Coach touring is one of the most civilised ways to see Europe — you unpack once, watch the scenery roll past and let someone else handle the driving. Luggage is the detail that catches people out. Rules vary between operators and between tours, and a suitcase that sailed through an airport check-in can suddenly be awkward in an underfloor bay. Here's what to expect and how to pack with confidence.

One suitcase, one cabin bag: the standard allowance

On most European coach tours the default allowance is one main case per passenger, plus one small bag you keep with you. That's it. The suitcase goes in the underfloor hold; the smaller bag travels on the coach beside you.

As a rule of thumb, expect the main case to be capped at around 20kg and roughly 158cm total dimensions (length plus width plus depth), with typical maximums of about 76cm x 46cm x 25cm. The hand bag is usually limited to around 5kg and needs to fit in the overhead rack or under your seat — think rucksack or shoulder bag rather than a second wheelie.

Some touring programmes, particularly longer ones or those with nights in smaller hotels, allow two cases. Others, especially short breaks and Christmas market trips where the bays fill quickly, stick firmly to one. Always check the paperwork for your specific tour rather than assuming.

Weight limits and how they're actually checked

Weighing is rarely as regimented as at an airport, but that doesn't mean people don't get caught out.

• Drivers will lift and judge. Experienced drivers know the heft of a 23kg case, and if a bay is close to its weight limit they'll ask you to redistribute.
• Health and safety rules apply. Many operators cap individual items at 20kg precisely because staff aren't expected to hoist heavier loads.
• Extra bags are charged. Where space allows, a second case usually carries a supplement, often £5–£15 per day or a flat fee per tour.
• Ferries and the Eurotunnel rarely weigh coach luggage, but customs officers can and do open bags, so keep yours easy to get into.

A decent luggage scale costs less than a coffee and takes the guesswork out of it. Weigh once at home, then again before the return leg — souvenirs add up faster than you'd think.

What belongs in the hold — and what never should

The hold is a shared space and it isn't supervised between stops. Treat it as storage, not as a safe.

• Never in the hold: passports, money, cards, jewellery, cameras, laptops, tablets and medication.
• Always with you: travel documents, a spare change of clothes, a charger, glasses and enough of any prescription medicine for the whole trip, in its original packaging.
• Label everything. Put a name and mobile number inside the case as well as on the tag — tags come off.
• Skip hard shells if space is tight. Soft cases squash into awkward corners far more obligingly.

Prohibited and restricted items

Standard travel sense applies, with a few coach-specific quirks:

• No gas canisters, camping stoves, fireworks, flares or flammable liquids.
• E-bikes, hoverboards and spare lithium batteries are banned by most operators; power banks belong in hand luggage and should be under 100Wh.
• Alcohol is generally limited to a modest amount for personal consumption and must travel in the hold, well wrapped.
• Sharp items — pocket knives, trekking poles, corkscrews — should go in the checked case, not your day bag.
• Mobility scooters, wheelchairs and pushchairs must be declared at the time of booking so the right vehicle and space can be arranged.

Remember that customs allowances differ from country to country, and your coach may be checked at a border. Keep receipts for anything valuable and declare what you're asked to declare.

Small habits that make coach travel easier

• Pack a lightweight overnight bag at the top of your case for one-night stops, so you're not hauling everything into the hotel.
• Keep your day bag stocked for the coach: water, snacks, a thin layer, tissues and any medication.
• Let the driver load the hold, but be ready to carry your own case into hotels.
• Confirm allowances in writing before you travel if anything is unclear, and ask about food and liquids if you're crossing outside the EU.
• Weigh your case before departure and again before the journey home, and remember that a full bay is a shared responsibility.

Get the luggage right and the rest of the tour looks after itself. You'll spend your energy on the Alps, the piazzas and the pastry counters rather than on a zip that won't close.