Packing Tips

budgetflyer

Dont pack a case each. Mix each case with the whole families clothes. That way if a case goes AWOL then one of you wont be walking around in the same clothes for 3 days.

Dont pack booze in your case either. A litre = 1 KG so a few bottles could put you over the luggage allowance(between 15 and 30 KILOS dependant on which airline) and you could be charged up to £5 per extra KILO. Better to carry it on the plane. Hand luggage allowances are between 5 and 8 KILOS pp

Nile

I'm not winding you up or joking about removing shoes at US airports........that's why I suggested you don't wear laced footwear.

Some more tips for Suewre.......I remember my first trip to the USA and how exciting it was. You're sure to have a brilliant time.

When you arrive in the US, don't be put off by the stern customs officers. Also, don't make the mistake of putting your feet over the solid white line before you've been called from the queue. ::)

On your flight over, the cabin crew should hand you two (Visa Waiver I think) immigration forms to fill in, one is white and the other is green. Be very careful to read it thoroughly and fill in all the categories. If you miss anything out, the customs officer will have a real sense of humour lapse and they even threaten fines for not completing the visa waivers properly.

When you're making your way back home, at the US airport they will ask, "Do you have anything resembling a weapon in your baggage?". Answer sensibly and never joke that you have a weapon. You will be marched off to a cell if you joke about weapons/bombs in your baggage.

Don't let me put you off, it's better to be informed about any potential problems. Then you can relax and enjoy yourselves.

System

Re packing tips.

If you are taking shirts, fold them and place them inside plastic shopping bags, either single or two at a time. This will reduce the crease on the shirts. (also works for Tshirts)

Doesnt leave them crease free but does reduce the amount of creases

Nile

Superdrug sell lots of small/travel size holiday toiletries. These are ideal if you plan to start your hols with a night at an airport hotel before your flight the following day.

Put the travel toiletries in a separate bag (not inside your case) and you won't have to rummage through your case trying to find your toiletries at the hotel.

Another tip, have a look through your undies drawers and sort any past their best which would normally be turfed out to the dustbin. Keep these for the airport hotel, wear them once and throw away........no need to unpack the case to get out your clean undies and no dirty undies to put back in the case in either.

Suewre

Thanks for all the tips, but you have got me worried, my 11 year old son has ADHD, it looks like I will have to invest in a straightjacket and muzzle to stop him doing/saying anything silly. ::) Telling him not to step over the white line is like a red rag to a bull! Hopefully he will be shattered by the flight.

Nile

Don't worry Sue, I'm sure it's only adults who are marched off to the cells. ;D

After an 8/9 hour flight, he'll probably be less active anyway.

If you're flying with Virgin Atlantic, they've got lots of films and games to keep him occupied. Plus, all children get a (rucksack style) goodie bag........adults get a large toiletry bag with socks, toothbrush/paste, comb, pen, notepad, sweets etc.

Another tip.........if your seat back screen isn't working properly, make sure you complain to the cabin crew.

On a flight when mine didn't work properly, they handed me a virgin voucher which paid for a bottle of perfume from their duty free range.

Suewre

Thanks for all the tips everyone. Does anyone know if the travel sickness bands work? My two boys have both been known to get a bit queasy.

Nile

I haven't tried the travel sickness bands but have taken Kwells or the Boots own brand tablets when facing a choppy boat trip. I don't suffer with air sickness fortunately. I do sometimes suffer with sinus pain when the plane starts to descend.

I swear by McVities Ginger Nut biscuits and they're always taken on my hols. Ginger is good for travel sickness and ginger biscuits can take the edge off hunger.

If vomiting does occur, eating a ginger biscuit will take the taste away and help to settle the stomach too.

Nile

Morrisons are currently doing an offer on Radox shower gel, buy two bottles for £2.00.

If you've used Radox shower gel you might have noticed that due to the packaging design of the bottle and viscosity of the gel, it doesn't drip when it's opened and suspended upside down.......so it's a good choice to pack in your case when travelling.

My experience of packing Radox shower gel is that it's survived many trips, even the frisbee airport baggage handlers in the USA haven't caused it to leak.

Of course, you could just take a bar of soap. ::)

gundo

Bit of a pathetic packing tip to be honest... :-/

But if you're going to the US don't bother packing much at all as stuff like clothes (t-shirts, jeans, footwear) are cheap over there. I always pack far too much and end up bringing stuff back I didn't wear and end up wearing stuff I've just bought because it's new and looks nice.

Also toileteries are cheap. Basically you could just take empty suitcases (I kid you not).

If you know someone over there and they use CostCo's get them to take you as stuff there is very cheap.

Re US Customs and Immigration bods. They have no sense of humour but at least everyone without a US passport gets treated equally brusquely.



All the best - Gundo