Hey, I keep coming up with more questions. Globus says that your carry on bag cannot exceed 12 x 11 x 6 so that they can fit under bus seats I guess. Are they really strict on this? It just seems that those mesurements and the bag that they provided are too small.

I know,isn't that little bag just the dumbest thing.I only saw 2 people on the whole tour that used it.Everyone else just brought their own bag.That said I believe they have actually reduced the size of the bag you can bring on the bus to fit the size of the bag they send you.. . The last 2 times I THINK it was something like 17xx11x6 or close to that. No wheels on it for sure.
The space is very limited on the bus and by the end of the tour it is packed with all the shopping bags from purchases etc.You have access to your regular suitcase every night so the only things you need to fit in the bus carryon are things you might use during the day traveling.You can of course also have your purse,camera case ,coat etc. If your a guy I guess you won't have a purse though.
Pack as light as you can and plan on washing out stuff in the places you have 2 nights.Check the weather reports on line before you travel and pack accordingly.
A good trick is to pack an empty fold up duffle bag or nylon bag so you have extra room to pack your purchases for the trip home.Last time I packed my dirty laundry in it and amused myself at the thought that if it got lost by the airline somebody would be very surprised when they opened it up!!!

Thank you so much for all of your help. So nice of you

Hey, no problem at all.


I have no idea as our Globus trip is scheduled for this upcoming September. Eitherway, I'm using my Jansport backpack as my bus carry on and daypack.

Globus is flexible. You don't need to use the provided Globus bags. You can bring a backpack instead as long as it's not of the Amazing Race size

the idea of taking an additional bag that folds in your suitcase sounds great on theory. I am wondering however.. .. . since we are only allowed one suitcase and one carryon while on the bus.. .. . where did you put all the stuff that is suppose to go in the folded away bag before you got to that last day of travel to pack for the airport?

did I make any sense? If I have room in my bags for the items I purchased.. .. . then what is the extra bag for? what did I do with all those items before I got to the time to use the bag for the departure home?

Im so confused.. .. . would love to take the extra bag but not sure what Im doing with all the stuff I need to put in it prior to departure?

That stuff is most likely in bags above your seat.We even had shopping stuff piled up on the back seat of the bus per the instructions of the TD.
They expect you to shop and don't make a big deal about the numerous bags that everyone accumulates.So then when it was time to go home you can just pack all the loot in the extra suitcase or your dirty laundry if you wish.If you have room in your bags for your purchases good for you but I didn't.As usual my suitcase was way to full. . .
I just used a regular size carry on but not one with wheels.It just has to be flexable and squishy to push under the seat.

Thanks for the answer Letsgo. I usually always have a full suitcase too! and this is the first time I've taken a trip that involved being kept down to a smaller size suitcase than I usually take.. .. . and only ONE suitcase! and the Globus carry on is so small! Thanks.. .. . now that I know they will allow the packages of purcahses onboard.. .. . I can shop!! I was worried about how I would get my souviners home.

We are also going on the best of Italy in September.. .. .. .. ..so you left everything you bought each day in its original shopping bag in the back of the bus. Did you not get it mixed up with everyone elses..or did you put it all together in you extra bag.

I took the Best of Italy tour at the end of July. I only saw two people who used the suggested Globus bag. My husband and I used the carry on bags that matched our luggage. These did not fit in the overhead compartment as the space was quite narrow. We put all of the things we might need for the day (umbrellas, water, sunscreen, hats, etc.) in one carry on and all our toiletries, etc. in the other. We kept our 'day carry on' with us on the bus and the driver but the other one under the bus with the rest of the luggage. We did not bring this bag around with us while touring. We put any items we might need in my purse. I am short and found my feet would not touch the floor when I sat in my seat. I would put the carry on on the floor in front of me and rest my feet on it. It would also fit under the seat in front of us.

On our Italian Mosaic tour, everyone used the Globus bag on the bus. I used the bag for my breakable souvenirs and day stuff. I also had a small backpack style purse and that was not a problem to bring on. Most people used the overhead bins for shopping stuff. Be careful with real looking backpacks, they will not let you in to some places with them.

We used medium size backpacks and kept them under our seats. During the walking excursions, I used a small messenger bag for my camera and water and misc. We put purchases on the overhead bin. On our last day in London, I took out the duffle bag that I had packed in my suit case and put the dirty clothes in it. I talked to Globus about the extra bag going home and my wife and I brought it down to the lobby - the other two pieces were picked up outside our door. Globus put all the luggage on the bus that took us to the airport - No Problem.

Mangoeater,

Exactly what we did too.

Hi all.

Thanks for the ideas.

My plan is to use an over the shoulder duffel bag with several zipper compartments for on the bus. It meets Airline carry-on but not Globus. Inside the Duffel would be the Globus bag which I plan to use as a camera bag with water, reading material, sunscreen, medication etc which I would take with me when leaving the bus. The front pocket seems perfect for a digital camera.

Questions:

1. I am not a shopper.. .. . since they are easy on shopping will they have a problem with the Duffel? I have used this duffel on many trips. I would feel naked without it.

2. I could get a backpack, What are the advantages of the backpack over a duffel? The same scenario would seem to work with a backpack. What size backpack would you suggest?

Thanks for your ideas.

The backpack is nice to distribute the weight evenly on both shoulders. Many used a messanger style shoulder bag for their needs. I have and used a backpack, 1800 cubic inch. Big enough for a raincoat, sweater, camera, meds, bandaides, water bottle, and all the stuff I bought, which wasn't a whole lot, plus a whole lot more room.

I could have gotten by with a smaller backpack or shoulder bag. It got hot on my back wearing the backpack. I'd lean more toward the shoulder bag next time.

Keep in mind, some cathedrals will not allow large bags or backpacks inside. Our tour director was good about forewarning us about this in a few places that had this requirement. The big bags and backpacks were left on the bus.

You should be fine with your duffel, as long as it wasn't so large, it will more than likely fit under the seat or in the overhead bin.

Priceperformer: The duffle bag will probably be ok if it is not too big and long. The Bus overhead bin is ok for the supplied Globus Bag, but nothing bigger. The duffle must then fin underneath your seat - I was able to put my medium size backpact there. One thing you want to be is comfortable and you dont want bags around your feet getting in the way. I liked the small messenger bag that I used for the off the bus excursions. The backpack stayed on the bus. I liked the backpack because of the various compartments. I kept the majority of my purchases in the backpack and I was able to lock it with a small combination lock. One more thing - the overhead bin makes the depth of the bag the issue, not the length. But if you can squeeze your duffle in, then no problem. Also, I dont recall seeing any of our group carrying their Globus Bags around, the ones that had them kept them on the Bus.

I left the Globus bag at home. I used a small carryon(airline ok) under the seat and put my feet on it. I threw my jacket and purchases that fit in the overhead and used a small messenger bag(could also be waistpack) to carry map.sunglasses.camera and water and anything else I needed during the day.
I would not carry the Globus bag on the streets as it has Globus wriiten all over it which also might just as well say "says please rob me!" It is just not a secure enough bag for the street. You should have something safer that zips up firmly and has some secret pocket to walk around.

Hi Letsgo,

Thanks for your comments. I liked the Globus bag because of the front Camera pocket and the 2 Water Bottle Holders. I need to test the balance and how it feels fully loaded. I am still not sure what I will take.

However I have removed the Globus name. It is stitched on the front with a fairly loose hem type stitch and was easy removed with a pair of cuticle scissors. After pulling the thread, there is no sign it was ever there. The red stripes on the bottom seem to be permanent.. .. . but are not as noticeable as the logo on the front.

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Finally, I see you are a moderator of this fine board. I frequent another board that obviously uses the same software. However they have a pound sign at the end of the list of pages which allows all pages to come up at one time.. .. . just a suggestion.

Also, I notice that it takes several attempts to add a reply.. .. . I keep getting an insertion error. "Mistake! There was an attempt of an automatic insert of the message in a forum" . . Well, Yea!

However, I persevere and it eventually works if I back out and try again. Maybe this is the reason for the low activity on this board.


Many thanks for your concerns and your help.
PP

Hi

Here is the rest of the story.

We bought a 20 inch duffle bag (carryon size) from WalMart . .. .. . about 10 dollars. (Similar available at target). . It was nylon with 2 end pockets.

We checked it on the flight to Rome with our other 50 pound limit bag. We used the globus bag (with Globus logo removed)as a carry on.


When we got there we moved some of the items back to the big bag. As I suspected noone at Globus weighed the bags. They did complain about the weight of bags in general the second week after a stop at a Globus approved wine store as some bought 3 or 4 bottles of wine and added them to the bag. (What did they expect)

We could put the duffle in the big bag or
take it on the bus with the GLOBUS BAG INSIDE . .. .. . BOTH WORKED.


The Duffle was especially helpful on the ferry from Naples to Sicily as we did not have access to our big bag that night. The duffle was packed as an overnight bag. The rooms on the fery were nice but small . .. .. . too small to receive the big bags.


We found the Globus bag in combination with the Duffle to be great. We left the duffle on the bus.. .. . but took the Globus bag whenever we left the bus. With 2 drink pockets and a pocket for a digital camera.. .. . and a large compartment for snacks, extra batteries.. .. . etc.. .. . it was perfect.. .. . and very light.


Hope this is helpful

PP

WE found the Globus bag convenient for on the bus (if your on a bus tour) because they fit perfectly in the overhead or under your feet. We did not carry them on the streets due to the Globus name on them as mention above, making you a tourist target for pickpockets and the like.

I however bought a purse/bag that looked like the type of bag either a man or woman could carry. My husband didn't mind sharing the load with me from time to time. It is for sale at AAA stores and online, it has a small steel cable running through the strap so that it cannot be cut (some theives cut and run with your bags). . It had a pocket on the outside edges that a "mini" umbrella fit in perfectly and a small water bottle fit on the other side. It also not only had zippers to close the bag, but a little mini strap with a clasp that you could connect around the zipper pulls to "join" them together making it difficult for anyone to unzip your bag , they would have to unclip the zipper first. It also had an inside pocket book that cliped to another clasp on the inside, you have to unclasp it to get it out. Easy enough for us, but making it difficult for a pickpocket. It was a shoulder bag and my hubby thought it looked a lot like a camera bag so would carry it sometimes, giving me hands free to shop.