Suitcase or backpack — which is better for what?
For city trips, business travel, and package holidays, a wheeled suitcase is the more convenient choice, as you can easily pull it on smooth floors in airports, hotels, and city centers. For backpacking, trekking, and travel with frequent location changes (e.g., Southeast Asia, South America), a travel backpack (40 to 65 liters) is much more practical, as you can carry it up stairs, over cobblestones, and on unpaved paths. Hybrid suitcase-backpacks combine both advantages: they can be opened like a suitcase and carried on your back when needed. Hard-shell suitcases better protect fragile items but are heavier and less flexible than soft-shell suitcases. For short weekend trips, a travel bag or cabin backpack is often sufficient — this saves baggage fees and allows for quicker airport exits.
What are the typical weight limits for airline baggage?
In economy class, most long-haul airlines allow one checked bag weighing 23 kg — for American airlines (Delta, United, American), there has often been no free baggage included on domestic flights for several years. On European short and medium-haul flights, checked baggage is increasingly only included in more expensive fares, while basic fares only allow hand luggage. Business and first-class passengers are typically allowed to check in 32 kg per bag, often even two pieces. Excess baggage typically costs 10 to 15 euros per kilo at the airport — it is almost always cheaper to pre-book a second bag online. Weigh your suitcase before departure with a luggage scale (available from 8 euros) to avoid unpleasant surprises at the check-in counter.
What should be on the packing list for every trip?
Documents are the most important: passport or ID card (check validity!), driver's license, vaccination certificate, proof of insurance, and digital copies of all documents in the cloud. A universal adapter with USB ports, a power bank (maximum 100 Wh for hand luggage), and charging cables for all devices belong in every bag. For the travel pharmacy, pain relievers, band-aids, anti-diarrhea medication, sunscreen, and personal medications are essential. In terms of clothing, the layering principle works well: functional underwear, a light sweater, and a wind- and waterproof jacket cover most climates. Always pack a change of clothes and essential medications in your hand luggage — if your suitcase arrives late, you'll be prepared for the first night.
What are the rules for liquids in hand luggage?
The EU liquid rule states that all liquids, creams, gels, and pastes must be transported in containers of a maximum of 100 ml — in a single transparent, resealable bag with a capacity of no more than one liter. Toothpaste, deodorant spray, sunscreen, shampoo, and even spreads like Nutella count as liquids and must go in the bag. Baby food and medically necessary liquids are exempt from the 100 ml rule but must be shown at security control. Since 2024, some airports (e.g., Shannon, Eindhoven) have lifted the rule thanks to new CT scanners — check in advance if your departure airport is included. Purchase travel-sized toiletries or transfer them into reusable silicone bottles, which you can find in drugstores or online for a few euros.
Is baggage insurance worth it?
A separate baggage insurance is usually not worth it, as compensation is often limited to 500 to 1,000 euros and the deductible ranges from 50 to 150 euros. Additionally, the airline is liable under the Montreal Convention for loss, damage, or delay — up to around 1,400 euros. Good travel cancellation insurances and credit cards with travel protection (e.g., American Express Gold, Barclays Platinum) often already include baggage insurance as an additional benefit. Rather than getting baggage insurance, it is more sensible to carry valuable items (laptop, camera, jewelry, medications) in your hand luggage and insure them where they belong — in your home contents insurance. If you still decide to take out baggage insurance, document the contents of your suitcase in advance with photos and keep purchase receipts, as insurers require proof when claims are made.
What to do if your luggage doesn't arrive after the flight?
Immediately go to your airline's baggage claim desk (Lost & Found) in the arrivals area after landing and create a PIR (Property Irregularity Report) — this is the formal damage report and a prerequisite for any compensation. Most delayed bags reappear within 24 to 48 hours and will be delivered to your accommodation free of charge. Keep all receipts for replacement purchases (clothing, hygiene products), as the airline must reimburse reasonable expenses for the period without luggage — typically 50 to 100 euros per day. After 21 days without your bag, it is officially considered lost, and you are entitled to compensation up to the liability limit of around 1,400 euros under the Montreal Convention. Use an AirTag or GPS tracker in your suitcase to track its location in real-time — this way, you can even inform the airline where your bag is.
Can I take souvenirs and food in my luggage?
Within the EU, you are generally allowed to take food and souvenirs as long as they do not fall under species protection or exceed customs duty-free limits (430 euros in goods value for air travel). When entering the EU from non-EU countries, animal products (meat, milk, cheese) are usually prohibited to prevent animal diseases — Australia and New Zealand have particularly strict controls and impose heavy fines. Alcohol and tobacco are subject to fixed duty-free limits: from non-EU countries, you may bring in one liter of spirits, four liters of wine, and 200 cigarettes duty-free. Be cautious with products from protected animal and plant species: corals, ivory, snake leather bags, and certain types of wood are prohibited under the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and will be confiscated at customs. Pack liquid souvenirs like olive oil or wine securely in plastic bags in checked luggage — the 100 ml rule or duty-free special rules apply to hand luggage.
Rolling or folding — which packing technique saves more space?
Rolling clothes typically saves 20 to 30 percent more space than traditional folding and reduces wrinkles in most fabrics like t-shirts, jeans, underwear, and sportswear. For wrinkle-sensitive clothing like shirts, blouses, and dress pants, the bundle method is recommended: you wrap the garments around a core (e.g., a toiletry bag) so that no crease edges form. Packing cubes are a game-changer and keep related clothing organized — one cube for tops, one for pants, one for underwear and socks. Use empty shoes as extra storage for socks, charging cables, or small items and pack shoes in shower caps or shoe bags to keep the rest of the clothing clean. Heavy items should always go at the bottom (rolled side down in the suitcase) to ensure the suitcase stands stable and the clothing is not crushed.
Where can I store my luggage on the day of departure?
Most hotels will store your luggage for free in a luggage room on check-out day until you pick it up — just ask at the reception, even if you are no longer a guest. Train stations and airports have lockers (3 to 15 euros per day depending on size and location) or staffed luggage storage services that are often open from early morning until late evening. Online services like Bounce, Stasher, or Nannybag offer storage spaces in shops, cafes, and hotels near tourist hotspots — often cheaper than train station lockers and conveniently bookable via an app. In cities like Rome, Barcelona, and Tokyo, there are also luggage storage options directly at major attractions, as many museums and sites do not allow large bags and suitcases at the entrance. Always ensure that valuables like laptops, cameras, and passports are not left in stored luggage but kept with you.
