Luggage

I almost called this section “backpacks” because the idea of suitcases seems so outlandish. Backpacks are hard enough to carry around. Suitcases, gym bags, duffle bags, anything designed to be carried by hand, including bags with one shoulder strap, have no place on any trip that involves using public transportation and walking. Any budget traveler will be doing both of these quite a bit. Luggage with wheels is made for airports, and will not last if used extensively on sidewalks or streets. (I have a slide of a woman pulling a suitcase with wheels across a cobblestone piazza in Italy.) Even if you will be using your own or a rental car, backpacks of one sort or another are the way to go. If you don’t like the idea of backpacks, then buy a travel pack and use it as a suitcase; that way you will have the ability to switch carrying modes if you find that carrying your things by hand is too difficult. Leaving the suitcases home goes double for older travelers. Break the habits of a lifetime and invest in a travel pack. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.

No matter what you choose, buy something solid that will last a lifetime, especially since buying something new in Europe will bankrupt you. Also, attach a large, solid name tag with your name, a dollar or two, and the phone number of someone at home inside your bag. That way, if your bag is lost and found, the finder can call, at your cost, and let someone know where it is. After getting to Europe, another tag, with phone number, on the outside is a good idea, especially if you lock your bag. Also, sewing a clip on the inside of your bag and clipping away any keys you might need on your return keeps them safe and out of the way.