Discussing :: What NOT to take

Planning to travel abroad? Leave these items at home! Anyone who travels regularly is aware of luggage and carry-on restrictions post 9-11. However, if you travel abroad, there are other considerations to keep in mind. No foreign country wants undesirable insects, rodents, or diseases to infiltrate their population via border crossings. Before reading further, remember that if you have outstanding police warrants or a criminal record, you should probably forget about foreign travel. Period. What NOT to take with you Regulations vary by country. The snacks you pack for a domestic flight may not pass customs inspection for an overseas destination. Start with a... read full article

#1

What NOT to take

It is no wonder then, that so many people are surprised when customs stop them! That's a long list.

#2

This is handy to know! Ive never been overseas before but last night I had a dream I did! :p. I find that illegal drugs thing quite obvious..Who would be silly enough to put them in your bags and DEATH PENALTY! I am definitely put off going to any country that does death penalty...thats not fair! Because I am sure that someone would not be silly enough to do anything like that, it would be someone that would pop them in there bag....therefore, I am put off going overseas to countries that do stuff like death penalty. Scary stuff! Never knew about the things that you should take with you....Paying duty for what youve already purchased....ahhhhh so much to remember!

#3

It's also a really good idea to double check what the limits are for bringing alcohol purchases into certain countries- Many countries have a restriction of one bottle of spirits per person when you enter (especially around the middle east) and the Duty Free Stores will not tell you, meaning that some people get purchases confiscated from them at customs. It's always a good idea to research the duty free restrictions of each country you are going to visit!

#4

I've had hiccups with customs before and its HORRIBLE! Stick to the rules, you'll be sorry otherwise.

#5

Be extra careful with normal daily things you don't think twice about. I once took a necklace to Tahiiti not realising it actually had coral bits till customs stopped me on the way back home and presumed i'd bought it on holiday

#6

You can't even that a bottle of water on the plane, I got caught out at Auckland airport and had to skull the water or surrender my favourite bottle to customs.


Just take an empty water bottle through customs and fill it in the departure lounge. Most large planes also have a distilled water tank to refill you bottle once on board.

#7

While we assume so much is common sense, we daily hear of people making idiotic mistakes in international travel, so clearly it isn't! Hubby learned the hard way after wearing a stuntman tshirt that had a picture of a James Bondish charcter with a gun on it. He got searched at customs and they said "really? You thought THAT was a good tshirt to wear flying?" So yep, add to that list items of clothing with guns or inflammatory words etc on it! Dont' give customs an excuse to pick YOU out!

#8

Good advice about the laptop and digital gear. I hadn't heard about any problems with those from friends but I can see how it might appear to customs depending on the country you are going to or from.

#9

If in doubt declare it!


Better to be safe than sorry. Also having something to declare gets you throught customs faster as well!

#10

You know what NOT to take? Pesky alpha-people who dictate your every move and spoil the romance of discovering a new place. You don't want to take too strict an itinerary either, but definitely an open mind. Be prepared to follow your whims and let your instincts guide your trip. You won't regret it!

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