How to choose the right luggage for your trip

My luggage for 2 full weeks away

My luggage for 2 full weeks away

We certainly learn from our mistakes and it seems that each time I travel I make new ones. But at least they are excellent excuses for articles. And, as a result, we can also share some tips on how to choose right luggage for your trip.

What exactly did we do?

So, for our Italy & Greece trip (n.a. March 2012), this *brilliant* mind (not) decided to get two carry ons (for me & Alex) so that it will be easier harder for us to move to/from the airport and the city centers and whatnot. Sure, I wrote down the measurements required for both EasyJet and WizzAir and somehow didn’t realize the wheels will eventually have to be taken off. Not to mention I listened to the lady selling the carry ons saying “I am using these on WizzAir every time, without a problem”.

Let me tell you something: we were LUCKY not to pay anything else when we flew WizzAir from Timisoara to Rome because they only weighed the luggage (and it was close to 8.5 kg, which was acceptable weight). But for our EasyJet flight, we took off the wheels. So needless to say, we ended up carrying the same 8 kg (EACH) 2 km in Rome and 2.5 km in Athens…and a lot of minutes within the airport terminals.

Since then, we’ve eventually started paying for priority boarding which gives us a personal item and a carry on luggage. Between the two us, this has worked even for a 5-weeks stay in Italy. And it was just perfect for our wedding anniversary in Greece (May 2017).

Our tips on how to choose the luggage for your trip

  • check the recommended carryon measurements for the airlines you fly often. When you buy new luggage, make sure it is a bit smaller than the size required.
  • a backpack is easy to carry AND it will fit those “cages” because it’s flexible.
  • there are many brands that advertise themselves as selling luggage that fits the low-cost carriers’ requirements. We have a CabinZero backpack, for example. Don’t be shy to explore these possibilities.
  • get priority boarding. It’s worth it because you get a personal item (laptop or camera bag, for example) plus a bigger carry-on.
  • pack light. You really don’t need to carry your entire wardrobe. Stay away from light colors and learn to use layers. You most certainly won’t need the curling iron!
  • if you must get carry on with wheels, measure the entire length (from the floor to the handle); even if it’s 1 cm longer/winder, ditch it and get one that fits regardless of what the sales lady says. But generally, it’s advisable to ditch the wheely for a backpack or duffle bag.
  • if you don’t need to work, leave the laptop at home. The cell is more than enough.
  • if you have to work, invest in a lightweight ultrabook. I’ve been using an Asus Zenbook for 2 years already and it’s done the job brilliantly. Plus, it’s very light (under 1kg with charger) .
  • if you MUST carry more luggage, pay for it when you get the ticket; in most cases, it’s cheaper when you get the ticket than to pay the 30 euros at check-in or 60 euros at the gate. Or even better, look into shopping it by post. It’s usually the same price as an extra bag (without worrying that you have to check it and pick it up)
  • if you travel by train, don’t be fooled that you can carry more. You still need to haul everything to/from the train station. And like it or not, some trains don’t really have enough luggage storage.
  • if you travel within Europe and stay in cities, there aren’t many cases in which you won’t be able to pick up what you need at the destination (except certain medications like birth control). So don’t worry if you left something at home.

Note: This article includes links that may qualify as affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission.

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