5 Packing & Traveling Tips for Students
Packing a years worth of life into two suitcases, weighing under 50 pounds (22.7 Kg), is difficult. Lugging them from one continent to another, through various airports is a stressful ordeal. So here are 5 tips on traveling and packing that will hopefully make life easier.
Ready to Travel
- Leave small electronics at home. When I went to Austria I tried to learn the difference between a converter and an adapter. After blowing out an alarm clock by trying to plug my 110volt alarm clock into the 220 volt socket, I understood. Small electronics (ie. Alarm clocks, hairdryers, etc.) and voltage differences don’t combine well. Battery powered alarm clocks work well, and a day or two without a hairdryer should be survivable. While you can buy voltage converters, they can be difficult to use and expensive to purchase. Adapters simply allow the two different physical plugs to plug into one another. These are more common, and are available at most travel stores, in airports, and in some major shopping centers.
- No pillows. Pillows are cheap in the US, costing $10 at Wal-Mart or other shopping centers. They are not worth trying to cram into a suitcase (no matter how squishy they are), where space for other important things (like clothes) could go. You might have to go without a pillow for a few days, but at least you will have clothes to wear during that time. If this worries you, bring a small travel pillow.
- Don’t mention Lebkuchen at Customs. While customs officers are nice enough people, you don’t want to spend hours talking with them, after spending hours on a plane. It makes for a very long day and bad start. The items listed are likely to be confiscated at the customs check. For more specific information check out the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (cpb.gov) statement.
Here’s a story: When I came back from Frankfurt, I bought my sister Lebkuchen, which is a special kind of German cookie. The customs officer asked if I had any food in my bag. I didn’t want to say no, and have him find my Lebkuchen package, so I told him yes. He questioned me, being very polite, but since in my two or three times through U.S. customs no one had asked me questions before, I was a bit nervous. It’s like a cookie, I told him, pulling the package out. He tried to read the ingredients, but since they were in German, he gave up. No meat or fruit in it right, he asked, glancing down at the German label again. Not that I know of, I replied. Alright, he said, go on through. The moral of this story, is don’t mention Lebkuchen or cookies at customs.
Mad Packing Skillz!
- Keep your passport on you at all times. You will need your passport constantly on your trip to the U.S. . You need it to get your ticket, to get through security, to get onto the plane, and finally to get out of customs. A passport holder which hangs around your neck or hides under your belt will be worthwhile. Vanity aside, it’s a convenient place to put your passport and ticket, and it also keeps it safe throughout your trip. Also, in case something does happen to your passport, keep a photocopy (somehow certified that it truly is your passport) both in your checked baggage, and in your carry on luggage, and finally at home. If the worst happens, and you do loose your passport, at least you will have some sort of ID and be able to get the help you’ll need to get a new passport.
- Take a deep breath and relax. If you forget something, the world will not end. There are stores here in the U.S which will probably carry it, or you can most likely have someone mail it to you.
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Lying to a Customs official will most likely result in your food being confiscated weather it is prohibited or not, it can also lead to a hefty fine. Be honest with Customs.
Travel Visa…
WHo says the internet is full of garbage? Great post! Rock on……
hi, i've read your article, im a student going to the US for the 1st time (im going for a month)..and i'll be carrying my laptop,digital camera,ipod as electronics aside from clothes and notebooks and sketches…so u advise not to carry a hairdryer??? i mean for a month its..and about the handbag im planning to carry my backpack with my electronics and a set of clothes is it ok?
what abt toiletries is it better to pack them in the checked bag?
Thnkx
Jenny, I'll remind you if you are coming from anywhere other than North America, the voltage is different (110 versus 220) – so check if your hairdryer has a internal converter or if it will only work on 220V. For 1 month I would still suggest bringing it with you, if it doesn't work you can buy an inexpensive one at many stores.
It would be better to pack toiletries in your checked bag, make sure to wrap them well or they may spill! Your handbag sounds fine. Enjoy your trip to the US!
i would kidly request a full scholership , free room & boarding , free travel tickets.
i woud like to be enrolled and accepted.
I agree with Alex (above) who said: "Lying to a Customs official will most likely result in your food being confiscated weather it is prohibited or not, it can also lead to a hefty fine. Be honest with Customs." But it does help to understand that by and large, US Customs is looking to prevent the spread of bugs that frequent fruit and meats. Once we got stopped by a customs hound dog who sniffed out an apple in my wife's bag. She took it from a hotel in Germany, but didn't eat it on the plane, and forgot about it. Upon returning to the US, we both declared "no" when asked if we had any food. The hound dog sniffed it out, causing both of us to be detained. It wasn't a bad experience, but it does show that you can't get away with anything.
Derek Cannon
Webmaster – HCGLessons.com
Learn about the HCG Diet
Wowza! This article brought back some great memories from when I had to move my gf here to live with me from BC! She had the exact same thoughts on “packing up her life.”
Great article, glad I came across it in my search for moving tips!
Dexx
Thanks for the tips; I'll be moving to another city next week. This is very useful for me.
Nice tips for traveling but this is really the most important to "Keep your passport on you at all times" if you have handy bag or back pack put it there and carry that all the time.Be calm always .if your first to travel ask someone who can guide you if you have question.
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