Packing Questions

[Christine9125]

We (There are 5 of us) know we are going to fly and have 3 options:

1) Each of us take 1 carry-on, plus their personal item-downside-this doesn't leave much space for souviners.

2) A few of us take carry-ons, plus their personal item and check a few bags-downside-we don't have good luck and are afraid our checked luggage will be lost.

3) Each of us take 1 carry-on, plus their personal item and ship some items down-I can ship from work for free, but not sure how to get the package back home after our trip.

What do you think? I know, with the answers I have received this morning from you wonderful people, we can fit all of our stuff in carry-ons, just worried about the souviners we would be bringing home. If we have less room, will spend less money, does this really work?

We are going July/August so clothes will be light

 

[gojoe]

Sorry but we over pack every time we travel. Thank to Southwest it doesn't cost us extra. We all take a carry on. We have bathing suites and a couple days change of clothes just in case they loose our luggage. We also have at least one checked bag a piece. We also pack a couple with food. We use them for souvenirs. Well unless you fly Southwest I'm no help. Good Luck

 

[Christine9125]

It is looking like we will be flying Airtran, they are less expensive then Southwest and at a closer airport. It is $20 each way per checked bag

 

[DebbieB]

It's very rare for luggage to get lost. I fly all the time and I've only had a bag delayed overnight twice (once USAirways, once Delta). Flying a smaller airline like AirTran makes it less likely since they have less lugagge to transfer.

 

[Rumpus]

In all of the years we have been flying, our bags were delayed but once. It worked out well because we didn't have to wait for them, didn't need them and they were delivered to the hotel 4 hours later. With Delta we get two bags each free, (medallion members). With USair, DH gets two bags free. When we fly USAir with carryons, we pack the breakable items near the surface. When the plane flies full, they often ask for volunteers to gate check for free. If they don't ask, I approach the podium and volunteer my bag. No fee.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

It's very rare for luggage to get lost.

Maybe it is rare to be completely lost, but it's not so rare to have luggage delayed or misrouted. Two of my family members have both had bags "lost" for over a month during international travel. That is why I never check luggage.

We have bathing suites

How do you fit a bathing "suite" in a carry-on bag,

 

[dancin Disney style]

You can pack less in the bags that you do bring and just plan to do a load of laundry. The laundry rooms are right beside the pool so you can throw in a load and relax at the pool.

Another option is to bring a duffle bag that you can fold flat. Pack it in one of the suitcases and get it out for your return trip home if needed. It can become a carry on.

 

[goofy4tink]

I would have everyone take a carryon bag that is as large as is permitted, plus a tote bag or backpack to store stuff you need for the flight. Then, you can check one large suitcase and pack stuff in it and leave room for anything you may want to bring home.
In all reality, bags don't get misdirected all that often. I fly about 4 times a year, for the past 13 years, and I've only had one bag misdirected..and it got to me the following day!

 

[Christine9125]

Thank you everyone, I think I am leaning towards everyone taking their own carry on and personal item bag and maybe checking one bag. There are always pros and cons.

 

[Christine9125]

You can pack less in the bags that you do bring and just plan to do a load of laundry. The laundry rooms are right beside the pool so you can throw in a load and relax at the pool.

Another option is to bring a duffle bag that you can fold flat. Pack it in one of the suitcases and get it out for your return trip home if needed. It can become a carry on.

We are thinking of only taking enough clothes for 1/2 our trip and doing laundry in the middle of the trip, I think if we do this are clothes will fit in carry ons

 

[gojoe]

Watch your weight in that one bag. Most airlines charge extra for over 50 lbs. I have a salt water fish scale I take to weigh my bags. It's easier to move things around while we're in our room than at check-in.
Also about the lost bags, I have a friend who own a company that returns lost bags once they are found. He makes a fine living.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I suppose it depends on how you pack, but we had no troubles just using carry-ons on our most recent summer trip to FL. Each person had a standard carry-on (rolling) suitcase plus one item which in our cases was a backpack each. We were in Orlando for 9 days. I packed primarily clothes in the suitcases and put things like the camera, cell phones etc... in the back pack. We also packed a twin sized air mattress and pump in the suitcase with DD's clothes. (Since she is a child her clothes take up less room.) We did not pack a lot of toiletries since we stopped at Publix. We did laundry once while we were there. We had no troubles bringing back souvenirs of which we had tons, but none were particularly large. (t-shirts, Sea World Barbie, hat, pins, key chains etc...)

 

[malibuconlee]

I had luck with having the gift shop of our hotel ship a package for us on the last day when it wouldn't fit into our bags. That may be an option?

 

[Christine9125]

I had luck with having the gift shop of our hotel ship a package for us on the last day when it wouldn't fit into our bags. That may be an option?

I didn't think about that, I will have to look into that

 

[NYEmomma]

It sounds like we're in the same part of the woods... are you flying out of CAK? If so, there's direct flights you can take to MCO so you don't have to worry about luggage lost during layovers.

We're going to try to pack light & do one checked bag total for all 3 of us (me, DH & DD2). We can stash enough stuff in our "personal" bags that we can use at least one of our carry-ons for more clothes, and then have 2 almost-empty carry-ons that we can use for souveniers on the way home.

If we have to, I can vacuum pack the clothes to fit more. Plus there's always the option of washing clothes at the resort if I need to.

 

[Christine9125]

It sounds like we're in the same part of the woods... are you flying out of CAK? If so, there's direct flights you can take to MCO so you don't have to worry about luggage lost during layovers.

We're going to try to pack light & do one checked bag total for all 3 of us (me, DH & DD2). We can stash enough stuff in our "personal" bags that we can use at least one of our carry-ons for more clothes, and then have 2 almost-empty carry-ons that we can use for souveniers on the way home.

If we have to, I can vacuum pack the clothes to fit more. Plus there's always the option of washing clothes at the resort if I need to.

We are flying our of DAY, it is also a non stop. I think I am leaning towards checking 1 bag and using carry on's