So my airline says I am allowed to bring two pieces of luggage. I purchased new luggage online and they arrived today. As I sat on my floor opening it up and staring into the deep empty suitcase I starting to think...how do I do this? I mean, I have 96 days until I leave but how do I determine what I won't miss when I am away? I don't just mean clothing. I can figure all that out, but I'm starting to panic thinking about the things I want to have with me while I am away. Words of encouragement? Worry along with me? Discuss...
This is the thing that is my new current worry.... I'm obsessed. I keep becoming very irrational and assume that the airlines won't mind me bringing six suitcases and several boxes as we're moving away for a year and surely they'll understand.... but then reality hits and i'm left in a cold sweat about what I should and shouldn't take! So yeah, you're allowed two cases, but do they both have to have a combined weight of 20kgs? Or can they both weigh 20kgs each? I live out of a suitcase now and am realistic about what I can fit in a decent sized case and am worried about how we can possibly take enough pairs of trousers, t-shirts, jackets, going out clothes, work clothes, underwear, shoes etc. etc to last for a year! It's ludicrous! (I realise people have been managing fine for years...but still..) I also realise we can buy more clothes out there but I don't want to waste precious money when I have about three wardrobes full here! And that's only the clothes side of the dilemma! I figure one case for clothes and then one for the rest of it... but what exactly is the rest of it? Laptop, hair straighteners and then what? I'm going to get to Florida and realise i've forgotten something really important!
My airline sayss CHECKED BAGGAGE ( Domestic and Canada/U.S.flights ) TWO items of checked baggage are permitted per fare-paying guest Maximum Weight Maximum Size (length + width + height) Item 1* 27 kgs (60 lbs) 157 cm (62 in) Item 2* 27 kgs (60 lbs) 157 cm (62 in) and I can take two carry ons. So my carry ons are going to be ALL of my electronics, my laptop, xbox 360 all my cameras...oh goodness.
Yeah, I took enough t-shirts for a month and that was far too much! Take clothes with you that you can leave out there (i.e. stuff you haven't worn in ages). I have far too many clothes and had to do that! Make sure you remember the adapters! Thats very important LOL. Hmm I can't think of what I took... stuff you know you can't get over there...so if that includes salad creme that didn't cost you £10, take it LOL. Teabags, photos, cuddly toys, if you have room, your duvet! I was the only one in my apartment who brought one with me and I was the only one who wasn't cold on the first night (though it was the beginning of Feb). Oooh my mind has gone blank. Reading material, just in case haha. There is a packing list on the left hand side...it helped me a lot!
Hmmm, do you think i'd get stopped at customs for taking in some tubs of bisto? And jaffa cakes? And salt and vinegar pringles? Because that's really all i'm worried about! lol I'll probably do the same with electronics and have them all in my carry on, I have a lot! I just hope they wouldn't want to test each and every one, I always get stopped at security! Do you think a sleeping bag would be sufficient for the first night? That'll probably take up less space than a duvet.
A sleeping bag would be fine... I just took my duvet to save having to get one when I was there...but whatever is easiest! We vacuum packed my duvet (in a bin bag haha...it started expanding when we shut it, so I'm glad they didn't need to open my suitcase at the airport! We would have never got it back in again) and it didn't take up much room at all. My Mum brought salad cream and chicken tonight when she came to visit and didn't get her suitcase searched, so I'm sure its ok to take stuff like that! Its not like it needs refridgerating. Just remember, no drinks through security!!! (sorry I work at Gatwick Airport and spend all day confiscating drinks from passengers because they're not allowed them) and pack you suntan lotion in your main luggage or we'll be confiscating that too! Unless of course the containers are under 100ml/100gms (haha some sprays now say 125ml/76grams... so which one do you go by???!???) And yeah, all important electronic stuff in handluggage...the only electric stuff I put in the main luggage was my hairdryer, straightners, camera charger and leads for my laptop and stuff. It's always best to try and not take too much handluggage...remember you're going to have to cart it around at Orlando with one, if not two suitcases on top of that. I made the mistake of having 3 pieces of handluggage and two suitcases and got stuck! But I got there in the end haha.
Ha ha, I have a different problem. I'm driving down so I can take more stuff... but I'm worried about taking too much stuff and not having any place to put it. Random Question: Do we need to bring hangers, or are they supplied?
You don't need hangers! Ususally the apartments are full of them, because everytime you get a piece of your costume from costuming, there's a hanger with it!
No, I still have over a month, so I haven't figured out what I'm going to do for insurance... let me know if you find any information!
Oh also! If you do take food make sure you declare it. They'll probably think you're mad for declaring malteasers and jaffa cakes, but better to be safe than then ask why you didn't declare it in the first place.
I know that you can take more than 2 pieces of luggage, you just have to pay a little extra! I think I can cram everything in 2.....we shall see how basic I can live for a year! I don't think getting stuff there is going to be the big problem, it will be packing everything we have collected when the year is over and its time to go home!
Hey Guys, I am afriad that I am going to have the same problem as Jenn as I am driving down. The first time I brought WAY too much stuff. Picture frames and posters and bedding and towels and stuff I really didn't need. This year I am putting all my DVD's/CD'S into one case and bringing one photo album full of pictures and that's IT! I also brought my t.v. and my dvd player last time which turned out to be unnecessary as our apartment already had both...but it was nice b/c I kept them in my room. This year they're both getting left at home and I'm just bringing my laptop. And I'm going to have to curb the desire to bring all my purses and shoes....so...difficult...hurts...my....heart... Oh well. Yeah, don't forget that in your first few days you'll make your way to the Super Wal-Mart and be able to pick up anything that you've forgotten. And if you have the exact same item waiting for you at home in the U.K., Canada, Norway etc. you can just throw it out to a lucky newbie who forgot the same thing. Pay it forward! Best of luck. I guarentee you'll all survive!
I figure that my roommates are either going to love me or hate me for bringing a lot of the "extras" I'm considering. See, I have a playstation 2 with Dance Dance Revolution, Rockband, and Sing Star... which all seem like they could be *so* entertaining... but take up a lot of room. I really hope I don't have roommates that are super quiet and hate video games!
I can just imagine how stressed out, all of you are right now. But take a deep breath and remember one thing: Less is more. You can really buy almost everything over here. And believe me, you will want to buy a lot. : And then you will want to take a lot of stuff back home with you. That means, only bring what's really necessary. Nothing extra. I know that's kind of hard, but you can do it! Just ask yourself, what do I need to survive?
I totally know what you mean.... I'm a complete shopoholic and know that i will probably double the amount i have in no time once i get there!! lol but it doesnt make it any easier trying to fit everything into just two cases... im def a 'just in case' kind of person so will probs arrive with very bulging bags!! x x x
lol I'll just be there five months and I've 2 big suitcases + a small one... I see me at the airport with 3 cases and the others staring at me with just one :-S but I'm afraid that all the stuff I buy there wouldn't fit in them when I return home. so I've to admit, I'm a shopoholic too. i went to the mal yesterday morning to buy one more case and I came back at night with a full suitcase LOL
