OT: Favorite family trip luggage - for me, dh and 2 ds (9 mo + 3 yrs)

[mattysmom]

Our old luggage has been retired and we are in the market for new luggage. Most of our travel is weekend or weeklong trips that we take by car. I think we want to get one or two rolling duffels for the kids and was curious if people liked theirs, and where they got it, etc.

Thanks so much for any advice!

[bunnisa]

I'd be interested to find this out as well! I tried to buy a nice rolling duffel for my nephew for Christmas. I could not find ANYTHING that wasn't cheap looking, or didn't have Spiderman on it. I eventually gave up.

Bethany
mom to one and one on the way!
http://lilypie.com/days/060226/0/8/1/-6/.png
"And children are always a good thing, devoutly to be wished for and fiercely to be fought for."
-J. Torres

[chrissyhowie]

I buy all my luggage from LL Bean. The quality of the luggage is great for the price. They have a fantastic return policy if something isn't working out for you. They have also repaired my bag when it got torn. Their customer service is outstanding.

For family trips, I use an extra large rolling duffel bag with compartments to hold just about all our stuff. LL Bean no longer make the exact rolling duffel that I have, but this is pretty much the same idea http://tinyurl.com/ex55j:

http://cdn.llbean.com/products/travel_gear_apparel/42865/images/M42865_Khaki.jpg

I use these dividers to keep our stuff organized within there http://tinyurl.com/9mban:
http://cdn.llbean.com/products/travel_gear_apparel/42894/images/M42894_Amber_Orange.jpg

I have two sets of dividers so each family member gets their own divider, plus there are ones for accessories. This system works really well for our family and makes unpacking super easy too. I basically just toss the dividers into the hotel drawers when I get to the destination. Keeps everything well organized.

HTH,

[bostonsmama]

Funny that you ask. I just found the old luggage my parents bought for my siblings and I when we were kids. It's in amazing shape after 26 years...I can't believe it! It's a company out of Schenectady, NY called Tough Traveler. After 35 years, their products still made in America and backed up by a wonderful warranty. It's a duffel style (although I don't know if TT now makes duffels that roll, we never had a problem b/c they were pretty lightweight even at 5 years old). There were 3 of us children, and we all had different colors (blue for my eldest bro, red for me, green for youngest), and my parents had light blue (a huge XL duffel for mom) and black (L duffel for dad). We looked so cute whereever we went. If I can find a camera (I'm at my mom's house since DH is away), I'll post a picture of the duffel later! I'm thinking if it doesn't die before I have kids, I'll use it for a gym bag in the interim.

http://www.toughtraveler.com/lug/duffel.asp

If these don't appeal to you, I've been pretty impressed with LL Bean. I almost bought a rolling duffel from a b&m LL Bean at Tyson's Corner Mall, but I got some Samsonite softside luggage instead and have been immensely happy (but DH and I mostly travel in airports now).

Good luck.
Larissa
***Cheers! Here's to better luck in 2006!***

"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them."
-James Baldwin