[smbcpc]

I know we are allowed to take with us 2 suitcases each but is it better to just take 1 each plus a carry on? I am just wondering since I cannot imaging fitting everything we want to take into 2 suitcases total. What size suitcases are good for this kind of trip? 26"? Larger?
My mind is now one big jambalaya and it is only getting worse.

[mdaisyq]

I have only ever traveled solo to China,but I was just fine with 1 checked in suitcase, a back pack and a huge diaper bag, which I claimed as a purse.If you need to take 4 suitcases plus carry-on for just your husband and yourself and your new child, you are bringing far too much stuff.

Laundry services are available at most hotels and it is fairly inexpensive (though more expensive in Guangzhou, even if you take it to a shop, rather than have the hotel do it.)

Remember, too, you will be buying gifts for family and friends back home, and other travel mementos, so you will want to leave room for the trip home.

[sakelley]

We took 2 rolling duffel bags, 2 backpacks as our carry-on's and 1 backpack for our daughter. We were allowed extra luggage on the way home because we had to buy a seat for our daughter so we bought a large suitcase in Guangzhou to pack all the things we bought.

The less you take is better to navigate through the airports, especially on the way home. We flew from Guangzhou to Beijing to Chicago to Cleveland. We had to get our luggage in both Beijing and Chicago and re-check it. It was difficult with 3 suitcases, 3 backpacks, 1 stroller, and a 3 year old.

[elemomma]

My husband and I each packed one suitcase each. However, remember that most airlines have a weight restriction on your luggage, and it is generally enforced on your in China flights. I think it is 80 pounds. I remember on the way home putting one of suitcases up on the counter and the scale said 82 pounds. They let it go on through without the extra expense, but we did get a stern look. Our guide just starting laughing! I did buy the space saver bags and I squished everything down. Once the diapers and disposable and consumable baby items were out of the suitcase, I had plenty of room for items we purchased there.

[L_M_D]

We took the LL Bean rolling duffle bags. We each had a medium for carry-on, and a large that we checked. I also had a large Vera Bradley tote bag that doubled as a purse, diaper bag, computer bag, my "everything else" bag! We had plenty of room, and like most people I expect we took everything but the kitchen sink! You know, come to think of it the litchen sink might have been in there too! Heh heh!

We didn't use so many things that we brought along, but I wanted to have it all just in case.

[Mailbox13]

Don't worry about leaving room for souvineers. We just bought a bag there for about $15 US.

The weight limit on most US carriers is either 65lbs or 55lbs. I don't think it was any higher on the Chinese flights. Your agency should be able to help you with this.

My wife and I took three changes of clothes. We wore everything twice and did laundry (its cheap and fast). We each had a carry on and we shared one large duffle that we checked. This made it easier getting through the airport.

We traveled through Beijing, Nanchang, and Quanghzo. Anything we needed we could get. Even Nanchang had a Walmart. If there is certain things like snacks, medications, and underwear that you are particular about, pack plenty.

Good luck. Anything you forget, your guide will be able to get for you. I know better than to tell you to relax.

[chinagirl2006]

I thought I heard that we can only check in 1 piece of luggage per person on the flights within China. Plus 1 carry on each.

But the int'l flights you can check in 2 each person. So on the way home you can buy a piece of luggage in GZ to put extra stuff in.

And I thought I read that the weight limit was more like 44 lbs per piece "in China".

Please correct me if I'm wrong!

[adoptchinablog]

I went carry-on only on the way over and bought a suitcase there.

Good luggage, cheap. Big enough to bring home silk dresses, pearls and squeaky shoes!

Those roll-up vaccuum bags are a wonderful invention, especially with diapers. They turn into flat little wafers.

[adoptchinablog]

And yes, the limit is 44 lbs when in China. If you've got a clever facilitator, this can be spread out among the group. And if you break the limit, you just pay a little extra for the bags (I can't remember how much because we didn't break the limit.)

Always bear in mind that nearly everything you want to bring to China with you was probably originally made in China and is available for sale in China for, in most cases, much less money than in the US.

[Lissa]

You will be amazed at how little you can survive on. 44 lbs for check and 25 lbs for carry on was what it was when we went. This may have changed, check the airlines (or your agency will likely know) Most things you need you can get in China. Hubby and I split a big babg and split a carry on. The other bags were filled with baby supplies. I took just the right amount of stuff for us, and too much for her. The only thing for her I wish I'd brought more of was snacks and liquidlyte powder. Those can be difficult to find and we were "on the go" a lot. So easy to pack foods were essentials.

[ElectricGypsy]

My group traveled in February on United and Air China. In the US, you are allowed to have 2 checked in bags and 1 carry on, however, when you are doing your in country travel (for example from Beijing to Guangzhou), you can only have 1 checked in bag and 1 carry on with the checked in bag weight limit less than in the US (I think that it was 44 pounds in comparison to 55-65 for the US?) Because of this, we followed the China traveling standards so that we wouldn't have any trouble. Because of the great advice of others here that traveled previously, I was very careful not to overpack with too many clothes and using the roll up travel bags (just in case there wasn't a vacuum available). DH and I were able to put all of our clothes and things we needed in one suitcase and the other suitcase had all of Keira's supplies (diapers, wipes, clothes, toys, formula etc) in the other suitcase. It cleared out little by little as we used the items, so we were able to substitute space in Keira's suitcase with souvenirs and things we were bringing back.

[intladoptionblog]

Be careful of the overweight, as it can cost more than you'd expect. I've paid over $500 for extra weight!
Ditto on buying bags in Asia. They're everywhere, cheap and good. Whenever we go that direction we take only one bag with us and bring back two each.
For some tips on carry-ons with kids, check out today's International Adoption Blog. A friend traveled last week via Singapore and wasn't allowed as much as a box of juice for her 14-month-old. Yikes!

[chinagirl2006]

Thank you for the advice!

[smbcpc]

Excellent advice. Thank you!
We may want to go the duffle bags route and take 2 of them plus carry-ons. We will definitely have to pay attention to the weight of the luggage and not bring too many clothes since we have a tendency to do that.