The cubes came in handy then. All toiletries went into one backpack and all electronics in another. Made it super-easy to check-in and out. We had nearly the same idea, Sophia We bought compression bags for our western trip last May when we thought the 3 of us would be traveling two weeks in a Rav4. For 6 nights we were doing one night each then 3 stays of 2 nights.
We have a mix of brands of just cubes and compression cubes. Color coding of compression cubes seemed like the way to maximize our limited space in the Rav, especially needing winter clothes for some of our trip.
We got lucky the week we were leaving and got a mini van instead - bonus, hybrid. That battery is awesome. Since we had more room in the van some of us switched to regular suitcases. We tried a regular garment bag for awhile. Now, after air drying the heavy cotton uniform, I carefully fold and insert the top and pants into a compression cube and zip it closed.
It stays much more stiff than a garment bag. I like the pillow case idea, stlouie. We tried large mesh laundry bags and leaving clothes in during the laundry cycle. Once an item needed washing, it went flat into the empty side. At the end of a busy couple of days, we were packed. Just remember to look in the bathroom before you leave!
My kids used pillow cases for dirty laundry in college. Their dorm rooms for 3 were essentially dorm rooms for 2. Pillow cases are mashable and could go under the bed or even in the middle of the floor! They hauled the pillow cases full of sorted laundry to the laundromat and hauled the clean laundry back to their rooms in the clean pillowcases to fold. Highly recommend weighing any bags you plan to check at the counter.
