Traveling for Christmas & BIG PROBLEM! Help??

Question

Me and my husband are traveling from Germany to USA to visit my family for Christmas. We have gifts of course. The gifts consist of very breakable things. We have 5 bottles of champagne, 1 bottle of liquor and a beer. We have already wrapped them in bubble wrap but I'm afraid that's not enough. If they DO break, not only will the gifts be gone but our clothes will never ever be rid of the smell of alcohol. Is there any ideas??? Thanks!

Answer 1

You should check with your airline - different ones have different rules about packing, and also different restrictions. For instance, some don't allow spirits of any sort on flights, even in hold baggage. I don't know how they'd feel about champagne, either, as the pressure change might make the cork blow out and be dangerous.

If you are allowed to take these items in your hold baggage, I'd suggest several plastic carrier bags tied around the bubble wrap, which would at least contain the worst of the damage.

Answer 2

I had this worry when I spent time studying in France and came back to the UK for the holidays.

I usually pack my clothes in large plastic bags eg pedal bin liners to stop them getting damaged in transit. This would probably also work for you just in case the bottles did break. I also triple-wrapped the bottles - bag round the bottle, sealed with tape, bubble wrap, bag round that.

I found the best way to pack the case was to put a layer of bagged clothing in the bottom, then lay a large towel over the top and put the bottles and other breakables on it, wedging them in with shoes (also in bags) and toiletries so they couldn't move around too much. Then I folded the rest of the towel over them, tucked it in and put in the rest of my clothes. I never lost a single gift even when my suitcase arrived looking like it had been thrown from the international space station.

Answer 3

You should put each one in a long box...one which fits snugly...corners of stiff cardboard will protect the bottles more than anything...if you can wrap them in one layer of bubble wrap and then insert them into the boxes so much the better.....you dont want them to have any space to move.

If you cannot find boxes to fit, then make your own from big boxes and gaffa tape....then wrap the boxes in clothes..they'll be fine.

Answer 4

I guess you should check with your airlines if they allow that number of bottle you'll be bringing and remember that's alcoholic drinks before you pack and set to go rather to be sorry later for bringing those.