Always a good idea to take a suitcase each BUT mix the packing between the cases. If one goes astray you will all have something at least to wear. It has happened to us once but because I had mixed the clothes we managed ok.

Pippa

We always used to take 2 large suitcases but have changed to 4 smaller ones now, as our last few hols have stated 20kg. Not too bad as they are all pull along. Poor old hubbie used to struggle carrying 2 heavy cases!

We usually take four between the 5 of us karen but none of them are small . I dont think I could manage with 5 small cases . Ive got one of those portable scales and we often have to swop stuff around after we are packed . I keep each bag to 20KGS just to be safe .

1x hubby and me
1 x My 2 older boys that share their own room
1 x younger son, shoes, toiletries etc
1 x dive bag that now seems to be spreading to an extra holdhall, which means sometimes we take 5 bags overall.

lyn

Just ordered some luggage scales so I can get the weights correct!

Yes, have to agree, a case each with pull along facilities is far easier, looks like hubby will be let off the weight lifting then this year!

Just a pain when you have a large case which you usually use between the two of you. Off I go to buy more ......

Received my new gadget for weighing the cases. Read mostly good reports on them, however a few bad.

Decided to test them on a bag of 2.5kg of potatoes and hey presto...spot on! No excuses now for wrong allowances

Capacious holdalls are good for shoes, non-clothes items or simply pants and socks, and can be squashed up when empty and put in suitcases under beds. They also weigh very little empty ...

We have definitely gone the holdall route - started after BA "murdered" 2 very expensive hard-shell cases within 3 months (the second one was the replacement for the first ironically!!). These rigid types can easily crack or shatter if dropped off the baggage carousel or loading ramp. OH is "in the industry" and uses a hard shell for L/H work where allowances are not such an issue, but family-wise they don't seem to be practical any more. We used to have a monster IQ divebag that was wonderful - could ALMOST get 4 FULL sets divegear into it - but these days it's relegated to being a storage vessel in the attic for all our other bags - to keep things to 20kg, the clothes flop about inside it like a forlorn puddle in the middle.

Yes holdalls have a lesser lifespan, but they are lighter and easier to store home AND away, and the wheeled variety make it easier around the airport. Also manage to squish them into the boot of the car better on the way to the airport. Had one that cost 12 Euros from Carrefour that lasted us 8 complex trips and only "died" cos we overpacked it

Holdalls may not be so glam but with restricted baggage allowances these days - much more practical. Why waste up to 7kg of your allowance on a posh looking case!! (could pack SEVERAL pairs of shoes for that)

We only shared our suitcase once.
To save us the trouble of lugging it about and unpacking/packing First Choice kindly looked after it at Gatwick for us while we went about our holiday in Sharm.

I have dumped my suitcases after travelling to the 2 worst airports for strict baggage weights,Dalaman and Sharm!
I now use large holdalls on wheels and they fold fairly flat when you have unpacked them.
I always mix our clothes after spending my holiday in Sharm in December 2005 with a lady in whose case went missing.She loaded her case on to the bus at Sharm airport herself,but when she arrived at the hotel the case was missing!She spent her holiday in borrowed clothes.

We take 2 traditional suitcases one slightly smaller than the other so it fits inside the other for storage in the resort. We put dirty clothing direct into the inner case which is just about full when ready for packing coming home.

After using wheeled cases for years, we've now gone over to wheeled holdalls. More space, far less weight and the crush down for storage. It's surprising how much you can get in 'em!