how many suitcases do we need???

[RangerPooh]

We are a family of 4, with a 2yo and a 4yo. When we would fly I would purchase items through Garden Grocer to have ready for us at the hotel. No way was I going to haul diapers and wipes from Washington state and take up valuable room in my suitcase. Now that we live reasonably closer and drive I either bring it with me or purchase in Orlando.

As for our suitcases, We will bring 2 alrge ones for all of our closes. I will bring oneoutfit for eachday, two sweaters, and a couple extra shirts or pants in case of spills or odd weather. When I pack I place all of our items in large ziplock bags and swish the air out of them. Then I stuff the suitcases full. Since DH has a CPAP machine we usually bring a smaller suitcase with us too, It is here that we place any souvies that can't be squishes elsewhere or our extra diapers and wipes that we purchased downhere.

Even though I hope that laundry is not a part of my routine while on vacation, and it usually isn't, I will still bring a small bottle of detergent purhcased at the dollar store and placed into a baggie of it's own, or travel sized single load samples purchased in the travel isle at Target.

The only time that we have only had a suitcase for each person was when our oldest was an infant and we went to Hawaii. DH and I took dd plus our neice and nephew with us. For 5 people we had 5 large suitcases. 3 of clothes, 1 of beach items, and 1 with a baby bouncer/sleeper, diapers, wipes, and breastpump. These days we're happy to be out of diapers and are excited to be down to just 2 or 3 suitcases

 

[aidtrismommy]

Well..... two main thoughts. If you pack the diapers/wipes/swim diapers on the way down, they'll be used so you can put souveniers in their place in the suitcases on the way back. We always pack two duffle bags that fold down tight in the suitcase "just in case" we need return trip space.

Second, you could always FedEx or UPS down the baby essentials and then send the extra stuff home the same way. It's cheaper (especially if you have an account number) than paying the baggage fees and you don't have to lug it around in the airport.

My biggest packing tip for the kids is to buy gallon sized ziplock bags. Put a complete outfit (shirt, shorts, socks, and undies) in each one. Roll them to squish out the air. Then all you have to do is grab a bag each day and dress your kid. It is a huge help for us b/c dh would put the shirt that matched one pair of shorts on with a different pair and then we'd have problems. Plus you can grab a bag for each child and throw it in the diaper bag so you'll have a clean set all the time. Once you use an outfit, you can use the ziplock for something else (carrying wet or dirty clothes back to the room, keeping a bathing suit for the kids with you in case they want to play, etc.).

We have two girls plus dh and I and we usually check two bags and carryon one each.

I'm not the OP but I love the idea of the ziplock bags with outfits. The last trip, I packed some things that only matched certain things and then ended up with non-matching things, this way the outfits will be organized, matching and my older son (3) can just take out a bag and dress himself. Awesome

 

[tchrrx]

We are taking one bag each. I really, really planned on only taking 2 suitcases. However, when I weighed them earlier, they were both within 7 pounds of the limit. I don't want to have to worry about squishing souvenirs in on the way home or paying an overweight fee. It's easier to just take 3 to begin with, I guess.

 

[tlh0726]

Just went in March for 9 days. (me, dh, dd4 and ds then 2) I packed 5 outfits for each of us. This gave us one extra outfit for each of us. I did laundry half way through our trip. I packed enough detergent to do laundry twice just in case .

We had 4 checked bag and 2 carry ons. One was for camera, video recorder, etc. The other was snacks for the kids and things for them to do on the plane. (this one we put at our feet so that we would not have to keep getting in and out of the overhead)
Also in the checked luggage I had 2 backless booster seats for the kids.

Keep in mind, with so many people trying to not pay the fee for checked bags, more and more people are trying to do the carry on thing. My husband just returned from Atlanta and the airline was forcing people on his flight to gate check their carryons because there was no room in the overhead compartments.

I really don't understand the airlines thinking on this. What difference does it make if your bag is over your head or under your feet. If it weighs 30 lbs it weighs 30 lbs.

One more thing, remember when packing carry ons, the airline rule on liquids and other things. You may end up having to throw things away at the security checkpoint.

 

[lpandorf]

When I travel it's myself and the two kids. I bring one large suitcase with wheels for my things. Then, a somewhat smaller suitcase with wheels and the 8 and 5 year old's things go in that one. DD is big enough to carry that one on wheels. I also normally take a large duffle bag and carry that over my shoulder. DS carseat gets roped to my suitcase. We are going at the end of June and I'm thinking about getting rid of that large duffle bag. I have to pay $15 per suitcase each way and trying to save a little bit. I figure we can buy snacks at the grocery when we get there.

 

[blum74]

When I've gone for 6 nights I take a large suitcase and a medium suitcase which is plenty for myself and my 2 children and we take 2 outfits per day, each a swimsuit, windbreaker each, a sweater for each of the kids and usually I pack 2 pairs of shoes for each of us.

 

[surfgirl]

Last trip, we were there for 6 days... for a family of 5 people, we had 3 carry-on duffels. Each child carried a small backpack with books and airplane amusement. I carried a backpack with camera, snacks, books, etc. DH carried his pc bag with laptop and some activity books. Plus we carried a booster seat for the youngest.

We didn't take 2 outfits / day for each of us (we believe in re-wearing clothes when they've only been worn 1/2 a day since we've been swimming in the afternoon). Granted, mine are older, but I think you are waaaayyyy overpacking.

The things that get heavy/bulky: shoes. We wore sneakers and everyone took crocs or flip flops. That was it. Books/toys get heavy. We take lots of the 'Little Miss or Mr.' books since they are small and light, but have a longer story to them.

so we carried:
- 3 duffels for 5 people
- 5 carry-ons (each can carry their own)
- 1 booster seat.

Much easier to get through the airport!

Either streamline significantly or just accept defeat now and that you will pay $$$ for luggage and porters.

Have you considered where you will put all these clothes and suitcases in your room with 4 people ? I hope you're not staying at a value... better get a connecting room instead.

 

[Kriddlet]

We are going down next month and we will have 4 suitcases, one for each of us; plus 3 carry ons. My dd11 and dd6 will each have a little backpack carryon that will leave their hands free for pulling their own suitcases, then a suitcase for me and one for DH. I'm sure both dd's clothes could all fit into one, but bringing both will leave extra room for souveniers (and "just in case" room!)

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

thanks for your help guys. it used to be so easy wehn you never had to pay to check baggage...ahh i miss the good ole days!! lol i was hoping not to take a "warm outfit" but after our last trip we frooze our butts off!

were flying continental and i havent reveiced my tickets yet so im unsure of whats allowed on board- i knwo one carry on plus a laptop/purse etc, but i dont kwnot he dimentions. hopefully we can cram a lot in there.