My wife and I along with another couple are booked on the European Highlights Tour starting Sept. 30th. We are wondering how much room the tour bus has for carry-on luggage? I know we are limited to one carry-on each and Insight recommends using the supplied "Insight Tours" bag, but is there room for a slightly larger bag? Is there overhead storage as well as under the seat? Our bags are about 15 X 12 X 6 inches.

We just returned from European Highlights tour 9/2/06 - 9/16/06 - great tour - but hectic with a couple early wake up calls......you shouldn't have problem with carry on the size you indicated. I had my own tote (about the size you indicated) that I put on the floor and sometimes other shopping bags that I put on top rack. Our tour was pretty full. Have fun!

DonC

I recommend you use the search function for relevant posts about carry on luggage. There are a lot of helpful tips.

We use the insight bag and have found it a handy size. Any bigger and its just too much to lug around. We leave them on the bus and take one crushable light weight back pack between us for umbrella etc if getting off the bus. Genevive is correct if the insight bag is 'full' it may not fit in the storage area above the seat and you will have to put it on the floor and you may have to 'rest?' your feet on it.

PS: The bags are minus the word Insight, I unpicked it off

My carry on is 20.5" x 14" x 9". Is this too big for the tour bus?

Your carryon will NOT fit in the bin above your seat. It will have to go on the floor.

IF YOU ARE EXTREMELY LUCKY and have a double seat to yourself, you will be fine. But there is no way you can count on that. Therefore, it will be a total nuisance as you get on and off the coach several times a day.

Sometimes (quite often) you may take the carryon down to the coach yourself each morning and the driver will store in the underbelly of the coach. Then each evening you will pick it up and take it to your room.

Buy a nylon TOTES bag and use it on the coach. It also makes a nice footrest!

OK, let me get this right. When you get on and off the bus during the day you hve to take your carry on luggage with you? I was going to leave my carry onboard and just carry a large purse. Can I do that? As you can tell I am a first time traveller on this kind of trip.

Your suitcase will be delivered to your room every day you travel (and taken down to the bus on travelling days). If you have a large carry on there is usually though not always room for this to be stored in the luggage locker under the bus during the day but you are responsible for bringing it down and taking it to your room. This can stay in the luggage locker during the day and there's no need to worry about it. You can carry a large purse with you with all the things you'll need during the day.

I hope that helps.

marksmiss,

You can leave your carry on bag in the coach, but it is not covered by insurance if it is stolen. I have a bag I use that is slightly bigger than the Insight one. I keep it under my feet and/or seat without any problems. I do leave it on the coach, but don't have anything in it of value. Many people leave the bag on the coach and some take it with them - just my own observation.

Jill

quote:

not covered by insurance if it is stolen.

T2R please clarify this.

Surely this would depend on the individual travel insurance policy that the traveler has taken out. I find it difficult to believe that should we be unfortunate enough to have our bag(s) and contents stolen/damaged while on the coach that our insurance company would not pay out. After all thats part of the reason we take insurance out for.

Dear Marksmiss,

I think we are a bit confused by the term "carryon" luggage. So let's define: Your BIG suitcase is the one with most of your clothes. Your LARGE purse is the one you plan to use every day. That's clear.

Now my definition of "carryon luggage" is that small suitcase that I took with me ON TO the plane - contains several changes of clothes and what I would need if BIG suitcase never arrives.

In my comment above (and you mentioned the dimensions), I'm wondering what you would have in that "carryon" suitcase that you would need every day. If you do not need it, then ask the coach drive to store it down in the "underbelly." Take it down with you and pick it up when the coach unloads.

The hotel staff deal ONLY with our BIG suitcases. Anything else, we have to handle on our own.

On my last trip, I put all my jackets/sweaters daily needs into a nylon Totes bag and it stayed with me at my feet on the coach. I actually put my empty "carryon" into the underbelly and never got it out until the trip was over. Driver was quite comfortable about that.

I also had a smaller purse that I had with me on the coach also. The nylon Totes back got on with me each morning, stayed on all day = because I never have expensive garments of any kind - and got off each night in my loving arms.

I hope this clarifies what I tried to explain up above. You will notice that I did not mention my Insight bag. Sorry but it doesn't bend like the Totes bag.

Have fun, whatever you take with you!