Traveling alone with 2 little kids- what luggage would you bring?

[Anonymous]

Disclaimer: I am not DCUM rich. Scored very very cheap airfare to make this trip possible and tickets do not include a checked bag. They include up to a carry on + personal item per person.

Single mom here- kids are 4 and 7yo and we are going to Paris for 10 days! We are staying in a flat that has in-unit laundry so I can wash things as-needed which will help cut down on how much stuff we have to bring.

We will be getting dropped off at our airport, have direct flights, and will be taking a pre-booked car from the airport to the flat. So I'm mostly concerned with getting through the airports (have global entry/pre-check, kids included). Would you try to get everything into one carryon plus a backpack for me to wear/pull on top of my suitcase? Two carry on suitcases and have 7yo pull one? One suitcase + have the kids each carry a smaller backpack?

Would you bring a stroller? If so, single or double? Should i look into renting one there instead?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

To make my life easier, I'd check one big bag and bring just backpacks with us on the plane. I realize this is an extra cost, but seems worth it for less hassle.

If you do bring a roller for your 7 year old to pull, I'd make it a smaller one that the standard carry on. Also make sure you can pull it if needed when they are unreliable.

If you allow yourself enough time the airport should be manageable.

I would not bring a stroller and let your 4 year old set the pace for where you go each day.

[Anonymous]

Re: stroller
Are you staying in a central location so you can easily walk to the parks and such? Especially with a 4 and 7 yr old in tow?
What time of year? - little legs don't go quite as far when it's a hot August day verse a crisp November morning.

Research bike rentals to save money on transportation

Im big on back-packs for airport travel bc they also serve as my bag for outings/sightseeing at my destinations - lots of pockets and zippers for snacks, water bottles, etc.

We frequently have each kid tow their own suitcase (approved for carry-on) + backpack for plane rides.

[Anonymous]

I might consider a stroller for the 4 year old (something light that you can fold up easily and sling over your shoulder if needed. If it has some sort of storage underneath you could use it to carry stuff. I guess it really just depends on how much your 4 year old is used to walking, how fast you want to move and how much ground you want to cover, and how fit you are (pushing a large 4 year old may or may not make your life easier).

No to a double stroller. It may not fit in some old elevators.

[Anonymous]

I would have your 4 year old carry a backpack.

[Anonymous]

If you can afford the trip at all, you can afford a single checked bag. It will cost less than your private car from the airport.

[Anonymous]

OP here- if I pay for a checked bag add on, I'd obviously have to do it both ways. I'd much rather use that couple hundred dollars for an activity with my kids.

Our flights were $1200 total and our accomodations are free. This is a very low budget trip for us. I make $78k per year for context and own a house, have one in daycare still etc. $200+ is not worth a checked bag for me (wish it was!)

[Anonymous]

I have these clips that tie my luggage together (they are basically just a strap that buckles, nothing fancy). I just went to S. America and my 7 year old pulled a trolley of 3 carry ons tied together through the airports. It was nbd. 2 is even easier. I wouldn't check a bag. For one, it's super hard to carry the 50lb bags up and down stairs in the Paris metro (very few elevators, if any).

I do bring a stroller for my kids. DH and I are huge walkers and my little ones (I have a 5 and 3 year old too) can't do 10 miles a day for days on end like we can.

[Anonymous]

I’d do one carry on and a backpack for you and a backpack for each kid. Could be small, but you can at least fit a change of clothes and book/toy.

[Anonymous]

Both of your kids can carry a carry-on suitcase with wheels. Mine have been doing it since they were 2. Everyone has a smallish, carry-on roller bag, and a backpack. Maybe take an umbrella stroller if you’re four year-old isn’t a good walker, my kids are city kids, and are used to walking, and Paris has great public transportation (don’t skip the buses!) and lots of nice places to take walking breaks with an ice cream. A 7yo shouldn’t need a stroller or they can maybe take a short turn in it while 4yo walks. I have never found a place to rent strollers in France (and dh is French so we go often) so we bought a cheap umbrella stroller to use there that we stored at his mom’s apartment. Honesty with the state of the sidewalks there they arent super useful and with kids older than toddlers I think would be more of a pain than a help.
Minimize packing clothing by using mix and match outfits, quick-dry fabrics and things that are linen or pure cotton, and plan to wash and re-wear a lot. Little kid summer clothes are tiny and you should have lots of space. I have traveled with my three since they were babies and we almost always take one carry-on per person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here- if I pay for a checked bag add on, I'd obviously have to do it both ways. I'd much rather use that couple hundred dollars for an activity with my kids.

Our flights were $1200 total and our accomodations are free. This is a very low budget trip for us. I make $78k per year for context and own a house, have one in daycare still etc. $200+ is not worth a checked bag for me (wish it was!)

I totally understand! DCUM is out of touch often. Carry ons are fine! Give each kid a backpack and a rolling carry on (the adult kind, not the junky kid kind that barely rolls). Little kid clothes are so small that it's very easy to do it in carry ons and you can move some of your clothes to theirs as well.

[Anonymous]

You’ll be fine, it’s summer and you do t need much and kids’ clothes are small. I just did a two week trip out of one carry on with no laundry and that included multiple pairs of shoes and some fancy outfits too.

Keep it simple. The less you can bring the better.

[Anonymous]

Your 7 year old can pull a carry on. DS loved feeling like a grown up at that age with his own. Then you can take a backpack and stroller if you want to bring one.

Personally, I found strollers not worth it past the 3ish age. We just took breaks as needed but DS had pretty amazing stamina at that age. They always were a hassle more than anything.

[Anonymous]

My husband just uses a backpack for a week and it’s a lot easier with stairs and cobblestones (I lugged a carryon suitcase). I would use one carryon max, or none if you can get away with it.

[Anonymous]

I travel a bit and I find multiple small suitcases much easier to deal with than one big one. I would also prefer to do laundry just be prepared that you might have to rack dry the clothes as dryers tend to be rarer or less efficient.

As for a stroller, you know your kid. My kid hated the stroller pretty young and could walk long distances at that age (he hated being contained). But Paris does involve a lot of walking.

My travel secret is the LED drawing pad. It works great for long plane rides.