What size suitcase to take for family of 3?

[MissLambyBeans]

I'm travelling to Tenerife for 9 nights with my two children (aged 12 and 10, though 10yo looks 12!), and I'm not sure which size suitcases to take. When I last travelled alone with them, they were 6 and 8, and we took 2 medium sized suitcases (they shared a suitcase) and rucksacks. But now they're are older, I would prefer for them to have their own cases.

I will take a medium case and rucksack for myself, but I'm not sure whether the children should take a cabin sized case each and rucksack, or a medium sized case each and rucksack.

What do you think?

Depends on luggage rules for the airline, & whether any additional cost is acceptable to you.
They will be responsible for carrying their own luggage, so check what weight is suitable for them.

Given you already own two medium suitcases one of them should take the other medium suitcase. If you then need to buy another one figure out what’s more useful generally.

Surely you take the least amount of cases to fit the items you want to take for the trip? Then a small backpack each for tems you want to use during the flight, valuables and medications.

I find the number of items is what makes It harder/easier. So it is better to have fewer things to carry, even if some are bigger/heavier.

It will probably be cheaper to pay for 2 hold bags instead of 3 cabin bags unless you're travelling with Jet2 or another airline that includes a large cabin bag in the base fare.

I think its also far easier to drop off most of your luggage and just take a rucksack on the plane. I think the 2 hold cases between the 3 of you will be sufficient unless you're overpackers.

I’d take both medium cases and then just backpacks for them on the plane with whatever entertainment they will use.
but I hate being laden down with excess stuff with travelling, if I’m taking hold luggage there’s no way am I also carting round stuff through the airport and on a plane, it’s a small crossbody bag only for me.

We all get 23kg hold luggage each and can take an underseat bag which will be the rucksack. I'm pretty sure that we could check-in cabin cases if we needed to as that would be our hold luggage, so all that isn't an issue. I travel quite often but this will be my second time travelling with the kids alone, so I just wasn't sure if we should all have a medium case each or a cabin case (for the kids). We will take a rucksack with us regardless of what suitcase we take, like we always do.

I would pack everyone stuff in more than one suitcase in case one goes missing.

This is what I normally do, but I'm purely asking whether the kids should have a medium or cabin sized case each

Thanks. I was thinking of doing this, but I thought they would have preferred to have their own suitcases now that they're a bit older

Surely it depends how much you plan to take with you? We always travel with carry-on size suitcases only, but I also always book a villa with a washing machine.

Some people prefer a huge suitcase so they can take loads and don’t have to do any washing while away.

We get 23kg hold luggage each included in the holiday package and an underseat bag each. I was thinking this too but I thought the kids would prefer to have their own suitcases now that they're a bit older

No one can answer this question for you as we all do things differently

I don't want to take too much with us but we're going for 9 nights. I'm not taking a large suitcase as I'm short in height, so wouldn't be very ideal as that would be heavy. I just wanted advice on whether it would be better for the kids to have medium or cabin sized cases each

Thanks. I wasn't asking about how other people do things though. I just wanted people's opinions/advice on whether it would be best for the kids to use a medium sized or cabin sized case each. But thanks anyway.

Honestly, Id take the 2 cases you already own. Split everyone's clothes into 2 piles, and put half in each case.

They can all have their own cabin baggage, but cases are "family" ones.

Why don’t you make a pile of the stuff you all want to take and then see if it fits in the cabin suitcases or not?

I would just check everything in, if your bag needs to be checked in anyway, and just take an under seat bag each for on the plane.

For comparison.
I am going away with 16 year old, 13 year old, 7 year old.
I've said they all need to wheel their own cases.
16 year old and I are taking “medium”.
13 year old refused to take medium, says she will pack light, and take a cabin sized.
7 year old will have cabin sized.
We will all take a small rucksack too.
We are going for 2 weeks but will have access to a washer though.
Will try and pack light.

I’d do cabin sized for the kids. If you’re buying them their own cases they will be more useful in the future, and will be easier for the youngest to manage. Just make sure each takes in their cabin bag- one full change of clothes, swimwear m, any medication, essential toiletries and a small bottle of suncream. That way if their checked bag goes astray they can get through the first day without needing to rush straight to a shop. I’d also strongly encourage them to mix up between their cases even if it’s just an agreement that each carries a second spare outfit for one of the others. I would never trust airline enough to put all my underwear in one case 🤣

This. Getting through security and on the plane is so much easier with just one small bag. Check everything in.

This is so helpful! Thank you!

At that age I took one medium suitcases and two small cases (bigger than cabin sized) and checked them all on. My kids then had a school bag sized rucksack for the flight with their electronics and things for the flight. They each could manage their own case and hand baggage.

This is exactly what I was thinking to do. Thank you