Travelling to Europe, need luggage recommendations

sygyzy

sygyzy

Joined
Apr 29, 2003
Messages
339
I have never really travelled long periods of time so, believe it or not, I have no luggage. I'd like some recommendations.

I need a carry on (21-22") and a check-in (26-29"). I am looking at the Ricardo Beverly Hills ($70-90) line at eBags. Or Samsonte whicih about more ($140-180) expensive. Or Costco Kirkland brand ($100-140). Any suggestions?
 
It really depends what sort of travelling you're going to do. If you're going to do some walking with your luggage then you really need a rucksack. 'Cos it's not going to be easy pulling a full sized luggage with a carry on as well.

If you're gonna be taking a taxi or using trolleys then a samsonite check in and a samsonite carry on bag are good choices. They last a long time so don't worry about the cost right now 'cos you're not gonna need another bag for quite awhile.

I've travelled a lot in the past few years. Europe, Asia, Australia and i've loved using my MacPac Gemini Rucksack. There's a cover that covers up the harness so it's easier to check in. It's comfortable up to 20kg and light which is important 'cos there are lots of weight restrictions travelling on planes around europe. This way i don't waste any weight on the luggage and can pack more stuff.

Oh and one more thing. If you're getting a big check in, get the ones that can roll up right. I don't know how to explain this but they have tires on the short side of the luggage instead of the longer side. That way the luggage is higher up and so much easier to pull especially on escalators.
 
Thanks for the help. I am going on a cruise. The only times I will be walking with my luggage are between the Barcelona airport and the hotel and from the hotel to the ship. Then ship to airport (Athens) when I depart. The rest of the time, they'll be in my cabin.

What do you think about using large duffel bags instead of wheeled luggae? The author of onebag.com seems to be very much against wheeled luggage, though everyone else seems to like the idea.
 
sygyzy said:
Thanks for the help. I am going on a cruise. The only times I will be walking with my luggage are between the Barcelona airport and the hotel and from the hotel to the ship. Then ship to airport (Athens) when I depart. The rest of the time, they'll be in my cabin.

What do you think about using large duffel bags instead of wheeled luggae? The author of onebag.com seems to be very much against wheeled luggage, though everyone else seems to like the idea.
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I travel a lot too and I agree. Samsonite. Quality always pays for itself.
And it doesn't matter how far you're going to be lugging it. Wheels. And if you really don't need to carry on, don't. If you can get away with a small bag for a book, your Ipod, and a bottle of water, (or whatever, just don't over fill it) check everything else. It makes for a stress free trip.
IMHO only.
 
sygyzy said:
Thanks for the help. I am going on a cruise. The only times I will be walking with my luggage are between the Barcelona airport and the hotel and from the hotel to the ship. Then ship to airport (Athens) when I depart. The rest of the time, they'll be in my cabin.

What do you think about using large duffel bags instead of wheeled luggae? The author of onebag.com seems to be very much against wheeled luggage, though everyone else seems to like the idea.
Click to expand...

WHEELS!
Large duffel bags are for seriously buff dudes or rich people with porters. A large samsonite wheeled suitcase will allow you to bring almost everything you need for a month or 2. If you still don't have space then you've carried too much anyway.

If you still want to go light. Go with a large rucksack. This Macpac Utopia or Genesis provides sort of a best of both worlds. You have a daysack that's attached to the larger rucksack. I think capacity is something like a max of 95 litres which is a lot. But unlike a large duffel bag you have the choice of putting it on both shoulders.
UTO5.jpg



One more piece of advice. Bring an empty small daypack for walking around town or whatever. Stuff it in the large suitcase. I like filling it up with bottled water or sandwiches or whatever. But having it on your shoulders really frees you up to walk around.
 
Wheels.

Take note: you may go through metal detctors on the ship. Be careful of which knives you try to take---they may not let you.....
 
Buying luggage used to be tough. You had to choose between American Tourister and Samsonite.

They're owned by the same company now and their products are basically the same so buying luggage is now easy. Samsonite and American Tourister are both great stuff.
 
Ok, wheels it is.

Will a carry-on wheeled bag (45 linear inches, 21-22" length) and a 26-29" wheeled check-in bag be sufficient? What about other companies like Travel Pro, Victorinox, etc? Is it worth it to pay extra for the Samonite name/quality? It's a noticeable price difference.
 
Hi Sygyzy-

I've been partial to TUMI products for years due to their features, durability, attractive appearance, and superior warranty. The luggage pieces are a bit pricey at first, but the cost can be amortized over many, many years since they wear like iron.

My suggestion for the largest roll-away would be one that meets linear dimension restrictions (about 22" for the longest section) for airlines. Ships aren't strict when it comes to luggage size, so if the piece is good for an airplane, you can go darn near anywhere with it. Couple the appropriate roll-away piece with a smaller duffle-style bag and you'll be good to go. This arrangement looks sharp and acceptable either for pleasure traveling or on business.

~ Blue Jays ~
 
Hello everyone,

Thanks for the helpful replies. You guys are right. I am not a bodybuilder and a large duffel bag would destroy me with any reasonable carrying distance. I decided to go wheels all the way.

I placed an order for a Samsonite 22" carry-on from eBags. I figure I'll use the carry-on for many trips (since most average 1-2 days anyway). I am probably going to get the Kirkland check-in bag from Costco. Good quality and good price. Though, I worry that since it's only 26", it's not sufficient for a 2 week trip. There is a nice American Tourister bag for $30.00 more that is 29".

Thoughts?

Also, what do you guys thinking about doing laundry in my room? If I plan ahead to do laundry, then I can pack alot less.
 
Hi sygyzy-

People going on trips typically take WAY more clothing than they really need. One technique that I've learned is to lay everything you'll need on a bed and then put HALF of it away and pack what remains.

One can maximize their clothing by wearing garments that dress-up or dress-down with ease. Pack tops and bottoms that all intermatch. Socks and underwear can be washed and hung to dry in your cabin without incurring extra costs. Good luck in preparing for your trip!

~ Blue Jays ~
 
I just got back from a two week trip traveling around Ireland. The plan was to do laundry half way through the trip. The people who packed for half the trip had to stop and do laundry twice since things just don't work out perfect. Each load of ordinary washing cost 15 Euros so that added up to over $35.00 per couple for laundry. Actually the idiots brought along clothes that needed dry cleaning so they spent something like $70.00 for cleaning during a two week trip. My wife and I got by with one load of wash after a week costing 15 Euros. (We just couldn't find a laundromat, this was the rate at the laundry in town, not at a hotel). I actually packed enough lightweight clothes for the whole trip. It fit in one large suitcase. I could have avoided the time and expense of laundry entirely.

For a long trip I bring one large wheeled suitcase (American Tourister) and check it on to the plane. If you don't check your luggage you can't bring a knife. If you are checking luggage it might as well be a large piece. I only hand carry my camera, medicine, a book to read on the plane, and a sweater. When I return I use my modest carry on bag to pack fragile souvenirs. I haven't had stuff stolen out of my luggage, but I have had things broken numerous times. The TSA will undo your careful packing and then the baggage handlers will throw the bags around. Don't leave prescription pain killers, sedatives, or tranquilizers in easily accessible locations. My wife has had those stolen from checked luggage.
 
Hi Jeff-

While I very rarely check luggage, I do put a note inside typed in huge, bold font informing TSA agents that all contents have been itemized on a checklist and photographed in detail with my airline tickets and the current newspaper. I then use plastic zip-ties to secure the baggage which forces them to clip it open if they wish to inspect the contents. Valuables are zip-tied to each other to prevent a "smooth operator" from pocketing anything. These techniques certainly slow down the amateurs.

I can't see overpacking in fear of spending money on laundromat charges. Most folks would simply choose to wash a few items in their hotel sinks or in their cabin if they're on a ship. Most folks simply carry too many garments and never use them in the course of their vacation.

~ Blue Jays ~
 
If you sleep naked that's half a day's clothes you don't need to bring. :)

Seriously though, carry easy dry clothes. I've been using lots of these new technical fabrics which are easy to dry and doesn't require ironing. They dry up in a few hours in hot weather. Overnight in normal weather. Just wash 'em in the basin if you really need to and hang dry 'em.

Another tip. Bring good shoes and nice sandals. I always forget sandals/flip-flops. They're so great walking around the hotel or on the cruise ship.

Usually when i go on a trip for 2 weeks or less there is almost none or very little laundry to do. A big suitcase can easily fit 10-15 shirts and 6-8 pants. That's all you need for a 2 week trip. If you don't have any formal clothing and don't mind things a little crumpled you can roll up the clothes which saves more space.

I think i'm lucky enough not to have things stolen from my check in. I think i even once went to bali forgetting to lock one of the zips on my rucksack. It had 2 entrance zips and i forgot one. Nothing lost. But i really can't survive without check-in luggage. I need at least my Leatherman/SAK. Those little scissors are so important for 'tache trimming.
 
For semi-hardside for suits or nice clothes, Briggs and Riley

For soft stuff, Best American Duffle (BAD) bag. Used both for years and they haven't let me down.

"half as manby clothes and twice as much money" still holds truth.
 
Another vote for Tumi, quite expensive but very well manufactured and they will repair the luggage should it get damaged.

I travel quite a bit and get by with only one bag, a 22" Tumi. If I can't carry it onboard, it stays at home.
 
sygyzy said:
There is a nice American Tourister bag for $30.00 more that is 29".

Thoughts?
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Do you have any idea how large one of those really is? The next problem is how are you going to pay for that HEAVY b@stard at the airline check in? European airlines are not forgiving of heavy bags and it will cost you plenty. Flying business class, I had a the British Airways ticket lady bust me for a carry on that too heavy (this was a small duffel bag with my Camera and other nick knacks in it :mad: ). While the small duffel itself wasn't egregiously overweight, I had been standing in multiple lines with it for about 4 hours processing through customs (after all I was not an EU member so, I deserve totally non-responsive service), metal detectors, air line counters, etc and was dead tired as I lumbered along through the maze that served as aircraft boarding.

Backpacks:
Even going business class, I prefer a backpack. Wheeled luggage doesn't work well when it is loaded (i.e. heavy or even middle weight) on jointed concrete or sidewalks with pebbles that lock up those tiny @#$! hard wheels.

This is apparently a new experience for you so, you seem to fit the classic over packing scenario. How much do you really need? Do you really want to haul it half way around the world? And finally, if you start out over loaded, what are you going to do with the trinkets and mementos you pick up along the way?

Whatever you end up doing luggage wise, load it up for your trip and walk at least 100 yards on an asphalt surface with your luggage. If you can't do that before you start, you are going to be in a world of hurt when you come home.

When you are done with your short "walk", open up the luggage and remove half the stuff in there. After all, you WILL come home with more then what you started with. I don't care if it is wine from the local vineyard or chocolates at the duty free, you are going to buy stuff to bring home for yourself, family and, friends.

Even if the laundry cost 10 Euro a load, I would pay 20 Euro if that meant I didn't have to lug an extra weeks worth of laundry around. How many shoes do you really need? Formal wear? etc. Be picky about what you pack and what it weights. I did 7 weeks in a mid-size backpack and bought a small duffle to account for the stuff I bought while I was in Europe.

Finally, do yourself a favor and buy some really good socks and underwear. Then wash them out in the hotel/cabin sink each night. Dockers weigh a lot less then blue jeans. Dress shorts weigh next to nothing. How many shirts do you really need anyway if you stick with basic colors and mix them up with Dockers or Dress shorts?

Over packing means extra weight. Weight is the enemy. If you won't wear it at least 3 times on a 2 week trip, leave it home.
 
I recommend any bags by Filson or Tumi. I also recommend any of the Orvis duffles. I just recieved two of the Bullhide club bags and they are TOUGH!
Matt
 
Sid Post said:
Flying business class, I had a the British Airways ticket lady bust me for a carry on that too heavy
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One ounce over and BA busts you.


How many shoes do you really need? Formal wear? etc. Be picky about what you pack and what it weights.
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Yes, but it's a shame to find yourself in Paris or Milan and unable to go the best restaraunts because of your cloths. You don't need a tux. But start with a good pair of black leather shoes. They don't have to be formal, patent-leather jobs, but just something that you can spend three minutes on with a towel and get presentable. A pair of black socks is nothing. For pants, you don't need formal slacks; a good pair of black chinos or dockers that'll take a press will work. A white dress shirt, as you mentioned, isn't much to pack and it's actually a virsatile thing to have along. A tie is next to nothing to pack; just get on that's not delicate. And a light, unconstructed black jack will also pack well without adding a lot of weight. It's another virsatile piece.

A pair of basic black chinos or dockers are perfect for travel, the first thing I pack. Clean 'em and press 'em and they'll pass at most places. And they're comfortable enough for casual touring.

A basic black light turtleneck sweater is another piece that is so useful; it can be casual or dress.
 
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