Split suitcases

[green_rd]

I don't usually read this board so humor me if this is common knowledge. I was thinking about how often suitcases seem to not keep up with passengers and thought this might be a bright idea.

If you pack a his and hers suitcase, do you packing then take half your stuff out of your bag and put it in your partners. That way if one bag gets lost you haven't lost all your stuff. Ladies, this in not permission to invade your husband's packing space - but you've probably done that already

[sparks23]

never thought of it, but sounds like a good idea..

[colorcrazie]

We used to do that for every trip. But, it was not me invading his packing space, but the other way around. And, always at the last minute. Used to make me nuts when he would decide he had to take his boom box (now archaic), PC, a hand drum, etc ., etc., etc. the night before we were leaving. To minimize pre-cruise tension, we finally agreed to pack separately. I like to plan in advance, he likes last minute. This way we both are happy. I would rather lose my suitcase. I mean, what's the worst that could happen? I have to go shopping?!?
Marty

[green_rd]

Originally Posted by colorcrazie

I would rather lose my suitcase. I mean, what's the worst that could happen? I have to go shopping?!?
Marty

Depends when you hit your first port and what you have in your carry on, I guess.

[Donna]

that is a great idea, always meant to try it for forget...Thanks for the good tip.

[LisaK]

that is a good idea

[VegasCrossfire]

We have been doing the "split" for probably 20 years now. I always figured I'd rather show up with half my stuff than none of it if my suitcase was lost or delayed.
Just make sure you pack the "colors" together. Don't put the blue outfit and the red accessories in one bag and the red outfit in the other bag!!
One bathing suit in each bag - one formal night, and so-on.
So far, it has worked great for us.

[Dusie]

I've done this for years. It's called cross packing. All my stuff get split into 3 parts. One third goes in my checked bag, one third in my husbands bag, and one third goes into my carry on. You just have to be careful to include complete outfits and shoes in the same bag. Even if all checked bags "miss the boat", I can survive. My husband does the same.

[Rev22:17]

green_rd,

Originally Posted by You

I don't usually read this board so humor me if this is common knowledge. I was thinking about how often suitcases seem to not keep up with passengers and thought this might be a bright idea.

If you pack a his and hers suitcase, do you packing then take half your stuff out of your bag and put it in your partners. That way if one bag gets lost you haven't lost all your stuff. Ladies, this in not permission to invade your husband's packing space - but you've probably done that already

Don't bother.

Practically speaking, circumstances that separate you from your luggage usually separate you and your travelling companions from all of your luggage. It's very rare to have a situation in which one suitcase gets lost and another doesn't.

Norm.

[JerriAnn]

Originally Posted by green_rd

I don't usually read this board so humor me if this is common knowledge. I was thinking about how often suitcases seem to not keep up with passengers and thought this might be a bright idea.

If you pack a his and hers suitcase, do you packing then take half your stuff out of your bag and put it in your partners. That way if one bag gets lost you haven't lost all your stuff. Ladies, this in not permission to invade your husband's packing space - but you've probably done that already

WE ALWAYS pack some of our clothes in each suit case then I keep all my stuff
in my suitcase after we get on board. And on the way home. I had a friend flew to
Fla. for her cruise. Never got her luggage from the airlines the whole trip! They went
on board with the clothes on thier back and whatever they had on the carry on.
They had to buy clothes at the first port the ship stopped at.

[cathy31]

I always do this also. As mentioned, the key is to pack some casual, and some dressier clothes in each bag. A bathing suit for each of us goes in the bag we carry on.
I also do all my packing in the jumbo zip-loc bags just in case the suitcase gets ripped open. At least our clothes won't be scattered all over the tarmac, lol.

Catherine

[JeanW]

I always make sure I have everything I need for survival or that would be hard to replace in my carry-on bag. (Medications, glasses, electronics, a few changes of underwear, etc.) If anything else gets lost I go shopping - it's happened a few times to me but it's not that big a deal, not worth stressing about.

For an extended trip, we'll often pack bags according to stages so we don't need to open them all to find what we want. eg if we'll be hiking at some point, all the hiking gear goes in a pack, if we'll need formal clothes, all the formal clothes go in a suit carrier bag, etc.

When the kids were little I always made sure they each had a bag they could manage by themselves, even if it wasn't big enough to hold all their stuff. For under-tens that was a schoolbag-sized case with wheels. Even toddlers can wear a tiny backpack. Then we had one big case for all their overflow. I found it easier managing one extra case than helping all of them with their bags.

I usually also pack a spare cheap squishy bag (the kind you use for storing blankets etc) in case we come home with more than we left with. Then lots of soft stuff (usually dirty laundry) can go in that.

[JeanW]

Originally Posted by cathy31

I also do all my packing in the jumbo zip-loc bags just in case the suitcase gets ripped open.
Catherine

I also use lots of ziplock bags, mostly to keep things organised, but it's amazing how many uses they have on the road, too.

[cruise planner]

We always put half my clothes in her suitcase and half of hers in mine, just for the reasons mentioned in the initial post. This is especially important when traveling overseas or when using a couple of different airlines.

Another thing to think about is taking a small suitcase with you on the plane. In there, put at least one change of clothes for each of you as well as your swimsuit. When you get to the pier, you could end up standing in line in a warm building and getting hot and sticky. When you get to your cabin, it'll be a while before your suitcases show up, so this way you can take a quick shower or freshen up and then put on clean clothes. This is especially helpful if you're flying in from a cold climate to a warm one. You've also got your swimsuit if you'd like to lay around by the pool.

Then, the last night of your cruise when you have to put your suitcases in the hallway, you've got your small suitcase to use the next morning for your nightclothes, toiletries, etc.

Instead of a suitcase, we use an expandable backpack that we expand for traveling, then retract for use when going into port for our towels, swimsuits, water, etc.

Pete