luggage light
Mar 27th 2006 | 10:29 am
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
luggage light
I'm an older woman, travelling alone in Italy this spring for a few
weeks by train. I need a new bag I can manage getting around train
stations and to b&b accomodations. I'm accustomed to lugging a
backpack/suitcase without wheels but it's on its last legs and I'm
looking for something with wheels, maybe! But I would guess that wheels
aren't good on cobblestone streets in Florence, Assisi, Venice. Am I
right? I tried out a High Sierra backpack with wheels but empty it was
10 pounds, and quite small inside. Advice, anyone?
Also - can one take a train directly to, say, Florence, from the Rome
airport?
Thanks for any advice
-Briegull
weeks by train. I need a new bag I can manage getting around train
stations and to b&b accomodations. I'm accustomed to lugging a
backpack/suitcase without wheels but it's on its last legs and I'm
looking for something with wheels, maybe! But I would guess that wheels
aren't good on cobblestone streets in Florence, Assisi, Venice. Am I
right? I tried out a High Sierra backpack with wheels but empty it was
10 pounds, and quite small inside. Advice, anyone?
Also - can one take a train directly to, say, Florence, from the Rome
airport?
Thanks for any advice
-Briegull
Mar 27th 2006 | 12:06 pm
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: luggage light
"briegull" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] oups.com...
> Also - can one take a train directly to, say, Florence, from the Rome
> airport?
From Ciampino airport you need a bus (or taxi) to Ciampino station. You need
to change at Roma Termini the main central station.
I believe Fiumicino airport has it's own station but again you need to
change at Termini.
http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html
news:[email protected] oups.com...
> Also - can one take a train directly to, say, Florence, from the Rome
> airport?
From Ciampino airport you need a bus (or taxi) to Ciampino station. You need
to change at Roma Termini the main central station.
I believe Fiumicino airport has it's own station but again you need to
change at Termini.
http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html
Mar 27th 2006 | 3:00 pm
#3
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Posts: n/a
Re: luggage light
"briegull" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] oups.com...
> I'm an older woman, travelling alone in Italy this spring for a few
> weeks by train. I need a new bag I can manage getting around train
> stations and to b&b accomodations.
Advice, anyone?
www.onebag.com I don't follow his advice exactly but taylor it to my needs.
My main bag is an older TravelPro 22" roll-aboard. It has followed me all
around the world. The key is the quality of the wheels and attachment to the
bag. Many bags are useless junk. Act as though you were packing for a
week-long backpacking trip. Look at everything you take and ask, "Can I live
without this?"
> Also - can one take a train directly to, say, Florence, from the Rome
> airport?
No. AFAIK, you need to get into Rome first.
--
Donald R. Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net
news:[email protected] oups.com...
> I'm an older woman, travelling alone in Italy this spring for a few
> weeks by train. I need a new bag I can manage getting around train
> stations and to b&b accomodations.
Advice, anyone?
www.onebag.com I don't follow his advice exactly but taylor it to my needs.
My main bag is an older TravelPro 22" roll-aboard. It has followed me all
around the world. The key is the quality of the wheels and attachment to the
bag. Many bags are useless junk. Act as though you were packing for a
week-long backpacking trip. Look at everything you take and ask, "Can I live
without this?"
> Also - can one take a train directly to, say, Florence, from the Rome
> airport?
No. AFAIK, you need to get into Rome first.
--
Donald R. Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net
Mar 27th 2006 | 7:48 pm
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: luggage light
briegull wrote:
> I'm an older woman, travelling alone in Italy this spring for a few
> weeks by train. I need a new bag I can manage getting around train
> stations and to b&b accomodations. I'm accustomed to lugging a
> backpack/suitcase without wheels but it's on its last legs and I'm
> looking for something with wheels, maybe! But I would guess that
> wheels aren't good on cobblestone streets in Florence, Assisi,
> Venice. Am I right? I tried out a High Sierra backpack with wheels
> but empty it was 10 pounds, and quite small inside. Advice, anyone?
> Also - can one take a train directly to, say, Florence, from the Rome
> airport?
> Thanks for any advice
For train schedules in Italy and elsewhere in Europe ,
www.reiseauskunft.bahn.de and select English. Use names in local language,
eg. : Fiumicino Aeroporto and Firenze S.M.N. Note no fare information
outside Germany is available.
Regards,
- Alan (in Brussels)
> I'm an older woman, travelling alone in Italy this spring for a few
> weeks by train. I need a new bag I can manage getting around train
> stations and to b&b accomodations. I'm accustomed to lugging a
> backpack/suitcase without wheels but it's on its last legs and I'm
> looking for something with wheels, maybe! But I would guess that
> wheels aren't good on cobblestone streets in Florence, Assisi,
> Venice. Am I right? I tried out a High Sierra backpack with wheels
> but empty it was 10 pounds, and quite small inside. Advice, anyone?
> Also - can one take a train directly to, say, Florence, from the Rome
> airport?
> Thanks for any advice
For train schedules in Italy and elsewhere in Europe ,
www.reiseauskunft.bahn.de and select English. Use names in local language,
eg. : Fiumicino Aeroporto and Firenze S.M.N. Note no fare information
outside Germany is available.
Regards,
- Alan (in Brussels)
Mar 28th 2006 | 3:46 am
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: luggage light
"briegull" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] oups.com...
> I'm an older woman, travelling alone in Italy this spring for a few
> weeks by train. I need a new bag I can manage getting around train
> stations and to b&b accomodations. I'm accustomed to lugging a
> backpack/suitcase without wheels but it's on its last legs and I'm
> looking for something with wheels, maybe! But I would guess that wheels
> aren't good on cobblestone streets in Florence, Assisi, Venice. Am I
> right? I tried out a High Sierra backpack with wheels but empty it was
> 10 pounds, and quite small inside. Advice, anyone?
All but the biggest train stations have lots of stairs. There's usually an
underground passageway with stairs up to the different tracks. Also there
are stairs on the local trains. In Venice there are lots of bridges with
shallow stairs over the canals.
All of which is to say if you're used to carrying a backpack, why don't you
stick with it. Wheels are just more to carry.
Marianne
news:[email protected] oups.com...
> I'm an older woman, travelling alone in Italy this spring for a few
> weeks by train. I need a new bag I can manage getting around train
> stations and to b&b accomodations. I'm accustomed to lugging a
> backpack/suitcase without wheels but it's on its last legs and I'm
> looking for something with wheels, maybe! But I would guess that wheels
> aren't good on cobblestone streets in Florence, Assisi, Venice. Am I
> right? I tried out a High Sierra backpack with wheels but empty it was
> 10 pounds, and quite small inside. Advice, anyone?
All but the biggest train stations have lots of stairs. There's usually an
underground passageway with stairs up to the different tracks. Also there
are stairs on the local trains. In Venice there are lots of bridges with
shallow stairs over the canals.
All of which is to say if you're used to carrying a backpack, why don't you
stick with it. Wheels are just more to carry.
Marianne
Mar 28th 2006 | 3:51 am
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: luggage light
briegull wrote:
> I'm an older woman, travelling alone in Italy this spring for a few
> weeks by train. I need a new bag I can manage getting around train
> stations and to b&b accomodations. I'm accustomed to lugging a
> backpack/suitcase without wheels but it's on its last legs and I'm
> looking for something with wheels, maybe! But I would guess that wheels
> aren't good on cobblestone streets in Florence, Assisi, Venice. Am I
> right?
There are bags with large enough wheels to accomodate reasonably
rough surfaces like cobblestones. However, they tend to be the larger
bags.
> I tried out a High Sierra backpack with wheels but empty it was
> 10 pounds, and quite small inside. Advice, anyone?
The bigger the wheels, the more they encroach on the volume inside.
A reasonable compromise might be a backpack kind of suitcase and
then get a separate luggage trolley that collapses. Most of them
at least fold.
> Also - can one take a train directly to, say, Florence, from the Rome
> airport?
No. It basically just runs back and forth into Rome. But the switch
isn't bad. And Florence is pretty easy to get to from Rome.
> I'm an older woman, travelling alone in Italy this spring for a few
> weeks by train. I need a new bag I can manage getting around train
> stations and to b&b accomodations. I'm accustomed to lugging a
> backpack/suitcase without wheels but it's on its last legs and I'm
> looking for something with wheels, maybe! But I would guess that wheels
> aren't good on cobblestone streets in Florence, Assisi, Venice. Am I
> right?
There are bags with large enough wheels to accomodate reasonably
rough surfaces like cobblestones. However, they tend to be the larger
bags.
> I tried out a High Sierra backpack with wheels but empty it was
> 10 pounds, and quite small inside. Advice, anyone?
The bigger the wheels, the more they encroach on the volume inside.
A reasonable compromise might be a backpack kind of suitcase and
then get a separate luggage trolley that collapses. Most of them
at least fold.
> Also - can one take a train directly to, say, Florence, from the Rome
> airport?
No. It basically just runs back and forth into Rome. But the switch
isn't bad. And Florence is pretty easy to get to from Rome.
Mar 28th 2006 | 5:31 am
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: luggage light
I met several older folks who used one of those collapsible metal two
wheeled shopping carts to haul around a few pieces of soft sided
baggage. Large well spaced wheels rolled over everything and didn't
appear to be much of a challenge with steps.
That said I prefer a small rolling backpack combined with a small
traditional day backpack. Roll when I can and carry when I must...
Tim K
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] ups.com...
> briegull wrote:
> > I'm an older woman, travelling alone in Italy this spring for a few
> > weeks by train. I need a new bag I can manage getting around train
> > stations and to b&b accomodations. I'm accustomed to lugging a
> > backpack/suitcase without wheels but it's on its last legs and I'm
> > looking for something with wheels, maybe! But I would guess that
wheels
> > aren't good on cobblestone streets in Florence, Assisi, Venice. Am I
> > right?
> There are bags with large enough wheels to accomodate reasonably
> rough surfaces like cobblestones. However, they tend to be the larger
> bags.
> > I tried out a High Sierra backpack with wheels but empty it was
> > 10 pounds, and quite small inside. Advice, anyone?
> The bigger the wheels, the more they encroach on the volume inside.
> A reasonable compromise might be a backpack kind of suitcase and
> then get a separate luggage trolley that collapses. Most of them
> at least fold.
> > Also - can one take a train directly to, say, Florence, from the
Rome
> > airport?
> No. It basically just runs back and forth into Rome. But the
switch
> isn't bad. And Florence is pretty easy to get to from Rome.
wheeled shopping carts to haul around a few pieces of soft sided
baggage. Large well spaced wheels rolled over everything and didn't
appear to be much of a challenge with steps.
That said I prefer a small rolling backpack combined with a small
traditional day backpack. Roll when I can and carry when I must...
Tim K
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] ups.com...
> briegull wrote:
> > I'm an older woman, travelling alone in Italy this spring for a few
> > weeks by train. I need a new bag I can manage getting around train
> > stations and to b&b accomodations. I'm accustomed to lugging a
> > backpack/suitcase without wheels but it's on its last legs and I'm
> > looking for something with wheels, maybe! But I would guess that
wheels
> > aren't good on cobblestone streets in Florence, Assisi, Venice. Am I
> > right?
> There are bags with large enough wheels to accomodate reasonably
> rough surfaces like cobblestones. However, they tend to be the larger
> bags.
> > I tried out a High Sierra backpack with wheels but empty it was
> > 10 pounds, and quite small inside. Advice, anyone?
> The bigger the wheels, the more they encroach on the volume inside.
> A reasonable compromise might be a backpack kind of suitcase and
> then get a separate luggage trolley that collapses. Most of them
> at least fold.
> > Also - can one take a train directly to, say, Florence, from the
Rome
> > airport?
> No. It basically just runs back and forth into Rome. But the
switch
> isn't bad. And Florence is pretty easy to get to from Rome.
Mar 28th 2006 | 6:03 am
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: luggage light
why don't you have a look at the luggage on the www.ricksteves.com website?
good value for the money.
Pat in TX
good value for the money.
Pat in TX
Mar 28th 2006 | 6:05 am
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: luggage light
>I met several older folks who used one of those collapsible metal two
> wheeled shopping carts to haul around a few pieces of soft sided
> baggage. Large well spaced wheels rolled over everything and didn't
> appear to be much of a challenge with steps.
> That said I prefer a small rolling backpack combined with a small
> traditional day backpack. Roll when I can and carry when I must...
> Tim K
I have the Eagle Creek Switchback 22" and that sucker weighs about 7 1/2"
when empty! I haven't used it as a backpack yet, but I bet it's a beating!
That's why I went out and got the Osprey Transporter 46...only 3 pounds.
Pat in TX
> wheeled shopping carts to haul around a few pieces of soft sided
> baggage. Large well spaced wheels rolled over everything and didn't
> appear to be much of a challenge with steps.
> That said I prefer a small rolling backpack combined with a small
> traditional day backpack. Roll when I can and carry when I must...
> Tim K
I have the Eagle Creek Switchback 22" and that sucker weighs about 7 1/2"
when empty! I haven't used it as a backpack yet, but I bet it's a beating!
That's why I went out and got the Osprey Transporter 46...only 3 pounds.
Pat in TX
Mar 28th 2006 | 6:40 am
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: luggage light
I've got Two cheap "Concourse" brand rolling backpacks from IIRC Super-K
or Wall; one nests inside the other; both for about USD 20 on sale. The
smaller of the Two weighs about 2-kg. Teemed up with a USD 3
backpack....<g>
Blew out a plastic buckle strap on the big one the first trip; just tied
the strap to the stub without problem. No issues so far with the
smaller one (lighter load) after last years 1 Month trip and a few side
jaunts in the US.
Tim K
"Pat in TX" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >I met several older folks who used one of those collapsible metal two
> > wheeled shopping carts to haul around a few pieces of soft sided
> > baggage. Large well spaced wheels rolled over everything and didn't
> > appear to be much of a challenge with steps.
> >
> > That said I prefer a small rolling backpack combined with a small
> > traditional day backpack. Roll when I can and carry when I must...
> >
> > Tim K
> I have the Eagle Creek Switchback 22" and that sucker weighs about 7
1/2"
> when empty! I haven't used it as a backpack yet, but I bet it's a
beating!
> That's why I went out and got the Osprey Transporter 46...only 3
pounds.
> Pat in TX
or Wall; one nests inside the other; both for about USD 20 on sale. The
smaller of the Two weighs about 2-kg. Teemed up with a USD 3
backpack....<g>
Blew out a plastic buckle strap on the big one the first trip; just tied
the strap to the stub without problem. No issues so far with the
smaller one (lighter load) after last years 1 Month trip and a few side
jaunts in the US.
Tim K
"Pat in TX" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >I met several older folks who used one of those collapsible metal two
> > wheeled shopping carts to haul around a few pieces of soft sided
> > baggage. Large well spaced wheels rolled over everything and didn't
> > appear to be much of a challenge with steps.
> >
> > That said I prefer a small rolling backpack combined with a small
> > traditional day backpack. Roll when I can and carry when I must...
> >
> > Tim K
> I have the Eagle Creek Switchback 22" and that sucker weighs about 7
1/2"
> when empty! I haven't used it as a backpack yet, but I bet it's a
beating!
> That's why I went out and got the Osprey Transporter 46...only 3
pounds.
> Pat in TX
Mar 28th 2006 | 7:29 am
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: luggage light
I went over to a luggage store and found all kinds of stiff-sided
wheelies, none appealing. Since OneBag and ricksteves are favorite
sites of mine, I do tend to take their advice as well as, always, the
advice on the rec.travel sites. At the luggage store they had a nice
set of lightweight wheels - so I think I'm going to go with the Steves
backpack and get wheels to carry along separately.
Thanks, guys!
wheelies, none appealing. Since OneBag and ricksteves are favorite
sites of mine, I do tend to take their advice as well as, always, the
advice on the rec.travel sites. At the luggage store they had a nice
set of lightweight wheels - so I think I'm going to go with the Steves
backpack and get wheels to carry along separately.
Thanks, guys!
Mar 28th 2006 | 1:10 pm
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: luggage light
briegull wrote:
> I'm an older woman, travelling alone in Italy this spring for a few
> weeks by train. I need a new bag I can manage getting around train
> stations and to b&b accomodations. I'm accustomed to lugging a
> backpack/suitcase without wheels but it's on its last legs and I'm
> looking for something with wheels, maybe! But I would guess that wheels
> aren't good on cobblestone streets in Florence, Assisi, Venice. Am I
> right? I tried out a High Sierra backpack with wheels but empty it was
> 10 pounds, and quite small inside. Advice, anyone?
> Also - can one take a train directly to, say, Florence, from the Rome
> airport?
> Thanks for any advice
> -Briegull
My page at
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap07/luggage.htm can help you.
The 20" roller is perfect for trains, hostels, and B&Bs as I proved
again in a month of travel around Europe in January.
Don't get a name brand. You're paying 20% more for some fool's name on
the cover. Go to Staples or Office Max and buy one of those 3 piece
sets that real travelers use. Leave the big one at home.
See much more about traveling in Europe on your own at my free site:
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/
John Bermont
> I'm an older woman, travelling alone in Italy this spring for a few
> weeks by train. I need a new bag I can manage getting around train
> stations and to b&b accomodations. I'm accustomed to lugging a
> backpack/suitcase without wheels but it's on its last legs and I'm
> looking for something with wheels, maybe! But I would guess that wheels
> aren't good on cobblestone streets in Florence, Assisi, Venice. Am I
> right? I tried out a High Sierra backpack with wheels but empty it was
> 10 pounds, and quite small inside. Advice, anyone?
> Also - can one take a train directly to, say, Florence, from the Rome
> airport?
> Thanks for any advice
> -Briegull
My page at
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap07/luggage.htm can help you.
The 20" roller is perfect for trains, hostels, and B&Bs as I proved
again in a month of travel around Europe in January.
Don't get a name brand. You're paying 20% more for some fool's name on
the cover. Go to Staples or Office Max and buy one of those 3 piece
sets that real travelers use. Leave the big one at home.
See much more about traveling in Europe on your own at my free site:
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/
John Bermont
Mar 28th 2006 | 1:22 pm
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: luggage light
"Timothy Kroesen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] link.net...
> I've got Two cheap "Concourse" brand rolling backpacks from IIRC Super-K
> or Wall; one nests inside the other; both for about USD 20 on sale. The
> smaller of the Two weighs about 2-kg. Teemed up with a USD 3
> backpack....<g>
We once upon a time purchased two cheap rolling bags from Haband (I think)
with a "satisfaction or money back" guarantee. We took them to Portugal and
Spain. Bounced them all around the cobble sidewalks of Lisbon, etc. When we
got home they were a mess. Cloth ripped , wheels broken off, etc. We still
had the shipping box they came in, so we packed them up with a very nice
letter saying that luggage should last more than one trip and got our
prompt, cheerful refund. They really were cheaply made and we proved it. I
don't like to travel with taped up luggage, so I now buy the stuff like "a
policeman buys his shoes.'
--
Donald R. Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net
news:[email protected] link.net...
> I've got Two cheap "Concourse" brand rolling backpacks from IIRC Super-K
> or Wall; one nests inside the other; both for about USD 20 on sale. The
> smaller of the Two weighs about 2-kg. Teemed up with a USD 3
> backpack....<g>
We once upon a time purchased two cheap rolling bags from Haband (I think)
with a "satisfaction or money back" guarantee. We took them to Portugal and
Spain. Bounced them all around the cobble sidewalks of Lisbon, etc. When we
got home they were a mess. Cloth ripped , wheels broken off, etc. We still
had the shipping box they came in, so we packed them up with a very nice
letter saying that luggage should last more than one trip and got our
prompt, cheerful refund. They really were cheaply made and we proved it. I
don't like to travel with taped up luggage, so I now buy the stuff like "a
policeman buys his shoes.'
--
Donald R. Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net
Mar 28th 2006 | 1:23 pm
#14
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: luggage light
"briegull" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] ups.com...
> so I think I'm going to go with the Steves
> backpack and get wheels to carry along separately.
What ever works best for you.
--
Donald R. Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net
news:[email protected] ups.com...
> so I think I'm going to go with the Steves
> backpack and get wheels to carry along separately.
What ever works best for you.
--
Donald R. Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net
Mar 29th 2006 | 11:24 pm
#15
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: luggage light
I have a huge, and a medium roll on, and carryon all mismatched, and
all purchased for very small amounts from a national US close out
chain called Marshalls. Two of them have an American airlines logo on
them, and the third was made by the same company. They are in lovely
bright colors so I can find them(purple, red, and green).
The bags have over 100,000 miles on them, and although they show signs
of wear, are still completely functional.
I really don't think you need to buy Tumi or samponsite or other brand
name luggage for astronomical prices.
On Tue, 28 Mar 2006 20:22:15 -0600, "Donald Newcomb"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>We once upon a time purchased two cheap rolling bags from Haband (I think)
>with a "satisfaction or money back" guarantee. We took them to Portugal and
>Spain. Bounced them all around the cobble sidewalks of Lisbon, etc. When we
>got home they were a mess. Cloth ripped , wheels broken off, etc. We still
>had the shipping box they came in, so we packed them up with a very nice
>letter saying that luggage should last more than one trip and got our
>prompt, cheerful refund. They really were cheaply made and we proved it. I
>don't like to travel with taped up luggage, so I now buy the stuff like "a
>policeman buys his shoes.'
all purchased for very small amounts from a national US close out
chain called Marshalls. Two of them have an American airlines logo on
them, and the third was made by the same company. They are in lovely
bright colors so I can find them(purple, red, and green).
The bags have over 100,000 miles on them, and although they show signs
of wear, are still completely functional.
I really don't think you need to buy Tumi or samponsite or other brand
name luggage for astronomical prices.
On Tue, 28 Mar 2006 20:22:15 -0600, "Donald Newcomb"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>We once upon a time purchased two cheap rolling bags from Haband (I think)
>with a "satisfaction or money back" guarantee. We took them to Portugal and
>Spain. Bounced them all around the cobble sidewalks of Lisbon, etc. When we
>got home they were a mess. Cloth ripped , wheels broken off, etc. We still
>had the shipping box they came in, so we packed them up with a very nice
>letter saying that luggage should last more than one trip and got our
>prompt, cheerful refund. They really were cheaply made and we proved it. I
>don't like to travel with taped up luggage, so I now buy the stuff like "a
>policeman buys his shoes.'
