How many suitcases are you taking ?

[Mumishappy]

I'm curious how many suitcases people typically take on long overseas trips. Our family of four adults is heading to Japan for three weeks, but we're only packing three days' worth of clothes into one large suitcase. The other large suitcase is entirely dedicated to souvenirs for family back in Japan, with a smaller bag nested inside the clothing suitcase. We often see people with many bags and wonder why they need so much! How many suitcases are you bringing ?

One 30-40 litre rucksack each, with a week's worth of clothes. We're Interrailing round Europe, and planning to visit a launderette once a week (in Brasov and Nuremberg- I've already got some launderettes scoped out!). I have to take a lot of clothes- especially tops- because it'll be hot and I'm a sweaty menopausal mess, and doubt I'll be able to wear a top more than once without washing it.

Books are non negotiable for DS2 and I, although he does have a Kindle to load some on. I'm a Luddite and I don't.

The other space stealer is the fact that DS2 still isn't dry at night, so we have to take a couple of massive packs of pull up pants with us 🙄. Actually, I don't suppose anybody knows whether these are easily and cheaply acquired in Germany, do they?

I like to look nice on holiday and don’t do any washing. So for a three week holiday I’d take the biggest case possible plus the biggest hand luggage possible. I have friends who like to rip the piss but I don’t care. I’m not harming anyone.

I agree. That means you'll have to do six loads of washing during your trip. What a waste of time! Or will you send everything to the hotel laundry? Seems like false economy either way.

I think depends on the kind of holiday, surely.

If I was staying in a resort town where I was staying in one place I’d take more stuff with me…. But for interrailing in Europe or traversing Japan by train where you are staying in multiple hotels and moving between them on crowded public transport cities it doesn’t make sense to carry more weight than you need to. In Japan you can also buy anything you might possibly need quite a bit cheaper than in the UK . It’s far more hassle to lug a big, heavy case through the transport network multiple times than to throw in a load of laundry mid way through the trip.

I think the OP has said they buy clothes there. That makes sense as a lot of things are far cheaper in Japan. I like Muji and Uniqlo clothes and they are half the price in Japan, compared to here in the UK.

If you're on a two-week trip, do you just let your dirty underwear pile up instead of washing it?

I would take 7-10 days worth of items for such a time; only three days worth is a false economy.

What people tend to forget is that Japanese people tend to be a lot smaller in both build and height than Westerners so buying clothes that fit could be an issue (as well as expensive).

It depends. I certainly wouldn't waste time sitting in a launderette, or money having the hotel launder it at vast expense. If I were staying somewhere with a washing machine I might put in a load, but what's the big deal if you take some dirty socks home with you?

Your plan sounds sensible!

I dont do 2 week trips but for a one week trip, I take a separate plastic bag and put my dirty underwear in there, another plastic bag for dirty tshirts/pjs/vests etc and then just pack them securely for the way home. I tend to wash everything when I get back anyway as its been in the case with other things all the perfume etc mingling, probably things with spilt alcohol on them!

So doesnt really matter either way now.

If your suitcases went missing and were found after several weeks, the stinky socks would have rotted

Of course they wouldn't. They may be a bit smelly, but would be fine after a wash.

Cost of laundry really depends where you are! All across Indonesia, Thailand , India etc you literally send a whole load of laundry off and it costs a few quid and magically arrives back fully ironed by end of the day! Everyone does this.

Is there any particular benefit in packing so light? I personally don’t think I’d want to be doing so much laundry on a holiday. What’s your baggage allowance?

We took a medium sized suitcase each for 3 weeks in Australia (2 adults, 1 teen). Did a couple of loads of laundry in the self careering places we stayed in at the start and end. We were still under our allowance (30kg there and back, but 20kg for internal flights).

Socks dont get that smelly, what are people doing in their socks?

That is the benefit of a fresh pair every day (if its sock wearing weather of course). Plus I also take bed socks and walking round the flat socks on holiday too.

Surely it’s pretty warm in Japan at the mo? Why would you be wearing socks much? Apologies if I’ve missed something cultural here.

Im not going to Japan.

Someone above was shocked that you'd take dirty underwear home with you and said that if you're taking your dirty underwear home and your suitcase went missing your socks would rot after a few weeks

I was just mentioning that socks dont get that smelly and that this is why you take fresh pairs (if sock wearing weather, I said that)

We go on holiday to various climates throughout the year and different times of the year so socks often feature in my packing.

You’d need to have socks for places where you have to remove your shoes, even if you were generally in sandals. For example, in Himeji castle you have to take off your shoes before you go in and carry them around with you in a plastic bag as you climb several flights of very steep wooden stairs in your socks.

Since there are four of us, we can take turns pushing them. A taxi to/from the airport could be significantly cheaper than dealing with excessive luggage. Additionally, we wouldn't need to open every suitcase to locate specific items.

We're on a week holiday. Took two cabin sized bags for me and two children. Have to wear t-shirts for 2 days rather than 1 but did have to wash some clothes after DS vomited over his only hoody.

This is hilarious.

@Mumishappy The one thing you don’t mention at all is spare shoes. I would never take a trip to Japan with only the shoes I travelled in. We average about 24,000 steps per day in Japan and I always make sure I have two pairs of well broken in trainers of different shape to switch between and one pair of comfortable loafers.

It wouldn't be unusual for us to wear 3 outfits each in a single day on holiday. A bit of sightseeing in the morning, so T-shirt and shorts. Pool/beach clothes in the afternoon (albeit wear several times) and a dinner outfit.

Sorry - yes, I’m agreeing with your comment! Badly phrased.

I think that’s spot on. If I’m going to a holiday where I’m staying in one place, I’m happy to take slightly more luggage for the convenience of not having to do washing. If I’m going to checking in and out of hotels multiple times and taking luggage on crowded public transport, I’ll pack light and do some washing.