How much luggage to take? Please advise!

[SpiritualKnot]

We're going to France for 11 days in August. Bordeaux, so should be warm.(Husband, me, 16 year old son and 9 year old daughter). Spending 3 days in Bordeaux city in an hotel then out to the coast for 8 days self catering accommodation. Haven't been away together on holiday before. I've booked for 2 suitcases to go in the hold..thinking husband and sons stuff in one, daughter and mine in another.

Husband is being ridiculous we have 2 weekend cases...think they're 18" cases or smaller and he says this is enough and we can each have a bit of hand luggage. I want to buy 2 x 26" suitcases with wheels, which I think are much more appropriate. They also have 28" in the same style but these look so big.

What do others take? We're flying and then getting coaches to our destinations..all done online so we'll be walking to coach stations etc. Husband not keen to drive when we get there either, so we will be carrying the cases.

Any advice welcome!

SK

The best advice I was ever given with regard to packing was to take half the clothes you wanted to, but double the money! I never follow it though and pack for every eventuality! For clothes for me, I usually take underwear, about four or five pairs of shoes/sandals, shorts, t-shirts, trousers, skirts, a jumper/cardigan or two, a hat, pjs, a light jacket, swimming costume, beach towels.

We also pack books/magazines/comics for us and ds (4), a couple of DVDs in case of a rainy day indoors (and if the place has a DVD player), beach stuff (bat and ball, beach mats, etc) and a ton of toiletries, even though we always seem to discover that most of what we like to use is sold in France anyway.

Our packing goes into two large suitcases (would guess a 26" and a 28"), but as we drive, we can also manage to take other things like a box of food basics, beach chairs and umbrella, etc. My one "luxury" is my spider hoover - I am terrified of bugs and I've come across a few strange things in France before, so it's indispensible!

I've been out and bought 2 suitcase (28" and 24"). Will be hiding them under the bed later today and then insist we've had them forever when he asks how they got there!

SK

Good stuff!