I will be bringing a few prescription medications in their original containers but would also like to bring some melatonin, Tylenol, and vitamins but not in their original bottle as they are all rather large. Can I carry them in a pill box or even a Ziploc bag onto the plane and through customs in Frankfurt and Rome without arousing suspicion or being taken aside for further questioning?

I also found some "pods" of dry laundry detergent and thought I might bring a few along so that I don't have to look for that when we need to wash clothes but again don't want to raise suspicion that it might be something contraband.

On our last trip (2010) I wasn't allowed to carry some tiny cuticle scissors so I know things can be rather strict.

Thanks for sharing your experiences!

I have had no problem carrying OTC meds and vitamins in ziplocks. Chances are they will attract no attention at all but even if your bag were to be examined for some reason the inspectors are pretty good a spotting drugs of abuse and Tylenol and vitamins are not on that list. You did not ask but I'll note it anyway - be sure that all meds are in your carry on and not your checked bag.

As for the laundry pods - as they are powder and not liquid also should be no problem. Worst that could happen is that an inspector would ask to open one to verify the contents are indeed detergent.

You don't need to bring detergent pods (I wouldn't want them in my luggage since they could burst) But maybe woolite packets (even shampoo works for hand washing)

As for the OTC meds -- you will have no issues w/ them. A baggie, a pill organizer, anything is fine.

(BTW - unless the prescription meds are opiates or controlled substances you don't even need original containers/labels for them)

I carry medicines in Ziploc bags all the time. Nobody in Europe cares about those type of medicines.

One country that cares about medicine import is the yours truly, the U.S. customs. I suspect it has something to do with the lobbyists in Washington D.C.

a friend tipped us off to using 'eucalan' (there are other newer brands of this) to wash clothes on trips. you can find it online, or at a local yarn shop. it's liquid, but you use very little (1 tsp. per gallon of water) so can bring a little 3 oz bottle through carry-on. it really works! it is called no-rinse... but i do rinse it... i just don't worry so much about rinsing several times. i bring a plug and use it in the sink... but he puts it into a giant baggie and just shakes it up, then lets it soak for a bit. sooooo handy, and works really well!

I brought Purex laundry sheets to Europe last time. They worked well. They look a little like a thick dryer sheet. You shouldn't have problems with OTC meds in a different container. I store mine in a SMTWTFS weekly pop-up container for travel.

There isn't really any customs when landing in Frankfurt. You pick up your luggage and walk out the door. They don't care about your OTC meds, nor your laundry detergent.

I often do not like the little bottles of shampoo or shower gel that most hotels provide. However, I have found they work very well for hand washing your clothes!

I take washing powder tablets with me. Sometimes you need to do a machine wash, and taking tablets you know is easier and cheaper than finding something while away, since you don't need a whole box of the stuff.
I always check a bag and they are in that, but they shouldn't be a problem in carry-on provided your friendly TSA agent recognises them for what they are at security. In Germany no one will stop you so it is a non issue.

The UK is rather less enthusiastic about Tylenol (paracetamol) than the US, if I am not mistaken.

Does anyone know if there are import restrictions?

I have carried fairly substantial amounts of prescription drugs into and out of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Croatia without trouble, but your experience may vary.

As I understand it, Tylenol is a brand name for paracetamol. Paracetamol is an over-the-counter, prescription-free drug in the UK, so no-one would bother to pay the extra for a brand name on a package. Hence the absence of Tylenol in the UK. It wouldn't be illegal to import it - but you should only bring in enough for personal use.

>>>Paracetamol is an over-the-counter, prescription-free drug in the UK, so no-one would bother to pay the extra for a brand name on a package. Hence the absence of Tylenol in the UK<<<

Drugs are given different names in different countries even if it's the same manufacturer/drug. Here's a list of acetaminophen/paracetamol (same thing) drugs and brand names in various countries. You will see a couple of brands listed for UK.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ol_brand_names

In France you put money into a wall panel and press the number of your machine or dryer or the laundry detergent you wanted. I was impressed with the system plus I went super early and watched the shop keepers opening for the day. Much anticipation for the bakery sign to turn over to open. In Germany we do it on base so nothing special. In Italy I have always had a balcony for drying so washed it out in the sink with shampoo. I loved this one place we rented that had no balcony but clothes lines right outside your window. I do carry a couple of dryer sheets for the trips as they also keep my clothes smelling nice in my suitcase. Only take bottles if it is a controlled substance. In 15 years I have only seen the cops check one person's prescriptions and that was because she was looped.

We brought the Purex Complete 3 in 1 sheets for laundry. I put a couple into a few zipper baggies and slid them in here and there in my suitcase. Didn't take up any room. Very convenient.

I always bring Tide pods with me if we are staying in an apt or a B&B and have had no issues at all. I put them in a ziploc bag and they are good to go. Same with vitamins and essential oils.

I have to check out Purex sheets. Thanks

Travelon makes sheets for laundry, shaving, body soap, hand soap and shampoo.

http://www.amazon.com/Travelon-Laund.../dp/B000Y0CL8K

You can also put some powder detergent in a ziplock bag.

I do dry detergent too, drchris. Since we always do carry-on, I have to make sure that all my liquids fit into the quart-bag,and I have to limit what I will bring. That is just ONE of the reasons that each of us carries powdered tide in a ziplock bag.

If it's a winter trip, I'm fine with using the hotel shampoo to do a quick wash of undies and socks, but on our cycling trips I need something that will get white socks back to white after a long day on the road. Tide is extremely effective if the socks are allowed to soak for a bit.

As to meds--I carry a mish-mash of meds in another ziplock and have never had anyone question them.

One thing that DID cause us problems at security once was a metal blow-up hanger hook. We had used them on many trips with no problems, but post 9/11 they became viewed as "a weapon" by one of the screeners. I quickly bought blow-up hangers with plastic hooks: http://www.travelonbags.com/accessor...atable-hangers

So with our Tide, some blow-up hangers, our twistie clothesline http://www.amazon.com/Travelon-Trave...pr_product_top (just "loop" the hooks instead of relying on the suction cups), we're able to reduce the amount of cycling and casual clothes we bring.

Purex 3 in 1 laundry sheets are hard to find since it seems they have been discontinued. That's too bad since 1/2 of these sheets works perfectly in those small combination washer/dryer machines found in a lot of European apartments. I do find them for sale on Amazon still -

http://www.amazon.com/Purex-Complete.../dp/B0053XE87A

Also, if you google, there seem to be some other sources still, as well as some negative reviews. They certainly are convenient and I have had good experience with them.

I can't find the Purex sheets in stores anymore either; thanks for the link, MaineGG. They also can be cut into smaller parts for hand laundry.

Oh, that is disappointing about the 3 in 1 sheets. They work great. Hopefully another brand will pop up. I might just order some to keep in my travel stuff for when they disappear altogether.