View Full Version : suitcases
my suitcases are looking a litle worse for wear so i'm looking to replace them and i was wondering if anyone can recommend a particular brand
at the moment mine are constellation ones and have seen some use and lasted well for the amount i paid for them
asking about i have been advised to use large holdalls rather then actual suitcases
any advice/ recommendations?
Mizzy
I have had to buy two such items to bring my extra purchases home the last two trips and found Walmarts offer a great selection, if I have to keep buying an extra one each time I go I'll end up with more than them !![msnwink]
caroline
23-06-2007, 15:17
The large holdalls are great, they're so lightweight - I've bought them from Walmart but the zips weren't very good - the best one we got was from Nike - it must be 5 years old now and is still going strong.
If you are going to buy them in UK I bought my big suitcases in Matalan about 5 years ago and they have stood up to at least 40 round trips now without doing more than losing one wheel. They are the max size airlines allow and cost me about £30 each, probably cheaper now or if on sale price, I haven't looked recently as they are still going strong.
They weigh about 6 kgs each empty, just remember that the empty weight is important as if its too much then you can't put much in and still be under the 20kg limit many charter airlines impose.
Having said that we flew back Mytravel from Sanford last week and yet again they didn't care at checkin what our cases weighed. It seems more of a problem going out from Gatwick, but most of you will have nearly empty cases going out and really full ones coming back if I know anything about your Fl retail therapy.
We've had Samsonite cases which have survived intact after being stuffed over full on many transatlantic journeys. Used to have soft suitcases but they only used to last one or two trips before getting ripped up by other peoples' suitcase wheels in the hold but the Samsonite ones seem to be practically indestructible.
Pegasus928
23-06-2007, 17:12
We bought ours from Matalan before our first trip - but we have added to our collection whilst in Florida for obvious reasons.
I would probably suggest when buying that you buuy a set where the smaller ones can fit inside the bigger ones - that way you you can go out prepared as opposed to having to rush to Walmart an hour before you are due to leave the villa to get another case [msnembarrased]
Kenny
Cruella DeVilla
23-06-2007, 18:26
Mizzy I would look at Samsonite or Delsey for good quality luggage. I used to travel to the US with a large Delsey hold all large enough to hold a body ...........literaly[msneek]
I have tons of bags and cases but I am a Samsonite girl at heart when it comes to large luggage. The Samsonite cases I have are not conventional cases as such they are upright and widish and have a dectractable t shaped handle and you push it infront of you like a pram (great if you have a bad back etc). It has a large top so you can place a bag or small case on top and inside it has two wet packs in what woud be the door as it is like a mini wardrobe. It has three shelves in the main section and is briliant for keeping things in order it also has a suiter and then two large pockets on the outside. The sheves do come out to make a deep convntional type suitcase but I don't bother as I like the shelves. Its also light when it is empty.
I bought them in the actual Samsonite shop but it was in Atlanta about 7 years ago and they are still going strong and I love it. It's my wardrobe on wheels, it is also affectionately nown as the caravan and everyone coments on it, especially the cab drivers who have to pick it up!!!!:D
(Samsonite used to make Marks and Spencers luggage I am not sure if this is still the case, I say this as the key to my old hard Samsonite case fitted into a case I bought in M & S whch was idetical in all but the name Samsonite stamped onto it. It might be worth while checking out what hold alls they have at the minute).
When I was flying as crew I had a Delsy that went around the world and then some for 8 years and I still have it today and its still going strong, I also have a large Samsonite that I have had since 1990 I got it in Sydney on a trip when my old one got smashed by the Aussie baggage handlers and it did not cost me a penny[clap][clap][clap]
Katys Grandad
23-06-2007, 19:32
Travelpro for the hold but Tumi for the First Class cabin!![msnwink]
ShirleyD
23-06-2007, 20:13
Wal Mart for me..... A set of 5 for around $17 :D One case,one holdall one small handbaggage size case, all with wheels. Then a small handbaggage bag and toiletry bag. OK, so I don't expect them to last for years, but they are light. I would recommend a rigid sided case as well as a holdall, because they are less squashable for delicate shopping
mfairhurst
23-06-2007, 20:43
MIZZY
When you buy your new ones feel how heavy they are before you put clothes in as it take weight of what you can take of in a plane now .
Most english aircraft are giving you 40 weight american aircraft you can take 2 cases each so can have more .
MAUREEN
www.onlinefloridavillas.copm/villas/1683.aspx
canarypam
23-06-2007, 21:28
We have holdalls - not sure of the make we got them from an airline when ours were damaged! We must have had them 15 years now and they still look like new. The best thing about them is they are so light and when we have a convertible they can easily be squashed into the boot (trunk).
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Katys Grandad
Travelpro for the hold but Tumi for the First Class cabin!![msnwink]
[/quote]
get away with you, i cannot afford the first class cabin[msneek] whatever gave you that impression?
Mizzy
shopping today, Bicester 50% off samsonite cases!
Katys Grandad
24-06-2007, 01:10
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by mizzy
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Katys Grandad
Travelpro for the hold but Tumi for the First Class cabin!![msnwink]
[/quote]
get away with you, i cannot afford the first class cabin[msneek] whatever gave you that impression?
Mizzy
[/quote]
To be more serious than my last post Mizzy, I've noticed that flight crew (in the US at least) almost always have Travelpro. I've got several pieces of various sizes as I do a lot of flying these days. It's not the cheapest but I've found that it's good value for money because it lasts and lasts and keeps looking good.
If I wasn't travelling as often, I'd go for the cheapest on the market and keep replacing it as needed. I'd also buy the gaudiest colour they have so I can see it coming on the carousel!
My only advice is do not get black because everyone else has the same idea. Bright colours are so much easier to spot from a distance.
Katys Grandad
24-06-2007, 01:59
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Jill
My only advice is do not get black because everyone else has the same idea. Bright colours are so much easier to spot from a distance.
[/quote]
Absolutely. I'm ashamed to admit that when I flew into Boston last month, I collected my black bag from the carousel and left the arrivals and customs area with it. I was making a connection out of Boston so I went to recheck my bag for the onward leg. As I handed over the case to the check-in agent I noticed (you might have guessed already)IT WASN'T MY BAG.
Take my advice - NEVER make that mistake. I know I won't again.
canarypam
24-06-2007, 12:11
We did that once also! Got right out of the terminal just about to get on the bus to the car parks and noticed.
[msnembarrased]
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Katys Grandad
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Jill
My only advice is do not get black because everyone else has the same idea. Bright colours are so much easier to spot from a distance.
[/quote]
Absolutely. I'm ashamed to admit that when I flew into Boston last month, I collected my black bag from the carousel and left the arrivals and customs area with it. I was making a connection out of Boston so I went to recheck my bag for the onward leg. As I handed over the case to the check-in agent I noticed (you might have guessed already)IT WASN'T MY BAG.
Take my advice - NEVER make that mistake. I know I won't again.
[/quote]
Guilty too !! I actually got to the Hotel with someone elses case !![msnembarrased] Luckily the people who it belonged to were coming to the same hotel ( what about that for a bit of luck ! ) so they bought mine and we swapped ( after several phone calls , and tears ! )
Cruella DeVilla
24-06-2007, 13:13
Check the tags guys your names on it![laugh]
Its all right for you Cruella but we don't all have white furry cases with black spots on them.
It must be easy for you to pick yours out on the carousel, but sad to see the drug sniffer dogs crying over what happened to their friends.
Just put something on your case that makes it noticable to you like name belts or a bright pink ribbon for example[msnwink][msnwink][msnwink]
Julie there is one problem with a piece of bright ribbon. Last time I tried this I used bright green, great idea I thought until I saw other cases also with bright green ribbons, so you still need to check them before taking them away. My new theory/hope is that eventually everyone will have bright coloured cases and I will be safe with my old black ones.
Cruella DeVilla
24-06-2007, 22:20
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by anorak
Its all right for you Cruella but we don't all have white furry cases with black spots on them.
It must be easy for you to pick yours out on the carousel, but sad to see the drug sniffer dogs crying over what happened to their friends.
[/quote]
You have me all wrong Angela[laugh]
Pegasus928
26-06-2007, 02:57
Got a Matalan leaflet through the post today and they are selling some of their luggage at half price from Wednesday :D
Elaine
i got the same leaflet too Elaine[msnsmile] will go and check them out later
Pegasus928
26-06-2007, 18:15
It might be just the way I am looking at the picture Marie but I think they look Tigger coloured [msnsmile2][msnsmile2]
Elaine
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by blott
We've had Samsonite cases which have survived intact after being stuffed over full on many transatlantic journeys. Used to have soft suitcases but they only used to last one or two trips before getting ripped up by other peoples' suitcase wheels in the hold but the Samsonite ones seem to be practically indestructible.
[/quote]
Most of the airline staff use Samsonite hard cases or similar so there has to be something in that - and they do stand the test of time! We quite often put a holdall (purchased in Walmart for $15) inside going out and then have 2 suitcases and the holdall coming back. The canvas bag lasts about 4 trips, whereas our Samsonite has lasted about 8 years! Samsonite also have a good aftersales service and offer guarantes and quite often if there is a problem they fix it!
We have some Atlantic Luggage with lifetime guarantee, which is wonderful! THey roll along [well glide] and have a clip to attach another piece of luggage on the front also, and the only problem is they won't fit into an ordinary taxi boot- they did different sizes but we went for the largest :) -We take boxes of crisps for our management company in them!!!! However we also have some Antler soft sided luggage which is very good -also pull along, and very good quality -both setd from Selfridges, who have a sale at the mo! Also have what could almost be described as a body bag, bought from Walmart in a packing panic :D
canarypam
03-07-2007, 17:02
They are selling Antler holdalls with wheels 26" in Makro from tomorrow for £19.99 + vat.
grangrad
09-07-2007, 15:36
i purchased Carlton Airtec approximately 10 yeras ago and they are still in good condition.
i like the hard sided ones as you can take fragile items and they have a better chance of remaining intact through the journey (obviously have to be wrapped if glass).
returning to florida this year and taking the old faithfulls with me.
still a good buy, not expensive at all, come in a range of sizes and colours.