topic Re: Honestly, what's a reasonable amount of luggage per person for a trip? in Travel

Honestly, what's a reasonable amount of luggage per person for a trip?

qualitygal — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 10:41:43 GMT

We just loaded the car up, with what we think are "necessities" for the time we'll be away. This is ridiculous!!! We have so much (this time, not taking all the coffee stuff), that we should just get a trailer hitch put on the car and haul the house.

Clearly, there's a problem here for someone, who packs as though we're never returning. I laughed so hard, at the absurdity of it. We do it every time.

How are your packing skills for trips?

Re: Honestly, what's a reasonable amount of luggage per person for a trip?

Zwervend — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 12:00:05 GMT

@qualitygal wrote:
We just loaded the car up, with what we think are "necessities" for the time we'll be away. This is ridiculous!!! We have so much (this time, not taking all the coffee stuff), that we should just get a trailer hitch put on the car and haul the house.

Clearly, there's a problem here for someone, who packs as though we're never returning. I laughed so hard, at the absurdity of it. We do it every time.

How are your packing skills for trips?

I don't take road trips. I fly, which means you really have to be thoughtful about whether or not you REALLY need to haul something.

I can pack for at least a week in just a 21" Crew Pro rollerboard bag, longer if there are laundry facilities available. You pare down your outfits to just a few pieces and make sure everything goes with everything else. Same with toiletries, make-up, etc. I started doing it when I traveled for work, and even having to wear suits everyday, I made it work.

Re: Honestly, what's a reasonable amount of luggage per person for a trip?

Anothernewnickname — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 12:04:14 GMT

I have really good packing skills when needed, but I pack differently for a flight than for a road trip. It is really easy to keep adding what-if kinds of stuff in the back of the car, but flying forces me to limit my luggage size and weight. The most extreme limit was a recent flight where my carry-on bag and personal item (purse) had a combined weight limit of 18 pounds.

I changed how I pack after having a French tour guide that wore either one pair of pants or one skirt for a week, and it took me almost all week to notice. That's when I realized no one notices what I a wear, and now I take a lot less clothing.

Maybe pretend you are flying and make everything fit into one suitcase per person.

Re: Honestly, what's a reasonable amount of luggage per person for a trip?

Group 5 minus 1 — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 12:29:58 GMT

One time I read an article about packing for a trip to Europe. Take clothes that you want to get rid of and throw them away,that way you have more room for souvenirs.

I thought at the time it was a silly idea and I still do.

Re: Honestly, what's a reasonable amount of luggage per person for a trip?

Meowingkitty — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 12:41:41 GMT

We did a two week cruise to Australia/New Zealand several years ago and this one couple only had a small carryon. They stunk to high heaven. No one would sit near them. I think they only brought one change of clothes. They had more camera equipment than clothes.

Re: Honestly, what's a reasonable amount of luggage per person for a trip?

Meowingkitty — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 12:42:44 GMT

@Group 5 minus 1 wrote:
One time I read an article about packing for a trip to Europe. Take clothes that you want to get rid of and throw them away,that way you have more room for souvenirs.
I thought at the time it was a silly idea and I still do.

I had an aunt that would do that. She would take her oldest underware and clothes and trash them as she went.

Re: Honestly, what's a reasonable amount of luggage per person for a trip?

jlkz — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 12:45:11 GMT

When I worked for a major telecommunications company in NJ, I had to travel to the subsidiary companies to coach them in their force planning projects. I had to handle my own travel luggage.

After the first trip, I quickly learned to lack more intelligently: stayed with navy or black slacks / skirts and classy blouses or sweater sets. This eliminated unnecessary shoes and extra clothing. Scarves could easily change the look of sweaters. One good matching blazer for the slacks / skirt.

Travel attire: comfortable loafers, slacks, lightweight silky raincoat.

Re: Honestly, what's a reasonable amount of luggage per person for a trip?

jlkz — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 12:47:35 GMT

When I worked for a major telecommunications company in NJ, I had to travel to the subsidiary companies to coach them in their force planning projects. I had to handle my own travel luggage.

Travel attire: comfortable loafers, slacks, lightweight silky raincoat.

Makeup: filled small containers with what I would need. Left perfume at home. A few rollers for hair if needed.

Re: Honestly, what's a reasonable amount of luggage per person for a trip?

Lilysmom1 — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 13:17:00 GMT

@qualitygal @I travelled a lot for work. I could put together a small suitcase in 10 minutes. You learn how to mix and match with a few clothing staples.

DH, on the other hand, could take hours to pack. I found it hilarious. Eventually he improved but still takes way more than he needs.

Re: Honestly, what's a reasonable amount of luggage per person for a trip?

Carmie — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 13:23:11 GMT

My husband and I have traveled all over the world and we usually traveled for at least 2 to 4 weeks at a time.

There is no way to manage a whole lot of luggage. It is too expensive to fly with it. Foreign taxis do not have room to fit numerous or large pieces of luggage and often we were responsible for handling our own luggage....up stairs, on public transportation, etc.

We learned to scale back. We take one large suitcase each and one carry on.. I always pack a change of clothing or two in the carry on and was happy about that when our luggage was lost for a while. We have had to use laundry facilities occasionally....it's never been a problem.

We now have dogs and if they can't go with us, we don't go. Thankfully, we have an RV. I can pack whatever I want to.

Traveling is so much easier. Our queen size is comfortable, the coffee maker is right there. The refrigerator has food and drinks.

Our bathroom is clean and has everything we need. I don't have to pack and unpack. My dogs can come with us. The RV has more room than a hotel room too.

A bonus. We spend less money while traveling. Many people on here say they don't enjoy camping. Well, our RV is not exactly roughing it.

I love not having to sleep in a bed slept in by strangers, and have no worries about bedbugs.

So, we do haul our house when we go away.

Re: Honestly, what's a reasonable amount of luggage per person for a trip?

Lilysmom1 — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 13:27:26 GMT

@Carmie , sounds heavenly! Like you I hate flying now.

Re: Honestly, what's a reasonable amount of luggage per person for a trip?

LindaSal — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 13:27:39 GMT

Funny you should ask. I consider myself a professional packer. My friends kid me about going to their homes to pack for them, LOL! We mostly do flights so as others indicated you have to put a lot of thought into outifts. You need to be able to mix and match your clothing. I bring what I consider "travel" underwear.........not "throwaway" which I think is a ridiculous idea. These pieces are light and can be washed in a hotel sink, dry very quickly and then your all set. Actually we are leaving this weekend for a 3 week adventure in Italy. We each have one suitcase, I will have a backpack and DH will have a camera bag as carry on. Done........and I swear by packing cubes.

Re: Honestly, what's a reasonable amount of luggage per person for a trip?

haddon9 — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 13:41:18 GMT

My pacing skills are terrible!

Depending on where I am going.....if I'm flying I usually bring my large & heavy suitcase which has to be checked & my small rolling carry-on & a backpack. I put my handbag in the backpack since I can stuff a lot more in the backpack than in the handbag alone.

If It's a drive then I can bring more! last week I went to the beach with a friend (DH prefers to stay at home). We loaded up the car for 4 days! Instead of my big suitcase, I brought a Vera Bradley weekender bag, multiple totes, my backpack, the small rolling carry-on and a cooler. I also brought some extra water. I don't think there was anymore room in the car with her stuff too.

It's one of the things that I hate to do! ....that's to pack! I need my stuff. I check the weather but one never knows for sure and I always bring extra for just in case.

I'm always amazed at those who can fit everything that they need into one small bag...I need a small bag just for my toiletries!

Re: Honestly, what's a reasonable amount of luggage per person for a trip?

haddon9 — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 13:43:22 GMT

@Group 5 minus 1 wrote:
One time I read an article about packing for a trip to Europe. Take clothes that you want to get rid of and throw them away,that way you have more room for souvenirs.
I thought at the time it was a silly idea and I still do.

I can't see that working for me. I like to look nice on a trip. I know I'll never see those people again but still I hate to wear clothing that I just don't like only to throw them away.

Re: Honestly, what's a reasonable amount of luggage per person for a trip?

cindyNC — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 13:55:15 GMT

It's not so much the clothing for me, but the electronics........cpap, electric toothbrush, hearing aids and charger, cables/chargers for iphone and ipad

Re: Honestly, what's a reasonable amount of luggage per person for a trip?

Bookplate — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 14:16:22 GMT

@Group 5 minus 1 wrote:
One time I read an article about packing for a trip to Europe. Take clothes that you want to get rid of and throw them away,that way you have more room for souvenirs.
I thought at the time it was a silly idea and I still do.

@Group 5 minus 1 : I have done that with underwear and night gowns/pj's only and that worked fine. But those items didn't take up that much room in my luggage to begin with. If I were intending to throw away my outer clothes, I don't think I'd want to wear them when travelling, so I agree with you there.

Re: Honestly, what's a reasonable amount of luggage per person for a trip?

Growing — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 14:27:56 GMT

The last trip I was on, I noticed the luggage of the flight crew waiting to get on my plaine. And all of them had two or three small cases. They had the small rolling carry-on, then some kind of small attached bag to the rolling bag, and then some had food thermal storage bag attached to the attached bag.

I looked at Travelpro brand and saw what some of them had been using.

Just pare it down. We over pack because we are going out of our ocmfort zone. Nothing wrong with planning ahead but also do a real check on everything you brought on the last trip and did you use it, did you need it?

I bring one outfit per day if I am not able to wash clothes. I check the hotel and see if there are laundry facilities (not dry cleaning). I do bring extra underwear items. I bring one extra outfit because sometimes one gets stuck somewhere one extra day (weather issues, etc.). Reality is you can wear typical jeans or pants more than one day. Tops usually one day or they smell. I also bring food items, even when flying, because I have food allergies. I have been using the packing cubes and love them, and now am using the ones that you can collapse and make half that size. They do work.

My biggest issue is I need to bring 3 pairs of shoes because I wear othorpedic shoes due to arthritis and can't wear the same pair all day or every day. That takes up so much room.

Re: Honestly, what's a reasonable amount of luggage per person for a trip?

Desertdi — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 14:48:21 GMT

In pre 9-11 days, I traveled with a "hatbox":

Now, I use a rolling duffle bag:

Re: Honestly, what's a reasonable amount of luggage per person for a trip?

GingerHead — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 18:21:11 GMT

You sound like us on road trips.

We are ridiculous!

Along with all our cr***p, we have to take our 11lb dogs 2 carseats (one console and one seat carseat), pop up pen, stroller, food, pee pads, toys.

It's as bad or worse than all the junk parents of human kids have to lug around...

Needless to say we are packed full!

Re: Honestly, what's a reasonable amount of luggage per person for a trip?

Tinkrbl44 — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 18:35:16 GMT

Obviously, it depends if you're travelling for business or pleasure, and if any special occasions were involved, such as attending a wedding or graduation.

I used to travel constantly for business, a different city each day.

It didn't take long to realize that since I was in different places every day, no one knew what I'd worn the day before. In theory, I could wear the same outfit every day and no one would ever know!

I got my luggage down to a single carry on, and like many recommend, I wear the bulkiest items for actual travelling.