Almost all travelers have a Nightmare Luggage story. You spent a lot of money on a fancy brand-name bag that broke on the first leg of the trip. Or you skimped on the spending and got exactly what you paid for. Or the bag that you thought would be comfortable and versatile turned out to be neither.

Choosing the wrong luggage can waste precious travel time and energy and can cause a lot of aches and pains. Choosing the right luggage will free you up to enjoy your trip without any unnecessary aggravation. To help you pick the best possible bag for your next adventure — here are five simple questions you can ask yourself to help you decide which type of bag is best for you.

What are the baggage restrictions and limits of all modes of transportation on which I will be traveling? Some countries have guidelines that are more restrictive and enforced more stringently. Smaller airlines in Europe, for example, require smaller and lighter bags than in the US. Make sure you know what the requirements will be so you aren’t stuck having to pay hefty fines or finding new luggage at the last minute. I am always happy to answer your questions regarding airline baggage restrictions. I will also advise you on the requirements of all carriers on which you will be traveling.

Am I an over-packer or a shopper? If you tend to bring more than you will need and/or buy when you get there, opt for an expandable bag as your carry-on, and slip in an empty, durable nylon bag such as the cFold from Rume to bring back new things with you. (Note: be prepared to pay any additional fees that might apply for additional bags, or if your bag becomes too large/heavy as a result of over-packing!)

How much attention do I want my luggage to get? Yes, sometimes it’s tempting to get the stand-out, fashion-forward luggage set in fuchsia — but if you’re heading to a destination that’s known for theft, sometimes the better option is to pick a suitcase that blends in with the crowd. There are always things you can do to help with identification such as a colorful ribbon, a sticker, a unique tag, etc. But, if you don’t want your luggage to be a target for opportunistic thieves, just opt to keep it simple.

How much transferring will I be doing on this trip? Are you heading to one main location that will be your “home base” of travel operations? Or will you be constantly on the move from city to city, hopping trains, getting taxis, taking buses? Will someone be available to help you lift your bags if you need assistance (partner, children, tour assistant), or will you be the one fully responsible for handling your luggage at all times? The more you’ll be moving and hefting, the more you should aim for simple, lightweight, durable, and versatile. Pack only the essentials, and look for bags that offer more than one transport method — for example, a carry-on with hidden pullout straps that can be transformed into a comfortable backpack for hands-free movement.  

And in that vein of questioning: Does my luggage match the type and terrain of the trip I’m taking? Wheeled suitcases are great — if you have lots of flat floors and smooth sidewalks along which to roll them. But after two days of lugging a heavy suitcase through bumpy streets, broken sidewalks, dirt paths, or up endless flights of stairs in old, gorgeous elevator-less buildings, you’ll be praying to the luggage gods for a simple backpack with padded shoulder straps.

The last thing you want to focus on while you are on the trip of a lifetime is some annoying, avoidable luggage irritation. With a little investigating and preparation before you pack up and head out, you can make sure your luggage fits seamlessly into your travel plans.

Are you ready to plan your dream vacation? Do you want an experienced travel consultant to advise you about the best luggage for your upcoming trip? I have the knowledge and passion for great travel to help make this a year to remember. You can set up a consultation with me now by clicking here.

Welcome to my website and blog! I am Lynn Fenster. I have been traveling most of my life starting with trips back and forth from Orlando to New York and New Jersey when I was three years old. Back in those days, the airport in Orlando was called McCoy.  You walked out of the gate and onto the tarmac to board the plane.  As I got older, my family started making the trip by car.  I still remember laying on mattresses in my parents’ station wagon and the smells of oil from the ships in Port Elizabeth, New Jersey, that meant we were less than an hour from my grandparents’ apartment in Hackensack.  Spending time up north didn’t just mean visiting family, it also meant trips into New York City, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, the department stores, Central Park zoo and chasing the pigeons, the New York World’s Fair, hot pretzels from the street vendors, and ice skating at Rockefeller Center.
 
As I got older, our family car trips expanded to stopping along the way in Washington, D.C., Mount Vernon, Colonial Williamsburg, Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, and Atlanta.   We took a boat tour on the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia, crossed over the Suwanee River, and stopped in Tallahassee.  Other trips included Miami’s South Beach and the Everglades, and Sarasota and the Ringling Brothers Museum. 
 
One year we traveled to Texas.  We went to San Antonio to see the Hemisfair and the Alamo and took a side trip to the LBJ Ranch (now a part of the Lyndon B Johnson Historical Park).  I still remember the San Antonio River Walk and the boat cruise we would take each morning from our hotel to the entrance of the Hemisfair.  That trip we also stopped in the French Quarter of New Orleans for a few days.  There we stayed at an amazing hotel, the Royal Orleans, now owned by Omni.  That hotel had a doorman who looked to be 7 feet tall (at least to the eyes of a 10-year old who never grew past 5’1”)! In New Orleans, I experienced my first praline, my first Napoleon, my first beignets, and my first fancy restaurant (Brennan’s). 
 
All of this leads me to why I have chosen family travel as one of the areas I specialize in as the owner of TLC Travel.  While I have continued having wonderful experiences as a teenager and as an adult, the experiences with my family will always be remembered fondly. They are experiences that we still talk about to this day. 
 
I know that parents today are looking for adventures you can experience with your children.  Parents now have many, many more opportunities to take transformative vacations, things like hunting the Northern Lights, hiking the Inca Trail, African Safaris, expeditions to the Galapagos, or just having fun on a cruise or at a resort.
 
Over the coming weeks, months, and years, I will write more in this blog about traveling with your family.  I will introduce you to new experiences, provide helpful tips and hints, and help you discover ways to create wonderful, lasting memories with your family. 
 
I will also introduce you to my other specialty, that of romantic travel.  If you would like to learn more about family or romance travel or receive my monthly newsletter, please press the button below, which will take you to my Contact page.
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