ehughes

I've searched this site but can't find much on this topic. I'm thinking of mustard, vinegar, chocolates, jams - probably all in jars or bottles and don't have room in luggage. What do you all do and what do you pack it in? Thanks.

allisonm

We always bring home some of these items. Going over, we line the bottoms of our checked bags with lots of bubblewrap and zip lock bags. Then all the jars are wrapped securely in the bubblewrap and placed in the gallon-sized ziplocked bags in case of breakage. We stuff them in the middle of our checked bags as well as our carryons (our carryons are usually filled with wine, wrapped the same way, with 3 bottles to one 2 gal ziplock bag). I have also brought pottery home this way, and so far, so good! (We also take along an empty duffel which brings home our dirty laundry so we can fit more in the other bags.) You could also wrap it securely and mail it home, but it would obviously have more expense involved.

Budman

I was going to say bubble wrap and carry-on, but I thought it was a trick question.

Kayb95

We don't bother with bubblewrap. We put each jar in a seperate plastic shopping bag in case of breakage (you collect a million of them along the way) and then roll the jar in an item of clothing (shirt, pair of pants, etc...) I've packed jars of jams, bottles of wine, etc... and never had one break.

For anything delicate, I carry it in my carry-on. If you have no room in your checked bag, pack a collapsible duffle bag and stuff it with dirty clothes on the way home. This will give you more room in your more substantial suitcase for the jars and bottles.

Christina

I do the exact same thing as Kay. I wouldn't want to pack a lot of extra bubblewrap, etc., when I have all these clothes that can cushion the items, anyway. I don't bring back tons of stuff, however, maybe a few little bottles of mustard or something. Chocolates don't break, of course, and I have brought a small package back once in my carryon, but don't think I'll do that too much in the future as they suffered from the heat damage on either or both ends (it was a very hot summer in both places). I would carry them more in cooler weather.

If you don't have room in your luggage, you can always buy or bring an extra small totebag for this stuff and carry it on. If you already have too many carryons and won't check your main bags, well, those are choices.