Check or carry on luggage?

[kellia]

I am debating on if I want to spend an extra $25 to check a suitcase each way or if we should do all carry on. We have 2 adults and 3 kids (10-17yo). We will be staying 9 days in a condo with a washer/dryer (a MUST for us) so we usually just bring 2 changes of clothes each.

My biggest concern is the "liquids". Are we each allowed a quart size bag full of as many 3 oz liquids as we can fit in there? Is it worth the hassle of squeezing everything into a carry on or should I just check a bag?

TIA!

 

[ToddyLu]

You could use a service like Garden Grocer or We Go Shop and have them deliver the items to your condo. I now store my stuff like that in an Owner's Locker.

 

[mikehn]

depends what the liquids are. If shampoo, mouthwash, suncreen, its cheaper to buy it when you get there versus spending $50 bucks to check a bag roundtrip.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

My biggest concern is the "liquids". Are we each allowed a quart size bag full of as many 3 oz liquids as we can fit in there? Is it worth the hassle of squeezing everything into a carry on or should I just check a bag?

TIA!

Go to TSA.org. Your liquid question will be answered there.

Only you can answer the question as to whether or not it would be a hassle to do all carry-ons.

 

[Donna M]

I would save the $50 and do carry on. Since the clothing will not be a problem you would only be concerned with the liquid issue. Each of you can bring a quart sized baggie crammed full of as many 3oz/100mm bottles as you can get in there. The 10yo can bring extra shampoo or sunscreen since he/she probably doesn't have a lot of other stuff that needs to go in the baggie. I bought a few of the 100mm bottles at Bed Bath and Beyond for $.99 each and put the sunscreen, lotion and shampoo in them.

If you have a car then you can just pick up a new bottle of whatever you need.

So much easier than checking your bag----unless you could be the last ones onto the plane and there isn't any overhead space left!

 

[bumbershoot]

Yes, you can put as many bottles into the quart baggies as you can, and each passenger gets a baggie. You might be surprised at how relatively big 3.4 oz (that's the actual measure allowed, aka 100mL) is, though. DH's Epcot/Norway cologne is far smaller than 3oz, and it's a somewhat normal sized cologne bottle, for instance.

we usually just bring 2 changes of clothes each

Surely you can bring more. Check your airline's carryon measurements, then check the ricksteves.com store for info on their carry-on friendly bags. We have 3 of the soft-sided, traditional Rick Steves bags, and we *cruised* for a week with one each, without having to re-wear clothes at all. And with a formal gown, too. Proper, legal carry-on sized bags are bigger than people think. You don't need to keep it to two outfits each. That means washing almost every day! I have no problems with laundry during a vacation, but every day? Even I balk at that.


All that said, I'd check a nice big bag or three.

 

[goofy4tink]

Will you have a car there? If so, just plan on stopping and buying what you need.
For a nine day stay, there is no way I would try to go with just carryon. I can, but I don't want to spend time doing that much laundry. I refuse to do more than two loads of laundry per trip!!!
So, check one bag...that way you can bring more clothing, as well as the liquids you need. Just figure it's $10 addlt per person r/t. Small amount for more space.

 

[dis_guy]

I have a 19 inch carry on and use packing cubes so I can get quite a lot into it but 5 days is about it before I need to do laundry. For longer trips my wife and I share a checked bag and our two (adult) daughters do the same. Even then we often do laundry after 4 or 5 days.

 

[lylone]

We are carry on people and always will be. After hearing a story about my niece loosing her luggage and not getting it back for a week, we always carryon now. Her trip was work related and she had no clothes for a week! It was a non-stop flight and her bag ended up in some third world country it came back damaged/duck-taped and half the contents were stolen out. The wrong tag was placed on it by the ticket agent!! She was able to purchase clothes and stuff, but it was still a hassle and a bad way to start off a week. I could only imagine a vacation to Disney or a cruise with no clothes for a week.

 

[kellia]

Thanks for all the replies! We will have a car, so I guess I was mostly worried for the first night since we get in too late to go to the store. I guess maybe I'll just have to no over pack like I normally do! I was looking last night and I guess 3.4 isn't too small.

As for laundry, it really isn't a big deal. We have a washer/dryer in the unit, it's actually easier than home since it isn't in the basement! I just have everyone throw their clothes and pj's in the washer as they are done with it and then run it each day. When stuff is dry, I throw it on their beds and they wear it the next day. I don't fold it. I get everyone 2 new Disney shirts before we go, so they're happy to wear them!

 

[Greysword]

Just curious, what airline do you normally fly and how often do you go? If it is an annual occurrence and you fly a legacy airline (obviously it isn't WN (Southwest)), it may be beneficial to look into a co-branded airline credit card, as it could also offer additional benefits (besides free checked bags) like priority boarding, companion tickets, and/or airline lounge access.

For some families, the annual fee (usually waived the first year) is offset by baggage fees they would normally purchase.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

OK. You have three kids and how many suitcases to deal with in the airport...

But here's the other side of this. You have to haul all three kids and the luggage through the airport, you have to deal with getting three kids seated and the luggage in the overhead. And of course you will also haev the kids carryon's etc...

Most families I see doing this look totally miserable! screaming at your kids to "hurry up" and having them whine because they don't want to haul that luggage is not how I would want to start my vacation YMMV.