Look, your intercontinental flight is booked. The itinerary is sketched out. But suddenly, you crash head-first into the modern traveller's biggest philosophical dilemma: "Do I take a backpack on my back like a real explorer, or do I take the 23kg wheeled suitcase and shove the entire wardrobe in there?"
This is the debate that splits friendships and couples before long trips. The truth is there's no universal answer because it all depends on the type of holiday you're going to have.
So you don't end up at the airport regretting your choice, Martin has put together the definitive analysis. Pick your "Team":
1. The "Team Backpack": The Nomad's Freedom 🎒
Travelling with a backpack (usually 40 to 60 litres) is the ID card of the real adventurer in Asia or South America.
- The Pros: You have brutal mobility. Need to grab a tuk-tuk, jump on a boat in Thailand, or climb five flights of stairs at a hostel without a lift? You're sorted. Plus, you don't have to wait at the airport baggage carousel.
- The Cons: You end up looking like a ninja turtle. In 35-degree heat, your back will be soaked in sweat in five minutes. Space is hyper-limited, so you'll spend 15 days washing t-shirts in the hotel sink and you can't bring back any big souvenirs.
2. The "Team Giant Checked Suitcase": Comfort on Wheels 🧳
Let's admit it: some people like having options. And travelling with the "house behind you" in one of those giant hard-shell cases has its charm.
- The Pros: You can take your full toiletry bag, three pairs of shoes, a different outfit for each day and there's still room to bring back two Moroccan lamps or Turkish rugs. The 360-degree spinning wheels do the heavy lifting for you on smooth surfaces.
- The Cons: European cobbled streets or Asian dirt roads are the wheels' "Kryptonite". What glides nicely at the airport becomes a nightmare to drag down the street. And, of course, it always costs more to add this case onto the airline ticket.
The Final Verdict ⚖️
The golden rule is simple: focus on your itinerary. If you're going to change hotels every two days, catch overnight buses and hop from island to island... take the Backpack. The wheeled suitcase will drive you crazy.
If you're going to stay at the same hotel or resort throughout your stay (or rent a car at the destination that handles your luggage for you)... own your inner "premium" tourist and take the Checked Suitcase!
Picked the 23kg Suitcase? Don't Drag It Around in Portugal!
The decision is made. You're heading to the other side of the world and you've decided that comfort wins. Your giant checked suitcase weighs the regulation 23kg and you're ready to parade with it.
Now tell me: are you going to start your dream trip dragging this 23kg "monster" down the metro stairs? Or are you going to ruin the suitcase wheels (on day one) on the cobblestones of your street while you wait in the cold for an Uber that may not even have room in the boot?
Spare your back and your suitcase wheels!
Your long trip has to start without physical effort. Hop into your own car, open the boot, throw the suitcase in there, and drive in total comfort to the airport.
You arrive at the Departures door, open the car boot and pull the bags straight onto the airport trolley. The Multipark crew is right there to take your keys. Our Valet Parking service takes care of parking your vehicle safely.
And on the way back, when you land flattened by the jet lag (and with the case even heavier from shopping), your car is at the terminal door waiting for you, ready to take it on board and bring you home.
The luggage is yours, but the car logistics are ours. Run a quote and book your Valet Parking on the Multipark website and have a great trip!
