My Favorite Luggage
Is your family team carry-on or team checked luggage?
Before I go forward with the luggage convo, I wanted to mention what’s on my mind.
Today, I am staying on top of the news as much as I can, in despair over the devastation in Los Angeles. LA is one of our favorite cities and full of so many of our friends. We are hoping the fires are able to be contained ASAP and this awful destruction ends.
Here is an article with some links to organizations you can donate to that will support those affected (both 2 legged and 4 legged). We will be making a donation as a family to one of these organizations this week. For all travel coaching sessions booked between now and next Friday, I’ll be donating 10% of the proceeds to the Animal Wellness Foundation’s fundraiser, that assists in housing and feeding pets that had to be left behind by owners who evacuated. They are using an old vet hospital in Marina Del Rey to house and treat these animals.
Sending love, LA ❤️
And now onto a much lighter subject!
If you saw my 2024 wrapped post, you may recall that we spent almost a month in Italy last summer. We traveled to 7 cities in that time and stayed at various hotels and home swaps, carting our luggage up many flights of stairs, through many cobblestone streets, metro stations, tiny elevators, boats and airports.
The first European trip we took as a family in 2022, we carted around three giant suitcases and two big tote bags (and then our personal bags 😩). We were heading to London and Paris (both swelteringly hot!) and then to Sweden and Denmark where the high was a breezy 65 degrees in the middle of the day and we basically needed coats at night.
Even with the dual climate, we majorly overpacked and paid the price. Everywhere we went was challenging to cart our stuff around. Taxis and Ubers always had to be XL and even then they were often not big enough for our gigantic luggage. Climbing stairs in old European buildings with giant suitcases was impossible and packing and unpacking each place we went was a challenge.
I knew deep down we weren’t cut out to be team carry-on but after that trip we knew something had to change. The kids were 6 & 8 at the time but by the next big summer trip, they were older and more capable of lugging their own suitcases around. When they were little, Kamali could pull two suitcases and I could pull one — leaving one hand free to hold a child’s hand. When they were even smaller and in strollers, one of us needed both hands free to push the stroller so we had grown accustomed to having large suitcases and always checking our luggage. Times really changed with the boys getting so big it was time to evolve.
So, before one of our next big trips, we decided we’d still check luggage so we’d have our hands free at the airport and not have to worry about airport security and liquids, etc. but that we’d invest in carry-on size suitcase so we’d each be able to pull our own. I also bought a handful of collapsible zip up duffel bags to throw in our suitcases for laundry —- and souvenirs we’d inevitably pick up along the way (see my last post on our Mexico City trips for more on how we like to shop when we travel ;)). That way if I underestimated how much space we’d need, we’d have options and wouldn’t be stuck.
The other issue we always came up against on international flights was the weight restrictions. With a huge suitcase, it is too easy to overpack and have the luggage weigh in at well over 50 pounds. Once we switched to smaller suitcases, it was no longer a concern. Unless we packed them full of books (we DID actually do that once!) they wouldn’t weigh in past 35/40 pounds.
So, now here are some links to our favorite packing items. Hope it helps you as you plan for your 2025 trips. Some of these links are affiliates or referral links and I just want you all to know how much I appreciate your support of my small business when you choose to use any of the links I share with you all (credit card, shopping or otherwise). It’s a great way to support what I do at no cost to you 🖤
SUITCASES
The Carry-on Flex: We have this in Black and light blue and love both. It comes with a small shoe/laundry pouch, a leather name tag and is easy to cart around the world. I like that the expansion gives us options if we buy too much stuff on a trip or if we want to use the extra zipper to further compress the luggage. I find that a little easier than trying to use brute strength to zip it back up!
The Large Flex: This is what we used before we had the carry-ons (that we check like I said, but they are typically the right size to carry on!). These are necessary IMHO if you’re going somewhere freezing and need a lot of layers or if your kids are still little and you can’t swing having one suitcase for each person in your family.
Carry-on cheaper option: This is a knock off of the other suitcases and not at all as sturdy but a good option at almost a third of the price. Personally, I wish we’d saved and splurged for the real thing after having these for a couple years. They are a bit flimsy and don’t have the same comprehensive warranty as the OG but again at nearly a third of the price, it’s a decent option. We have these in black and blue for the kids!
TOTE BAGS
Boat and Tote Bag: I use these XL totes for everything (I even used to use them to take my dog on public transit in NYC before I had kids). I love that they are perfect for carrying on the plane if needed, checking-in if I have to (I usually put it in a laundry bag or plastic bag to save the white sides from getting dirty!) and it doubles as a beach bag or overnight bag for vacation staycations or day trips.
Packing cubes: I have to be honest that I’ve tried packing cubes and I’m not on team packing cubes. But I am also the most type-A hyper organized and I think I COULD be into them, I just haven’t found a way for them to work for us. If you use packing cubes or want to be a person who uses them, these are pretty great. Another option is these compression cubes that we have used that are around the same price.
Duffel bags: Collapsible, stuff-able duffel bags are what I’ve found to be the key to traveling with less luggage (and avoiding extra charges). In fact, on our last trip to Mexico, our suitcase was overweight at check in (oops!) but I pulled this out and quickly was able to re-pack without facing any additional charges.
This one can be perfect for carrying on breakables or extra stuff you don’t have room for in your suitcase, and this is the one I use if I just need a huge bag to throw a bunch of stuff in at the end of a trip. Like, for example, when we went to Morocco and brought back an overnight bag and a pouf (the poufs come flat and you stuff them at home if you’re wondering- I didn’t know that before we took that trip!) among other things.
A few other favorite things we travel with:
These sneakers are my favorite for city trips that require a lot of walking (basically all of our trips!).
Here are the backpacks my kids use for school and for travel. I love that they are classic and cute, well made and hold everything they need for a day out and about. For us, it’s essential to have their water bottles in a side pouch, otherwise they end up spilling in their bags (even if they are leak proof because my kids/we do not always close them all the way!).
This is the purse I take on every trip. It’s pricey but I have had it for many years and it is still in great shape. It holds more than it looks like it could and is easy to switch from a shoulder bag to crossbody when you want to be a little more cautious (or comfortable!).
LET’S TALK!
Today I’ve spent a lot of the day on calls with folks who want help with a credit card strategy. Helping you all is one of my favorite ways to spend the day! Here are some of the ways Brooklyn Family Travelers can help YOU!
FREE credit card strategy to help you accrue points! Book a free 15 minute card strategy session HERE or fill out THIS form for tailored advice at no cost to you!
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Thanks for being here! Have ideas about something you’d like to see in a post? Or a question you’d like answered? Drop me a line and maybe your question will be the subject of the next newsletter :)
With love,
Rachel
Founder, Brooklyn Family Travelers