Hello! Thanks for reading this -- I'm hoping to get some good suggestions as I've looked at this forum and haven't really found what I was looking for. There's some good individual product reviews, but I'm looking for someone to help steer me in the right direction for some luggage ideas. Here's the background:

We are avid travelers with at least two vacations each year -- 2012 we're taking 4. Typically they are beach vacations but we've booked a multi-city European vacation for the end of January / beginning of February. With that being said, the beach vacations are pretty easy luggage wise and we've been reluctant to spend $$$ on new bags as the old beat up ones we have do just fine! But I think the time has come to get new luggage for the Europe vacation since we'll be on and off trains quite a bit moving from Rome to Milan and then to Paris.

So the criteria here is lightweight and durable. Something easy to get on and off the trains but also roomy and sturdy. We have a vacation coming up in less than 3 weeks so I'd like to get something and use it now! No sense wasting time and waiting until Europe when we have a couple trips before then.

Any ideas? We do check our bags so carry-on pieces aren't necessary. Just medium-large suitcases (probably 2 or 3) that we can use on our upcoming trips.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Dennis