NSBR: How Much Luggage?

[ditzyscrap]

How much luggage would you have if you were a family of 4 going to California for a week? I'm just curious, lol...I think so far I've got like 2 really huge bags (one is like the size of a hockey duffle bag, lmao), 2 medium sized bags, 2 carseats, 4 carry-ons, and DH's CPAP machine. Oh and my camera bag.

We're planning on taking a carry-on per person, so 4 carry-on bags (each of the kids got a character rolling suitcase, they don't hold very much, but will fit as carry-ons, so I'm filling them with coloring books, crayons and their Nintendo DS's and games. DH has his CPAP machine for sleep apnea that we're also taking as a carry-on. I was told to take one outfit per person in the carry-on luggage just in case our checked luggage goes missing...so gonna do that too.

OK, so...then we've got 2 carseats to take with us - Mason is in a booster, so that's not bad, but Natalie just WON'T get up to 40 lbs and let us switch her into a booster too, so we'll have to lug her big freaking carseat with us (we're renting a van down there to drive from Anaheim to San Diego).

Now, the medium sized bags, on is the "bathroom bag" as my mom always called it - you know, the smallest bag from your set of luggage, with shampoo, toothbrushes, makeup, etc. And the other one is all of our swimming stuff - each of us is taking 3 bathing suits and our beach towels. Oh, and DH got the kids those wetsuits with the padding in the top to keep them afloat, though they're too big to fit in our swimming bag, so that will likely go in the big luggage.

And then, obviously our luggage - jeans, shorts, capris...since we don't know what the weather will do down there...lots of t-shirts, tank tops and a couple sweaters each (again...weather, lol). Underwear, socks and extra shoes...

Seriously, am I packing TOO much? LOL! Or is this normal?

Right now I'm going through my room, trying to find "warm" clothes that fit all of us, since we haven't used it since August...and doing laundry, etc. I'm putting everything we're taking in some of those rolling carts with the drawers, and then a couple days before will be writing a list to make sure I'm not leaving anything behind, and start filling up the bags. But we've got a LOT of stuff, lol!

[lauren grier]

LOL I probably wouldn't take nearly that much :D :D :D When I went out to the clingermans we were there for nearly 3 weeks..granted itwas just ce and I.. but I had my carry on sized rolly suitcase (small), a messenger bag, ce's backpack (So tiny) and his carseat. That's it.. :D

[ZaCola3]

I tend to take lots of shirts...and only minimal bottoms...We have always stayed in a hotel that has a washing machine...so I did laundry there. I also think three swimsuits apeice seems a bit much...
Here is my normal routine: This would be for 1 week.
Scott and I:
5 pairs of underwear/socks/bra's(ummm I'm the only one who needs these).
5 Tee-s
3 Capri's (shorts)
1 Pair of Jeans
2 Jammies
2 Pairs of shoes, one functional, the other fun
1 Sweatshirt/Lightweight Jacket(I might wear this)

Boys:
Same as above(remember you are wearing one outfit too!)

Landen:
5 Pairs of Shorts
5 Shirts
2 Pairs of Jeans
3 Jammies
2 Pairs of Shoes
Sweatshirt & Lightweight Jacket
Diapers, I always took a few and bought some there.

Bathroom bag:
All the regular stuff.

We have two big Samsonite Rolling Bags and One HUGE Samsonite Suitcase...We also always carried one carry on a piece.

If you are staying at a hotel, remember most if not all of them have mini-laundrymats and if you are staying with friends or family, then they FOR sure will have one or can point you to a laundrymat.

Your list does seem excessive if you take into account that you will want to bring stuff home, and that if you can find somewhere to wash the clothes you have you just won't need to have that much stuff...
Mind you...I'm a light packer, but I learned this from my mom, and its just the way I have always done it!

Also we use the mMilitary way of Packing...Roll, Roll, Roll!

[my4boys]

I always pack too much but I say "better safe than sorry!!!" That is my story and i'm stickin to it!!!!

[Kat Stokes]

I'm a compulsive over-packer so I'm probably no help....

I take one outfit per day for DH and I but I take at least 2 a day for Derrick (6) and 4-5 a day for Rhett (7 mos.). And then I take the weather into account which usually adds a couple more items each...

[ColleenSwerb]

I'm with Shannon. I usually wear a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and a sweater/sweatshirt/jacket on the plane because I'm always cold on them. So then I don't pack another pair. For 1 week I think you would only need 1 sweatshirt or jacket.

I'd bring a 2 or 3 pairs of shorts, 1 or 2 pairs of capris, and then the jeans I was wearing on the plane. I always bring a ton of tank tops cuz they are small and I live in them. One pair of pajamas, 1 pair of flip flops, and wear the sneakers on the plane.

[mrs_jb]

I'm a big over-packer as well! So your list looks good to me, LOL!

I don't think 3 suits each is excessive though. I took that many to the beach last year and it was nice that the kids could be in the ocean during the day and the pool at night and I didn't have to fight with damp and sticky suits.

What I usually do for coming home is put dirty clothes in one big bag and what I have clean that wasn't won in the other. Makes it easier to unpack later.

[ditzyscrap]

Jaclyn, that's why there's a few swimsuits each, exactly! Both the hotels we're staying at have pools (which I'm SURE we'll be hitting each night), plus many of the theme parks have places to get wet, and we're going to the beach, too.

And I always end up repacking before we come home and have one bag of dirty clothes, and another of clean clothes.

I generally tend to overpack because I'm the type of person who just can't decide things in advance...I won't KNOW what I want to wear or what I want the kids to wear on any given day. LOL! Weird, I know.

I didn't say that my kids are VERY messy...I don't know HOW, but they can stand in one spot and dirt is attracted to them. LOL...so I pack lots for them!

[mrs_jb]

I'm the same way Bree, I need options for each day! LOL! I would have a nervous breakdown if I only had one outfit a day and no choices!

My kids are essy too... LOL! Last year at the beach they managed to get dirty every night before dinner in the hotel room! It drove me batty!

[Shawna]

I tend to overpack for trips also, I like to have options! And my kids are messy as well so I always have to pack extra for them too. But I would think one pair of jeans and one sweatshirt or jacket would be plenty for California. I'm sure the weather is probably pretty warm there already. And then rest would be shorts, capris, tank tops and short sleeve shirts. When we went to Ohio to Cedar Point two summers ago I kept saying I would do laundry in the different hotels we stayed at along the way there and back and never did! But I had a TON to do when I got back!

[kscwgirl]

I'm a chronic overpacker, so I think what you're taking is fine, Bree. LOL

[meems]

I'm an overpacker and your list seems fine to me.

[iJenny]

Your list seems fine to me too, Bree. And I think the extra swimsuits is a great idea. I HATE putting on a damp, cold bathing suit, ya know? Besides, they're pretty small and easy to just stuff somewhere in a suit case.
But a few things I would change if it was me...

First, don't bother packing an extra change of clothes in the carry-on bags. The chances of your luggage getting lost is actually very small (despite all the stories you hear) and even if it does get lost, you're all WEARING clothing that can easily be washed at the hotel for little or no charge. So un-burden your carry-ons from all that.

Also, have you ever had the kids try those floaty swimming suits? My kids both HATED them and they didn't do all that great of a job of keeping them afloat anyways (they tended to flip onto their backs or tummies). Since they're so bulky and huge, consider either trying them out first in a local pool to see if the kids really even will use them.

And finally, have you ever heard of the travel carseats? They are a regular carseat, but they have a handle in the back and wheels so that you can literally "wheel" it around the airport like luggage. And the child can even be strapped into it while you're wheeling it like its a stroller! I know they're expensive, but you might want to check out craigslist or some place like that to see if you can get a used one (or even borrow one). I've heard great things about them!

Good luck and have fun!

P.S. I also have sleep apnea, so I know the hassles of lugging around a CPAP machine at airports and always having to stop at the checkpoints to get it swabbed and such. Obnoxious!!
________
LolaJonson cam (http://camslivesexy.com/cam/LolaJonson)

[pbumbaca]

Bree, did you say you are renting a car? I think the car rental places will provide car seats too.

I am a huge overpacker, always come home with stuff I never touched. And I always do laundry once when I'm away! LOL! Oh and yeah, I have a friend who has lost her luggage every time she has traveled, but the only thing they have ever lost on us was my DH's fishing rod and they got it back to us the next day.

I think you have a great handle on things.

[amyb]

I would probably take my biggest suitcase for my 3 kids clothes, the next biggest suitcase for my clothes :) (my husband would have to find his own!) Then I'd definitely have the 2 smallest bags from the set for all our toiletries. We would then have a carry on for each of us which would include a camera and laptop, a stroller, carseats and boosters.

[ashleyprugh]

I'm a compulsive over-packer so I'm probably no help....

I take one outfit per day for DH and I but I take at least 2 a day for Derrick (6) and 4-5 a day for Rhett (7 mos.). And then I take the weather into account which usually adds a couple more items each...

i'm the over packer in my family as well. i never leave home without a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, and a raincoat. no matter what the season, what the weather, or where we're going.
if you have littles, remember that kids are messy. and ALWAYS bring an extra pair of shoes. you never know what they'll step in.

[Stacey42]

When we go to Florida for a week at Thanksgiving every year (2 adults & 2 kids) and fly we usually have 2 large suitcases and everybody has a carry on. DH and I's are our laptops in small rolly suitcases, buffered around with a change of underwear for everyone & any necessities like meds & the boys have backpacks with toys & games. We rent a carseat when we rent the car. Last year my brother got a car with the built in carseats. When we drive we have one huge suitcase (when packed it is over the airline weight limit), the 2 rolly carryons, the boys' backpacks and our laptop cases and cooler of snacks.

I only pack 4-5 changes of clothing, and find a place to do laundry once while we are there. It helps that we mostly stay with my parents so I can wash clothes a couple times & bring home clean clothes rather than dirty ones.