YOUR suitcase style can say a whole lot about your emotional baggage, according to one seasoned concierge.
Some luggage styles scream you have a huge ego and he figures you shouldn't bother.
Drop the facade, he says, and go for a far better and cheaper option.
After two decades in the travel industry as a hotel porter in Australia, the UK, and Canada, Raymond Thew has pretty much seen it all.
Speaking to The Guardian, he shared a few tricks of his trade.
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On the luggage front, there isn't much he hasn't seen in his time.
Big, small, designer, off-the-shelf, wheels, no wheels, memorable, and forgettable, they've all left an impression.
But of these, which is likely to stay for the long haul?
The answer lies in where you're going, how long your journey is, your type of accommodation, and who you trust to take care of your bag.
A vacation in a big bucks top-notch beach resort might require a different type of luggage to one staying in a Tuscany farmhouse with a rutted track, or the cobblestones of old town Prague.
Such considerations need to be made when deciding on the type of travel holdalls you bring.
Bags on wheels are most impractical for snowy, ice, or sand conditions.
The wheels are rendered useless, therefore a bag that can be carried is far more suitable.
In these situations, consider a backpack, or, at the very least, a bag with a sturdy shoulder strap.
Travelling to vacations in tropical island resorts is not straight forward.
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It often involves a flight to a main island, then a boat - or even two - and a further drive to your hotel.
Your baggage is going to get handled and jostled a lot in a game of luggage Jenga.
So be prepared and invest in a strong and tough suitcase that can take a few knocks.
Stop and think what you are bringing to such locations and consider a minimal wardrobe and therefore less luggage.
It will save you the headache of what to bring and protect you from incurring the porter's ire.
If you're the independent type and don't want to use a porter service at your rather nice hotel, go for a hard-shell suitcase with four wheels.
They are far easier to move around, easily recognized, and will give the porters a break.
Go for a two-wheel case if you are on a city break or traveling by public transport and want something zippy and less cumbersom than their four-wheel counterparts.
Consider the size of your luggage. Some inordinately large cases struggle to fit in the boot of a taxi.
It's also going to be piled up upon other pieces of luggage if you are staying in a hotel, so make sure you make it easily identifable with a name label.
Mr. Thew wondered why anyone bothered with pricey, brand-name luggage.
"I used to have a manager who dealt with complaints regarding luggage, with the guests demanding compensation for damage to their Louis Vuitton or Gucci bags," he told The Guardian.
But she had a very logical response to their concerns.
"She would let the guest know that the luggage had done its job and therefore no compensation would be offered.
"Her point was that your suitcase is an item for holding your clothes while you travel. That’s it. It is not an accessory in and of itself."
He continued: "So, unless you have an ego to stroke, don’t bother with something fancy. You’re better off with something cheaper that does the same job.
"All bags will be tossed around a bit and put where they fit by airport and hotel staff. Beyond that, no one is judging. Certainly not your porter," said Mr. Thew.
