Alright, I won’t keep you in suspense: I didn’t lose any bags because I didn’t check any bags (and here’s the complete column at ABCNews.com).

Yep, for a two week trip, my family and I each took a roller-board on the plane, along with a small “personal item” sized carryon – and that was that!

This is what I tell you to do, and I’d be a hypocrite not to do it myself and believe me – it can be done, even for a two week trip. I’ve seen too many friends who’ve had their vacations ruined by lost luggage, and I didn’t want that to happen to us (the visit to Italy was fantastico, by the way).

Keep reading for my “Don’t Lose Your Luggage Tips”…

Luggage Tips:

• Don’t check a bag – always use a carryon
• Pack light – stick to a similar color scheme, so everything goes with everything else
• Must-haves – if something you need won’t fit in the bag, wear it
• Leave valuables at home – if you insist on taking them, carry them on your person
• If you check a bag – consider trip insurance with a “lost bag” component, but read the fine print
• Lost bags – save any airline paperwork (bag receipts, ticket info, everything); you’ll need it all to file a claim