[doozer22boys]

Do you suggest a back-pack? A duffel bag? I'm not sure what will be the best choice. I am making a list of all the suggestions on here for packing advice. I thought some of you might have a recommendation...something that fits everything I need and is convenient for stowing on the airplanes as well.

Also, did you women carry a purse while over there? Or just a fanny pack/other bag?

Thanks,
Nancy

[thmc1215]

My DH and I both carried a duffel bag and he carried a back pack and I carried a shoulder bag/puse (it fits across your body an hugs your waist - lots of pockets for our passports, bording passes, etc.). We're carrying the same on our next trip. I'll be glad to pass along where I purchased this shoulder bag/purse if you'll PM me.

[kretzklan]

We all took backpacks - to us they seemed like the best choice - our son had the type with wheels so he could wear it in tight corners or wheel it with room. We fit everything and the compartments that a backpack offers were helpful for us (the electronics are in the front pocket of Dad's backpack, etc.)...I personally did not have a purse. We all had the "passport holders" that you wear around your neck and we each had some money in there at all times (even DS)...I got those at Walmart for $5 I think. They were lifesavers...wore them ALL the time!

[gabmom]

Backpacks were great for us...we each carried one...for plane ride they were perfect for everything from documents to laptop computer to toiletries. WHile over there they were great for day trips to orphanage, grocery shopping (plastic bags are at a premium over there), everything. I did not carry a purse. We each had money belts (or money pouches that you could wear around neck or waist) and for aitrport my husband carried our tickets and passports in a travel thing around his neck. hAPPY PLANNING!!

[Abdulina]

Backpacks for sure. Don't leave home w/out them! Do NOT get the padded kind in the back. Reason---you'll be stopped and search more at the airports. They almost wouldn't let us board teh plane back to MOscow from the STavropol airport. They swore we had weapons hidden in the padding. Never a dull moment.

Also, have waterproof plastic folders w/ the stretchy band around them to have everything put in those. We label them before we leave. I think they are less than a dollar at target. each of our kids have a different color-coded one. Anyway, we have labels on each tab-- Medical, Immigration, Birth Certificates, Adoption Certificates( court docs), and one labelled Miscellaneous. We've done this with all our kids and it was invaluable at times to have such quick access and not rumage through your bags.

In addition, I agree w/ other posters, Money holder around the neck. Some other things we pack each trip include pepto, handsanitizer, dry snack foods, change of clothes (in case luggage is lost), language learning papers, photo album of your family (judge has ALWAYS asked to see this), and a big bad of good ole fashioned courage (you'll need alot of it).

Good luck on your trip.

Stephanie.

[RussiaBoundMom]

On trip one, we didn't know what we were doing. For our next trip, we will be prepared. My husband will bring a backpack filled with things to keep hi busy, travel pillow and tylenol PM, etc.. I will bring my own things in a travel purse (messenger style). We will bring the largest carry on they let you bring and put our lap top and a change of clothes for both of us in it and whatever else we need to stuff in there. This large carry on will be stowed away in the overhead compartment. Last time we just brought big carry ons and did not bring back packs or a travel purse. We ended up being on a full flight and it was such a hassle to get into our big bags, as they were too big to keep with us, that we ended up being with out everything most of the trip. I wasn't even able to get to my tylenol PM! It was a miserable flight. I hope my advice helps. Good Luck!

[susan1326]

My DH and I took one carry-on size wheeled bag each. I agree with RussiaBoundMom, they were hard to get up in the overhead bins during crowded flights, and next to impossible to get into midflight. DH took a backpack, and boy was I wishing I had left that purse at home and just taken a backpack as well. When we go back, we'll take our court clothes in a garment bag as a carry on, and check the suitcases. Lucky for me I had some Benadryl in my purse, so at least a couple of hours of the flight were spent sleeping!

[KimOH]

My advice is to take the smallest, lightest carry-on you can fit your stuff into. You will probably end up with it under your seat (versus in an overhead) and you might end up carrying it a long way.

The style (backpack, duffel, etc.) is personal preference. My husband prefers a backpack, but I like a duffel bag. The backpack is too deep and whatever I want always seems to be at the bottom!

Some older airports seem don't seem to be very wheeled-luggage friendly and you might end up carrying it a lot (some of those wheeled carry-ons are heavy even when they're empty!) For instance, at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, we had to deplane down a bunch of stairs, cross the tarmac, get on a bus. Get off the bus, go up more stairs, look at the "big board", go down more stairs, get on another bus, transfer to a different terminal, climb up more stairs -- you get the picture! We traveled that leg of the journey with a senior-citizens tour group who *all* had big wheeled luggage and we had to help them up/down the stairs with their bags.

On our way home we had a longer layover, so we probably would have had time to look for the elevators, but on our way to Moscow, our flight was late getting into CDG so we had to rush for our plane. I'm glad we had luggage we could manage.

Edited to add: I took a very small purse (basically a wallet with a strap) which was nice for shopping etc. It fit inside my carry-on, so I only had to manage one bag during travel.

Good luck and happy travels,
Kim

[Alison_inPA]

For those of you taking backpacks, be mindful of pickpockets. It's very easy for an experienced one to get into the zipper pockets while it's on your back or even into the top of the main part. If you have valuables in a backpack, put them deep in the main compartment. Don't put your wallet or passport in the zipper pockets.

[qs mom]

I used a wheeled backpack. It was big enough for everything I needed, and convenient. When I needed to put it on my back, the handle frame was actually a nice support. My passport and money were in an around the neck thingy.