bottom of her tote, and she had what combined out to be 22 outfits (seven tops and three bottoms, one dress, everything mixed and matched) + a house dress (yes, she traveled with her 'old lady' house dress!). She also had a couple of nice silk scarves with her that she used to change up her outfits now and then. We had access to washers (and usually a dryer) in the rentals, so we did laundry as often as we could so we were mostly traveling with clean clothes.

The biggest mistake I made on that vacation was that each kid got a 21" roller bag and small backpack too.....along with me having the same, but another Lo & Sons tote instead of a backpack.

It was way TOO MUCH luggage!

We were in a car rental (and an SUV at that - a VW Touran) and our bags barely fit - 4-21" rollers, 2 small backpacks, 2 totes - it was ridiculous by the time my husband arrived with his Osprey Porter (46L) backpack and another small tote. Never again! I cannot even imagine if we had to call for a taxi or had to navigate through train stations.

I have since modified how I pack myself and the kids - we can get everything into a Porter 30L + 21" rolling carry-on + a Lo & Sons tote for me and the kids, and if I really want to squeeze it, I can drop the Porter 30L and take less....my older son also takes a Daylite+ backpack that we can use as a daypack during our stay with just essentials for on the plane (so mostly things that disappear as consumed) and I take an anti-theft cross-body purse. That's it. No more.

I'm writing all of this out since it really is difficult when you have too much luggage, even if it's all smaller luggage - especially if it's smaller luggage and lots of pieces!

If your mom is really, really set on taking the 25", maybe you and your sister pack yourselves together into the other 25" and use like 1/4 of her suitcase too, then skip any carry-on roller bags? With two 25" roller suitcases between 3 of you, it's not quite the volume you'd have with 3 carry-on roller bags, but getting two slightly larger suitcases into a trunk is easier than more pieces of smaller sized luggage. Then you each only need a tote for the airport you carry through and those can be on your laps if needed in taxis or cars since you're only putting two suitcases into a trunk now?

You've definitely asked this question in the right forum, but it would be helpful to know where you are going, when and for how long. It might be useful for your mom to read through some of the other posts on the Packing forum, especially the ones that have people's packing lists. This exchange of ideas from there, Why didn't I listen to you, Rick?, is great.

Other relevant info for packing can be found at the Travel Tips section on Packing Light and by watching the Sarah Murdoch travel talk, Packing Light & Right and the Rick Steves one of the same title with the excellent linked handout.

At 73, I travel solo and pack light because that makes it easier for me to handle my luggage on my own. If I can't manage my own bags, I think I shouldn't be going, however I will accept help with my "big" bag getting on and off trains if I'm not feeling too stubborn or the situation doesn't feel too hinky.

I travel carry-on only, pack for a week and do laundry along the way. All the clothes I take coordinate with each other. The shortest trip I've taken is a little over 3 weeks. The longest was 8 weeks. I usually go for about 4 weeks. As many have testified, each time they go, they pack lighter. I'm especially trying to do that this year by using smaller bags.

For my 5 week trip this year my "big" bag will be will be an Eagle Creek Load Warrior 20 International Carry-on, 20.25x14x8, including its 2 wheels and handle, 36L, 4.5 lbs. My "personal" item will be the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Sling Bag, 13.6x11.8x4, 16 L, 2.2 oz. I travel carry-on only. If it doesn't fit in these bags, it doesn't go.

My biggest challenge may be the weight on the 3 different airlines I'll be using for intra-European flights. I'll be able to check the "big" bag on all three, but I'd still like to carry on. I think this is the most restrictive carry-on requirement -- 2 kg/4.4 lbs for the personal item and 8 kg/17 lbs for the big bag. If I can meet that, I know I can do this one -- 10 kg/22 lbs for both bags combined. I'll be using the kg setting on my luggage scale to get as close to the right weights as possible.

You and your sister will be loaded down like pack mules. What happens if one of you injures your back or pulls a muscle carrying/rolling all this? Is your mother unable to carry or roll anything, even her tote bag? Sorry to be Debbie Downer, but you are smart to think this through now. I suggest you do a trial run a week before your trip to make sure you can handle all these bags.

Is it likely that your bags will multiply or become heavier during the trip (souvenir shopping, that is)?

I suggest you do a trial run a week before your trip to make sure you can handle all these bags.

Excellent idea, but do it now. Do not wait until the week before you leave.

Regina and Lo, Thank you for your thoughtful and informative responses. I certainly appreciate all of the details!
Lo, we are flying in to Paris, and traveling to Lourdes, then Amsterdam. Boarding in Amsterdam for a week long cruise through Norwegian Fjords. Back to Amsterdam for 1 day and driving to a very small town in Germany (called Hopsten) for another day) and then flying back to Paris and home from there. A disjointed trip to be sure, by it's a bucket list trip for my mom.
Horsewoofie, thanks for the suggestion!!
Stan, no we're not souvenir people. Pictures, maybe one small item (probably a little Holy Water from Lourdes in a water bottle) and that's it. I collect the small nylon style grocery bags/totes that fit in a small bag so only if I find one will that occur. (where we live you must bring your own bags to stores and I find it's a great souvenir....super light, small and very useful at home). This is the kind of bag.... https://www.amazon.com/Folding-Reusable-Grocery-Bags-Pack/dp/B071G12LP1/ref=sr_1_41?keywords=grocery+bag&qid=1553448080&s=gateway&sr=8-41
Joe 32F and Cala, that's exactly why I'm trying to figure things out now!

On a positive note, I have definitively told my mom she can not take her 25" suitcase, just her carryon size. She's agreed!!! Additionally, I talked about packed strategies with my mom and my sister and my mom asked for a packing list. So I have made a specific list and have promied to take her shopping to fill in any gaps. Ironically, my packing strategy (while different from the one posted on this site) uses a very similar quantity of items, it's just planned differently.

I pack with what I call "Base 5", which is taken from the Vivienne Files. You pack two tops, two bottoms and a jacket/sweater as a base, and then add 1 item per day of travel, to a maximum of 15 items. For this trip, I'm also adding 2 undershirts/camisoles, 2 pairs of tights and gloves and lightweight windbreaker/rain jacket and fleece (for the cruise). I actually packed my bag last week and everything fit in both a rolling carryon and my Rick Steves backpack bag. (Yes, I unpacked it and put everything away.......I'm not that Type A)

Our carry-ons also have to include 2 CPAP machines and prescription meds (all for my mom and sister). So we are figuring that out. Hopefully my mom will have a new machine at that point which is lighter and easier to manage.

Again, my thanks for all of the help. I only ever travel with a rolling carryon and tote, regardless of the trip, so figuring out how to manage all of us is new to me.

PandaBear, if you want more foldup bags there are many at Monoprix for €1 each -- cute designs and, as you said, great souvenirs.
Glad you got your mother to junk the 25" bag. I was once seduced by a 24" yellow bag in Munich -- when I took it on the next trip it held a LOT more than my regular 21" roller, but because I could pack more I DID, and regretted the extra weight every time I had to roll or (try to) lift it. Never again!

Hooray for your mom's flexibility. I think you have dodged a major bullet. Even on wheels, a larger heavier bag is more difficult to start and stop because of its greater inertia.