Reply to Family of four, 3 European cities, 12 days: how to pack (light)??

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[quote=Anonymous]I’m going to suggest a different alternative. Although you have been well-advised to pack light and bring clothes you can easily wash and dry in your hotel room, I would argue you would do just as well to bring two larger rolling suitcases (or duffles) instead of four smaller bags. Granted we started taking these trips when our kids were younger than yours and too small to reliably control their own suitcases, but we have always packed for four in two good sized bags which the parents handle, and everyone has a backpack of their own.

We just got back a 19 day trip packed in these same bags and visited three countries with a range of weather. I personally would also bring a pair of jeans for everyone as there is no “Columbia” substitute for the weight or the look. Bring small bottle of spray Febreze to freshen and/or air out. More tops than bottoms, and wash things the first night in your hotel room so they have time to dry. At the end of our trip we had plenty of clean shirts but not enough clean socks or underwear. Consider leaving out one or two t-shirts to bring clean socks and undies for the duration.

At the beginning I share a bag with my husband and kids share a bag. I bring extra plastic bags so I can bag and seal up dirty clothes and gradually one bag becomes the bag for all dirty clothes and shoes and the other holds clean clothes and toiletries. I also bring several of those reusable shopping bags in case at the end we need to carry on anything that doesn’t fit in the bags, like souvenirs, although on this trip and most others, everything fit.

I actually like big bags on trains as I think they are less likely to be taken (intentionally or unintentionally) and sounds like you are only going to three places. If you aren’t changing hotels every night, staying in hostels, or in the Amazing Race, I don’t see the advantage to the smaller bags. I’m assuming once you arrive in each city via train you have either selected hotels that are close enough to walk to from the train station or will take a taxi anyway.

We always bring a second pair of shoes for everyone (even if only flip flops or crocs) just in case the first pair gets wet or dirty or just to have a break from the shoes. Try to bring one respectable outfit per person so if you go in a nice restaurant or end up seeing a show or something.

Have fun![/quote]

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