As someone who’s never been abroad, I can tell you that I’m feeling pretty excited about my upcoming holiday to Italy. It won’t be happening until October (we’re saving on costs by going out of season) and we’ll only be staying for three nights, but I can’t wait. I’ve already started doing my holiday shopping – new clothes, shoes, accessories, Italian travel guides, Italian language books and, last but not least, a new suitcase.

I went to a specialist luggage store to buy my new suitcase and I can truthfully tell you now that I never imagined there’d be so many different kinds of suitcases available. I felt a bit out of my depth but eventually managed to come to a decision, but not before quizzing the sales guy about the pros and cons of each suitcase.

1)     Wheeled suitcases

These suitcases are probably the kind you’re most familiar with these days. In the past suitcases could be quite cumbersome, having hinges on the bottom and locking mechanisms on the top to allow them to be opened when laid flat. They were carried by a simple handle and had no wheels. However, today things are a very different story. You can get suitcases with pull handles and wheels to make moving them around a lot easier and you can get them in tough metal or thick plastic that will protect your belongings and help with keeping its shape.

2)     Holdall

This kind of suitcase is usually deceptively spacious and is perfect for short breaks. You can pack a fair few changes of clothes into it and it’s carried by two straps. When you aren’t using your hold all you can easily just scrunch it up to stuff at the back of your wardrobe, since they don’t have any immovable inserts or parts.

3)     Wheeled travel bags

These ingenious suitcases are essentially a holdall with wheels and a pull handle, making them ideal for when you’ve packed yours with heavy items and you can’t quite manage to carry it on your own.

4)     Carry-on luggage

If you’ll be flying to your holiday destination it can be a good idea to get yourself some carry-on luggage, either as part of a luggage set or on its own. They’re usually smaller than average suitcases and you’re allowed to take them onto the plane with you, so if you want to keep some essentials with you they’re perfect.

5)     Luggage trunk

The luggage trunk certainly wasn’t my luggage item of choice and it isn’t used very often anymore. In the past, you’d be sent off with one of these trunks if you went to boarding school or were planning an extended trip abroad since they’re especially sturdy. Nowadays, you’ll most often find them being used as blanket chests or coffee tables in people’s houses though.

What style would you pick for your holiday?

Author: Post contributed for Excess International by Charlotte Watson. Charlotte is a regular contributor to numerous luxury travel sites. She also specializes in Removals to Australia and International removals.