Travel Articles

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Suitcases Vs. Backpacks

The general consensus taken from the forums is that suitcases are easier to travel with on a Contiki Tour. It should go without saying that wheels on any suitcase are a must and that the following pros and cons do not take into account personal preference.

Suitcase

Suitcase Pros

• Can fit more in
• Keeps your souvenirs safer
• Makes you gear more accessible as you don’t have to rummage through a back pack

Suitcase Cons

• Harder to carry up stairs in hotels and places where there is no elevator.

Backpack

Backpack Pros

• Good if you are actually hiking somewhere
• Easier to carry up stairs in hotels where there is no elevator
• Often come with detachable backpacks
• Good if you are travelling on by yourself after the tour

Backpack Cons

• Hard to lift and get onto your back
• Harder to organize you gear

The Hybrid

A new player has appeared on the luggage market – the backpack with wheels. By all accounts these offer the best of both worlds.

The Professional

Contiki Tour Mangers and Drivers are on the road most days of the year and almost all, without exception, use hard-shelled suitcases with wheels. Strength, practicality, durability and ease of loading on and off the coach make these a must for the Contiki veteran.

Camping Tours

If you travel Europe on a Contiki Camping Tour through Europe then you will stay in a tent for most, if not, all of your tour. You should certainly take this into consideration as it may be more practical to use a backpack as they are generally easier to fit into tents. You should also consider using a backpack with zips that can be locked with a small padlock to keep your property secure.

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