I swear by Fedex for all my large luggage needs. Not for a short stay (1 week or less) or if you have multiple destinations, but if you are traveling to one location for an extended period of time or have the family in tow, it's well worth budgeting the extra $200.
I travel ORD-OGG for work at least twice a year, my stay lasting upwards of 2-3 weeks. Checked baggage always slows an already long travel day; I must arrive 2+ hours early for a 5 a.m. flight to check bags which now will cost me extra anyway! I always worry about theft/damage/lost bags, I end up with the max carry-on and then I have to wait, haul and load my luggage after a 12 hour travel day when all I want is a mojito!
Instead of the above, I pack everything, including my camera and tripod, into one (or two) of those large, Rubbermaid bins with snap-on lids, seal the bins with lots of duct tape and Fedex them to my hotel in Maui with serious insurance and package tracking. I only carry on a small bag with my Rx and usual carry-on gear. So, I can arrive at my departing airport a little later (no checked bags), I feel quite weightless as I fly through both airports with one compact carry-on, no anxiety about lost stuff and no waiting or hauling luggage when I arrive! Hello mojito! Upon checking out, I repack the bins as before and label with the pre-printed Fedex labels, call Fedex for a pick up and have the bellman drop the bins off at the loading dock. I usually arrange for a pick before I leave for the airport, but I've never had any problems.