my advice is-always travel light! i hate to carry heavy bags. just take the minmum. there is an old saying: breakfast in berlin. dinner in delhi. bags in bangkok ! so, don't pack anything important in your check-in bag;put important thing in your carry-on bag. you don't want to arrive home without your house keys. another tip -don't use expensive suitcases. people don't steal dirty old bags. finally, here's a good little tip-tie a sock or brightly colored string to your bag. why? so you can quickly see your bag on the airport carousel