PACKING - Europe On a Budget - page 59

Damn dirty stairs. Stairs are the enemy of wheeled suitcases. Wheeled bags are designed to
be wheeled around but they are difficult to carry. I've helped people carry their huge suitcases
up four flights of stairs . . . it is terrible.
Broken wheels. European streets can put a beating on those wheels. Once a wheel breaks,
you might as well get a new suitcase.
Crowds . Rolling a suitcase around in a crowd can cause a lot of frustration.
Trains. The majority of luggage space on a train is above the seat so be sure you can lift
your bag above your head. Most trains do have luggage storage areas but they fill up quickly
and you won't be able to keep an eye on your bags as easily.
Streets. Rolling a suitcase over cobblestone is about as fun as it sounds.
Harder to store in hostels. If you're staying in a hostel, be aware that most lockers are too
small for standard luggage. There might be other places to store your bag but they probably
won't be as safe as a personal locker.
Hands full. You'll always have to keep one hand on your bag, which will hinder your mo-
bility.
Added weight. Wheeled luggage is considerably heavier than a backpack so keep that in
mind if you plan to carry.
OTHER LUGGAGE OPTIONS
Another possible luggage option is a convertible wheeled backpack that has both backpack
straps and wheels—which allows you to choose how to haul around your bag. Unfortunately,
these bags are much heavier than standard backpacks because of the extra frame and wheels.
Additionally, they are usually more expensive. Most people who bring this type of bag end up
wheeling it around everywhere, so it probably makes sense to save money by sticking with a
normal wheeled bag.
How to Choose a Travel Backpack
The most popular choice of luggage for budget travel around Europe is a backpack—hence
why it's called “backpacking Europe.” Choosing the right backpack can be confusing and time