A piece of luggage comprising: a shell having a sidewall and a back wall defining an interior space, the sidewall including an upper wall portion, the back wall having an opening; a handle having a first elongated member and a second elongated member and an externally accessible cross member secured to a first end of the first elongated member and to a first end of the second elongated member, the handle being movable from a fully retracted position to a fully extended position with respect to the upper wall portion of the sidewall; a first handle guide tube secured to an interior surface of the back wall within the interior space; a second handle guide tube secured to the interior surface of the back wall within the interior space, the first handle guide tube and the second handle guide tube defining a first area therebetween within the interior space; wherein a second end of the first elongated member is disposed within the first handle guide tube and movable within the first handle guide tube and a second end of the second elongated member is disposed within the second handle guide tube and movable within the second guide tube; a removable vacuum assembly disposed within the interior space and positioned within at least a majority portion of the first area defined between the first handle guide tube and the second handle guide tube, the vacuum assembly having a power source and an air exit conduit, wherein the air exit conduit is aligned with the opening in the back wall when the vacuum assembly is properly disposed within the interior space and positioned between the first handle guide tube and the second handle guide tube, the vacuum assembly having an air entry conduit; a compression bag secured within the interior space, the compression bag having a first opening wherein clothes and items can be inserted within the compression bag and a back portion, the back portion of the compression bag having a second opening that is aligned with the air entry conduit of the vacuum assembly when the vacuum assembly and the compression bag are secured within the interior space; and a front lid or cover secured to the shell, wherein in a lid closed position the interior space is externally in accessible and in a lid open position the interior space is accessible to provide access to the compression and any contents contained therein and to remove the vacuum assembly; wherein the vacuum assembly is a self-contained vacuum having an outer box or housing having a first opening in communication with the air entry conduit disposed within the outer housing, a second opening in communication with the air exit conduit disposed within the outer housing, and a battery receiving cavity at one end of the outer housing; wherein the power source is a battery that is disposed within the battery receiving cavity. a shell having a sidewall and a back wall defining an interior space, the sidewall including an upper wall portion, the back wall having an opening; a handle having a first elongated member and a second elongated member and an externally accessible cross member secured to a first end of the first elongated member and to a first end of the second elongated member, the handle being movable from a fully retracted position to a fully extended position with respect to the upper wall portion of the sidewall; a first handle guide tube secured to an interior surface of the back wall within the interior space; a second handle guide tube secured to the interior surface of the back wall within the interior space, the first handle guide tube and the second handle guide tube defining a first area therebetween within the interior space; wherein a second end of the first elongated member is disposed within the first handle guide tube and movable within the first handle guide tube and a second end of the second elongated member is disposed within the second handle guide tube and movable within the second guide tube; a removable vacuum assembly disposed within the interior space and positioned within at least a majority portion of the first area defined between the first handle guide tube and the second handle guide tube, the vacuum assembly having a power source and an air exit conduit, wherein the air exit conduit is aligned with the opening in the back wall when the vacuum assembly is properly disposed within the interior space and positioned between the first handle guide tube and the second handle guide tube, the vacuum assembly having an air entry conduit; a compression bag secured within the interior space, the compression bag having a first opening wherein clothes and items can be inserted within the compression bag and a back portion, the back portion of the compression bag having a second opening that is aligned with the air entry conduit of the vacuum assembly when the vacuum assembly and the compression bag are secured within the interior space; and a front lid or cover secured to the shell, wherein in a lid closed position the interior space is externally in accessible and in a lid open position the interior space is accessible to provide access to the compression and any contents contained therein and to remove the vacuum assembly; wherein the vacuum assembly is a self-contained vacuum having an outer box or housing having a first opening in communication with the air entry conduit disposed within the outer housing, a second opening in communication with the air exit conduit disposed within the outer housing, and a battery receiving cavity at one end of the outer housing; wherein the power source is a battery that is disposed within the battery receiving cavity.