One of the perks of traveling is finding wonderful keepsakes that can't be purchased back home. Getting them home, though? That can be another story altogether! Between rapidly shrinking overall baggage allotments and restrictions on what can go into your carry-on bags, toting home post-vacay trinkets is not the easy task it once was. Fortunately, it can be done: it just requires a bit more finesse and advance planning. Here are some of our tips.
1 Start with smart shopping
The first step, and path of least resistance is to shop smart. Avoid things that:
• Are hard to wrap (breakables or awkwardly shaped items
• Take up too much space (big house wares, furniture)
• Can't go in your carry-on due to security restrictions (liqueurs over 3 oz*/90 mL* in size)
• May contravene the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), an international treaty created to crack down on the trafficking of endangered flora and fauna. Avoid reptile leathers, shell products, fur and other items unless you know for a fact they come from species not prohibited under CITES;
2 Pack like a pro
Once you've snagged some great gifts to bring home, make sure you've got enough room in your luggage to transport them. Here are some tips and tricks for accomplishing this feat:
• Pack lightly so your second suitcase can be almost empty.
• Bring some old clothes you don't mind leaving behind. Wear them, then leave them by the trash in your hotel room to indicate they've been left behind intentionally; they may be of use to someone else.
• Cut back on extraneous packing materials. Use your clothing to cushion items. For instance, protect a wooden salad bowl from scratching by wrapping it inside a T-shirt; reclaim some of the space it displaces in your bag by cradling other garments inside the bowl itself.
• Remember that liquids exceeding three fluid ounces (approximately 90 mL) aren't permitted in your carry-on bag, so stash them in your checked baggage. Even if you buy liquor in the airport departure lounge gift shop or duty-free shop, àpres security checkpoint, you'll lose it if you need to pass through security again at a connecting airport.
• Don't be afraid to jam-pack your “personal” bag (this is the one bag in addition to your carry-on case). On a recent trip to Belize, I was able to fit my purse, laptop and a carved wooden platter into a LuluLemon shopping bag. In consideration to other patrons, this bag should go under the seat in front of you, not in the overhead bin where it's a cumbersome fit.)
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