Carry-on vs checked baggage

Nicole - you are correct, you cannot bring wine back in your carryon. We were in France in March. We did carryon only for the way over. On the way back we had 3 bottles of wine. We wrapped them in our heaviest clothes (jeans) and put them in the middle of our 2 suitcases. We checked both bags. We did the same thing last summer with a bottle of Prosecco from Italy and our daughter brought several bottles of wine and Czech liquor in her ONE checked bag this past December. I'm happy to say that we did not have any breakage.

I can't do just a carry-on, so I end up with 1 22 inch checked bag and 1 carry-on (I use a rolling computer case for this - it slips onto the handle of my larger bag, which is very convenient for moving thru the airport). I have brought liquids home from France and Greece (those wonderful olive oils!) I pack using the large (2-3 gallon) zip-closed plastic bags, rolling my clothes, filling a bag with them, sitting on the bag, and then zipping it closed (saves a LOT of room). When I'm headed home, I put my olive oil cans/bottles in one of these bags (or double bag for safety), zip them closed, and then nestle them in the middle of my suitcase surrounded by dirty clothes. No problems so far! And friends have done the same with wine. Good luck!

A lot of people do carry-on luggage on their way TO Europe but check-in on the way BACK home which allows more freedom in the kind of souvenirs you can bring. Delayed luggage is not quite the same problem when you get home and have a closet full of other stuff to choose from. A very different story when you arrive for a vacation, especially one where you travel from place to place quite a bit which makes it VERY difficult for delayed luggage to catch up with you.

I have a question. Do any of you lock your bags on the way home?

Yes, I lock them for USA, too. I use those belt-strap kind that airline security can open without you being there. You can get them at WalMart or a similiar store.

I carry one bag only. I don't push the limits (which allows my load to expand a little). I don't bring back a lot so I carry on on the way home also. I usually keep labels from favorite wines (so I can remember which ones I liked) rather than packing bottles.

On one trip with kids, they bought a lot of "treasures" and purchased a rolling duffle from a street vendor. We all repacked to carry on as much of their stuff as possible, then filled the duffle with clothes to check.

My wife and I were in Europe for 2 weeks last summer. I convinced her that we could each take one roll on bad and a carry-on for under the seat. It worked fine. The key is to go to Target and get the plastic bags to pack your clothes in. It's amazing how much you can get in. No baggage claim or lost baggage to deal with. It's the way to go.

Steve

I keep the most valuable gifts with me in my carryon bag. Stuff that is not real precious gets mingled in with my own clothing. I don't lock my bags and have not had any problems from Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Scotland and England. I too will plastic ziplock liquids and then roll in clothes, stuff in center of bag to be checked thru. Small fragiles (shot glasses, perfumes) can be stuffed in enclosed shoes and put in checked bags. My friends always have their wines shipped pack home. If you buy liquor at the airport's Duty Free Shops they will pack and seal the bag for you to take thru security or you pick it up when you land at Customs. I cannot do a carryon alone, need my "stuff". I strongly suggest a regulation size carryon bag for ornaments,handblown glass items, cameras and anything that is expensive and not easily replaceable. Many stores will ship your purchases for you. It would be a little bit longer for them to arrive to you, just make sure they are insured.

I have never had a problem getting liquids and such home from Europe...I have to agree with a few of the respondees so far...as long as you pack them securely and safely... ie in plastic they will make it home...the customs folks are not looking to confiscate wine or olive oils !
I agree with the heading over there light though...carry on only if you can...bringing an extra bag inside the bag for the return goodies to check through..once I bought so many goodies on one of my trips I had to buy a suitcase at a local supermarket and I had to rearrange abit at the airport so the weight worked,but it all got through safely,though I had to carry a ceramic bowl in my arms !
You can make it work...buy travel designed clothes that roll up and don't wrinkle and weigh nothing and wear the same outfit over and over...who cares...wash things out at night in your hotel room and let dry...