Luggage advice for Eurostar trip with young children

[TiggerWooHoo]

We're off to Disneyland Paris on the Eurostar for 4 nights in June - 2 adults, a 4yr old and a 2yr old - and I just can't get my head around what combination of luggage would be best to take. We're taking a stroller for the 2yr old (although he'll want to walk at times too) so I'm conscious we'll already have our hands full. I was thinking of getting the kids Trunkis but they're pretty expensive and I don't know how much you can actually fit in them, they look pretty small. I also thought taking smaller bags rather than 1 big suitcase might be better so they can fit in the overhead storage on the train but then we'd have to take more bags... We've only ever been on car holidays in the UK since the kids were born so have just got used to throwing everything into the boot (I have never known how to pack lightly and this has just got worse since having kids!) - I can't get my head round how we'll manage it all so any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I wouldn't bother with Trunki suitcases unless you intend on pulling them along much. You don't get very much in them.

The Trunki backpacks that convert into booster seats can be useful if you expect to hire a car or take taxis, but otherwise I wouldn't bother.

Take one large case - you can store it at the end on the carriage where there is space for larger suitcases, and take everything you need for the journey in smaller bags that you can store overhead or under/between the seats.

We (me, OH, DD(3), DD(6 months)) did a 10 day trip to the Hebrides in November on just hand luggage for 3 (baby didn't get her own hand luggage because we are cheapskates). One of the bags was a trunkie. It's great for toys/electronics because it can't get squashed/battered like a soft bag can. That said, ours was bought for us by a friend and I wouldn't fork out for one myself!

You will easily get everything you need in 3/4 small cases - just make sure they have wheels!

(To put this in perspective for you, we had to bring wellies, thermals, waterproof clothing, hats and scarves etc, in addition to the usual baby crap, clothing and toiletries for two adults and a 3 year old. It all fit in there no problem)

Enjoy your trip!

Ooooo that sounds exciting! With luggage less is always better, just in terms of management and keeping everything together and organised even if it means a bigger suitcase. Trunkies are small but double up as some fun for the kiddies but like CardinalSin said, you may end up doing most the pulling!

I would say big pieces of luggage will take up more space, but will mean less to haul around. Smaller is a good idea for overhead storage however, there would be other people using them too, so you might have to split the cases up? Could increase the chance of a mix up, but you could purchase some organisational accessories like personalised luggage straps and tags? The straps will help keep the cases shut and help you identify which ones are yours.

Here are organisational things that might help you pack lighter or smarter!

www.skyscanner.net/news/15-best-ever-packing-tips
www.able-labels.co.uk/personalised-luggage-strap.html
www.familyadventureproject.org/2015/09/teach-kids-how-to-pack-light-packing-hacks/

Slightly different trip and children but we took twins on the Eurostar to Avignon when they were 13 months and again at 25.

They didn't have bags - I think your 4 year old could do a rucksack but you'll end up carrying your 2 year olds.

At 13 months I had the DTs in the double buggy wth changing bag on it and I had a day rucksack with stuff for the journey. I could deal with all this and the kids going through security and getting on the train. Pushchair was collapsed for the journey.

DH had a day rucksack with stuff for journey. He also had a really large wheelly bag with all our luggage. Fairly sure it was near the size limit for Eurostar - they have a size rather than weight limit.

When they were 25 months we didn't take the pushchair - we were just staying at a villa and had a car so could survive without. However we stuck with the one big bag option as it meant one of us did luggage and one of us kids.

I don't know if this is the best way, but it worked okay for us.

Just to add, there are big luggage storage areas at the end of the carriages for Eurostar as well as the overhead racks.

Have you looked at the cost of hiring one of the DLP pushchairs , they are huge and would probably be ok for your older dc as well if they need a break .