Carry on or check in luggage?

[erddig]

We usually carry on because we often go presidents week and between potential weather delays and missed connections it gives us the flexibility to hop on another flight. You generally can't do that if you have checked bags. I do laundry everynight (washer in our timeshare) and I buy sunscreen and laundry detergent when I'm there. When we go and stay in a hotel i always make sure we have laundry facilities and do laundry once (maybe twice if I have to). I take a stain stick and those all in one washer sheets. they are great!

Each kid has a wheeled carry on and a backpack which they manage by themselves (we plan extra time and adjust OUR pace to thiers). My husband and I each have a wheeled carry on- he takes his computer bag, and I take a backpack.

My trick to get all the extra's back home. I pack an oversized baggalini (mine fits a king sized comforter but folds to nothing) to check on the way home (dirty laundry in there) with a couple of the expanded carryons. We always seem to buy way more stuff-beech towels, sweatshirts, blankets, stuffed animals etc-than I plan. Anything breakable, I ship.

This has made traveling so much better, we do help the little kid especially in crowds (people don't see them so we walk in formation DH and DS in the lead DD in the middle and me and DS in the back, kinda helps to cut through the crowds and buffers the short little kids. Also my oldest son is, older, so he can easliy manage 2 carryons and his back pack and DH can do 2 or 3 carryons and I get the kids and my stuff--LOL rethinking that plan- maybe i should switch kids for carryons.

If it get's hectic and people start to whine, someone reminds me I am going to WDW.

 

[LaughingSphinx]

My DH and I will only take carry-ons, although we may check a bag on the return trip. We successfully honeymooned in Jamaica with only carryons, and I survived a 3-week trip in Europe with one suitcase, including a uniform that took up a little space.

Rolling clothes, packing clothes in things like shoes (febreze them first or put things like socks in them, or put undies in ziploc baggies and stick 'em in there) and packing for the forecast are really helpful. Also, since I have trouble fitting all my toiletries in one quart-sized ziploc, I reuse old hotel shampoo/lotion bottles. Once washed and refilled with the liquid of your choice, you can fit several different bottles in there and be fine. I can also take some space in DH's baggie, as he doesn't need as much.

Once kids are in the picture, I am sure we'll check bags but when its just two adults, carry on is more than sufficient.

 

[msp2mco]

We have been trying to go with 1 checked bag and 4 carry-ons for our family of 4. If we can get everything into our carry-ons, usually pack an expandable bag, in case we need to check a bag for the return trip.

If we are flying Delta, we can use our Delta credit card to cover the cost of 1 checked bag per person.

 

[DisneyHotDog]

Not all airlines charge luggage fees for the first piece of luggage. I know that I just flew Jet Blue and they did not charge (per person) the first piece of luggage under 50 pounds. I also find that the luggage usually comes pretty quickly and there is not a long wait if you do decide to check it. I just hate to have to leave behind things I might want just because I can't wait an extra couple of minutes for my luggage.