Italy on trains - luggage question

[Trenitalia]

Hello!

We're going to Italy in the Easter holidays and travelling around by train. Has anyone else on here done this? We're two adults and two youngish teens and are having arguments about luggage. DH thinks one massive suitcase plus a rucksack each will be easiest (and has said he will carry it) but I think we should have a suitcase or a bag each or we will want to push the big suitcase in the pit of Vesuvius by the end. We've got cheap flights hence not much luggage allowance and we might need to buy more suitcases, but I think it'll be worth buying the extra bag allowance and suitcases so we enjoy ourselves.

What do you think?

I'm with you. A suitcase and bag each and pay for the extra allowance.

Will you be going straight from trains to hotels (or whatever accommodation you're using)? If so, then your suitcase plan seems fine.
If you'll have days (or times) when your luggage will need to be with you, then just take a rucksack each. How much stuff do you actually need for a week (?) in Italy? The weather will be warmish, so if you pack sensibly (one pair of shoes each!) then you'll be fine. Even more so if you're staying in SC accommodation with a washing machine.

It's 2 weeks and no washing machines in the various accommodation places, but I will probably want to find a launderette half way through anyway. Maybe I should just plan that.

How long are you going for? And where, so what will the weather be like? Will you have any chance to wash and dry clothes? Which airline are you flying with?

Personally I'd try to cope with the biggest cabin locker bag and under seat bag the airline allows for each person.

Remember that you may pay for a rucksack each with many airlines, as the free under seat bag dimensions are quite small.

When your husband says he'll carry the bif suitcase, does he realise this will mean up and down stairs at stations and possibly in your accommodation, and onto and off trains, as well as trying to find somewhere to put it on trains?

We're going to be between Venice and Naples and the weather will be sort of mild I think. No need for big coats anyway.

Thanks for all opinions (and no I don't think DH has accounted for stairs and trains or cobbles which I assume there are are in some places).

I always buy extra luggage capacity because I LOVE souvenirs and coming back loaded - even if it is just cheap goodies from the supermarket!

I always have two pairs of shoes too because I always take walking boots (and poles) and a massive camera ...

Are you just travelling directly between Venice and Naples? Your original post said you were 'travelling around' by train - implying lots of journeys/changes etc. I think that's the biggest factor.

On and off 1 or 2 trains/between 1/2 sets of accommodation will be fine with a suitcase. Moving every 2-3 days, less so.

Having said that, we travelled in Slovenia last year by bus, moving every 3-4 days (4 different accommodations/towns) and we each had a suitcase and rucksack and it was fine. I had chosen accommodation which was an easy walk from the bus station in each case.

Personally, I'd go for small handluggage sized suitcases per person rather than one massive one. They'll fit in the overhead luggage rack on the train.
We travelled from Rome to Florence a couple of years ago and the train was very busy. Same as the UK really, where there's always a risk of there not being enough space in the large luggage racks and you may end up sitting too far away to keep an eye on your stuff.

We are stopping in Florence and Rome, I just was saying weather-wise where we are going.

All useful info thank you! It's interesting to know the train is busy. And souvenirs is a useful reminder! How was your slovenia trip @TheTripThatWasnt ?

Thanks everyone!

We've done a lot of train travel in europe and i'd be wary of a gigantic suitcase - sometimes it's hard to find a place to stash it. Smaller rucksacks and the like can just be slung overhead.

Get the allowance and have an easier time!

If you go for the bigger suitcase then packing cubes are a miracle!
I thought they would be a faff but they are brilliant!