Can I pack dried spices in checked luggage?
 

We are renting a villa next week on Grace Bay--will be doing some cooking in. Will our bags get stopped/spices, herbs confiscated going into Provo? Thanks for all of your help, Fodorites!

Yes, you can bring dried spices in your checked luggage or bring them in your carry-on. The only thing that is a problem in the Turks & Caicos is meat (you have to pay a huge fee to bring that in) and some fruits and vegetables.

Please forgive me. I'm confusing my islands. You can bring meat and perishables into the Turks & Caicos. They just have to be frozen and vacuum-sealed. I think it's the BVI that require you to pay the huge importation fee for meat.

Thank you. It looks like the Graceway Gourmet might be pricey--and I am not sure about the IGA. This will be a small way to keep costs down.

Prices will be more expensive than what you are used to back home, but most prices are about 30% higher (some more). If you lived in Manhattan and paid the exorbitant Manhattan prices, you would probably think that there wasn't a difference. If you are used to suburban Illinois shopping, then you will definitely feel the price increases. However, the prices will probably not be more expensive than paying an extra $20 to check a bag if you aren't already planning to check one, or paying even more to check a second bag.

When renting an apartment, it makes sense to bring a small amount of non-perishable things or food that you really want/need that might not be available. It makes no sense, for example, to pay $4 for a new pepper shaker if you have one at home. Or it makes no sense to pay $5 for a new jar of chili powder if you already have some. Or $9 for a pound of coffee if you are used to drinking Folger's for half that price. And I'd guess that you could save $20 or $30 from a week's groceries if you bought enough stuff with you in a cooler or in your suitcase. But I think people get much too worked up about the cost of a few staples and tend to overpack and overthink.

Make sure they are packaged securly - you don't want that stuff to "escape" and get all over your clothes. Plastic baggies for each individual spice, and then maybe all of them in a small tupperwear container.
Deb

Thanks, guys! We are really looking forward to this escape--packing plenty of sunscreen, inflatable pool rafts, baggies, and jerk seasoning! Of course, the pool rafts have drink holders!

hi nuts, i've done this on provo 3 times. we take coffee/tea, pb&j, tuna packs and spices in checked luggage.
we also take a full sized cooler (for 2+wks) with meats, frozen juices, lobster meat (we live in maine) premade appetizers, etc. on last trip i premarinated chicken in ken's ceasar and froze it in a ziploc & seal-a-meal. ceasar salad by the pool was scrumptious.
we don't really do this to save money, we spend plenty anyway but more because we know we'd like to eat grilled lamb racks on tuesday night and that we want to have lobster salad sandwiches on our own beach one afternoon.
excellent choice to get rafts with cupholders! with that in mind we picked up booze at the duty free on the way to the island. we saved a bundle. i know as we had to restock on island...
which villa will you have?