In two weeks we'll visit Barcelona, and it's the first time i'm thinking of taking carry on luggage but i have no clue as to how we'll handle the liquids. Apparently we can't have more than 50ml of each liquid, but what about shampoo or toothpaste or contact lens liquids etc?

Where did you get 50 ml? It's 100 ml, so far as I know, as of two weeks ago.

Shampoo and toothpaste fall under that rule.

I did read somewhere that contact lens cleaner does not, or you can somehow get an exemption, but even if you are right, the screener might not know that. So I'd stick with 100 ml for the contact lens fluid too. (It's also possible that what I'm thinking about in respect to contact lens fluid only applies to the USA.)

Willtravel you're right..it's 100ml! Still my contact lens liquid is 120ml. Well i'll figure out something! Thanks anyway!

Hi C,

TSA regs are at http://tinyurl.com/ptxdw

You should be able to find almost anything in that size - I've noticed the drug stores have started carrying more travel-sized stuff.

Also, if you're in the city, you won't have any trouble purchasing things once you arrive - I've done this before without problems. Particularly for shampoo, toothpaste - things that the brand isn't as important.

Actually the TSA says 3 ounces, not 100 ml. 3 oz. is 90 ml. You never know when you'll get a hard-nosed inspector...though most of the time they hardly look at the bags passing thru.

And please don't think you can take a 4 oz. jar that is only half full!! It is the size of the container, not what is inside that they look at. The lady in front of us a month ago held up the line for 10 minutes arguing with the agent.

Read the TSA regs.
Shampoo and toothpaste can be purchased in Spain. I only pack what I need for the first couple days and any products I can't live without.

It's not the 3 oz. maximum bottle size that's hard for me, it's stuffing all the travel sizes into a 1-quart size ziploc bag. That's a pretty small bag.

Under the TSA rules, contact lens solution and any other "medication" can be kept in a larger size and also doesn't have to be in the ziploc bag (same with baby formula and breast milk). But you have to declare it to the security screeners. I've heard that not all screeners are aware of this, though, and have given some people a hard time about their lens solution not being in the bag.

I put my contact lens stuff in a second bag, and have never even been asked about it.

I've had no problem carrying a small bottle of contact lens solution separately from my quart bag, but as cheryllj said, depending on the screener you may have an issue. In the US it is supposed to be OK as long as you declare it. However, if you're planning to carry on all your luggage on the way back from Barcelona, the rules may be different there. I think that when I took a flight from the UK, my contact solution had to be counted with the rest of my liquids.

If you happen to have a Lush near where you live (or can order online), they have solid shampoos and face cleansers that I love. That would save you some space in your baggie. Other stores may have them too.

It is 100ml actually which is slightly larger than 3oz.

And I put my large tube (approx 5 oz) of Rx cream as well as my daily contacts in a separate baggie. I put this alongside my baggie with the travel size toiletries and it all goes through. Remember - it is one bag per person, so if you are traveling with someone who might not take as many toiletries as you will (i.e. your husband) then you can put stuff in his bag.

Check out www.TSA.gov for their rules on what you can carry. Anything liquid or gel is included but there is a growing list of exceptions (breast milk and insulin are two).

The contact lens solution can be carried separately outside of the quart bag. I generally use a separate bag since I don't want a mess and also extra ziplocks are generally helpful!

Print out a copy of TSA rules and have them in your bag. If they aren't needed, they can be scrap paper on the trip.

I generally carry enough to get me through a day or two and things I can't live without. I actually think its fun to go buy shampoo, etc.

Saline/contact lens solution and other liquid OTC meds/prescriptions do not have to be in the 1 qt/1 liter baggie w/ the non-med liquids.

But they do have to be screened so do as some of the others suggest and put them in their own ziplok.

the actual rules are 1 liter bag/100 ml or smaller containers. But TSA uses for 1 qt/3 oz since that is the closest non-metric equivalent.

Go to any drug store, Target, WalMart, and you will find travel/sample sizes of most toiletiries. You can get a LOT into that 1 qt baggie since most items will be smaller than 3 oz. You can also decant your favorite products into small plastic bottles also available at the same stores.

And don't forget things like mascara, lip gloss, etc - they have to go in the baggie too.

When I traveled in February, I brought a 12 oz bottle of contact lens solution. I just showed it to the screeners, and there was no problem. I kept it on top in the carry-on bag so I could just pop it out & in.

I agree that you can fit a lot in that bag--it just takes a little work!