Bringing stuff back home (uk)

[duffdo]

When I travel to WDW, I will make sure I take some clothes with me that I am happy to chuck in the bin or donate to good will. Normally I don't buy that much anyway in the way of clothes or shoes, as I have found that Orlando isn't as cheap as it used to be. If you have been to an outlet village in the UK, you will know that you can pick up some cheap deals there! What I do tend to shop for in Orlando are some of the premium brands, for which there are some great deals to be had.... Abercrombie and Fitch is a good example, it is hard to come across in the UK, Oakley, Ralph Lauren, Levi. I would just be sure to check out the deals available at home first because once you have added your sales tax and converted back to pounds, Orlando can be a bit of a false economy.

[higgy66]

I live 10 mins away from one designer outlet and 30 mins from another - I'm afraid I've yet to find any real bargains out in the USA anymore

Not only have they put their prices up but the £1/$ is poor so we've not bothered for the last couple of years.

[anniedream]

We are going to September and flying with VA. My partner and I will take 1 Suitcase each and then a hand luggage bag each. So alltogether we will have 28 kg each which is LOADS for a 2 week vacation, considering we had 15kg each last year for 3 WEEKS!
What we are going to do is not fill each suitcase (15kg each MAX) and then fill our hand luggage bags (5kg each). That way when we come back we will have 8kg each to use for presents and things out there.
Last year as we were very tight on luggage allowance we threw some of our belongings away, like old tops etc as we had brought new ones. A lot of the places you stay have laundrettes, so if you dont mind spending a few hours doing some laundry then it is worth baring in mind as you wont need to take as much. When we arrived last year we did a trip to Walmart and I WISH I hadn't brought half the things I did. It's so easy to pop into Boots and get Soltan when its on offer, but over there its even cheaper. Granted not as cheap as it used to be, but still cheaper.
In a nutshell, don't overpack. That way you wont worry coming back.

[~Piglet~]

Originally Posted by Laszkowicz

I think we only get 22kg each ( 88 total )

my wife can't go away without 4 pair of shoes, hairdryer, straighteners, and own shampoo ect which all weigh's her case.

me n kids can travel light.
There's nothin you can't get in Amercia, right ?

I would leave behind the hairdryer and straighteners! The hairdryer might not work unless its dual voltage, the one provided in our room was fine. I took my GHD's last year, no problem with the voltage as they run on both, but within an hour of being out in the heat my hair went kinky anyway! to me it wasn't worth the hassle - and also the room / weight they take up in your case! I do like to take my own shampoo but usually take half a bottle so that I can leave what's left out there, same with toothpaste, deodorants etc.

As PP's have said, put out what you want to take with you and halve it! - I thought I was streamlining for our last trip (our 3rd) but I still overpacked We did bring back an extra bag (I took a fold up holdall with us from a previous trip) but waited until we had packed the day before leaving to see if it was needed - it became obvious that no matter how I tried, there was no way we could fit everything into our 3 suitcases Then we just booked the extra bag online with Virgin.

[queendisney]

Originally Posted by higgy66

I live 10 mins away from one designer outlet and 30 mins from another - I'm afraid I've yet to find any real bargains out in the USA anymore

Not only have they put their prices up but the £1/$ is poor so we've not bothered for the last couple of years.

I think it really depends what you are looking for and what time of the year you go. If you hit the Orlando sales at the right time you can't beat them on price. But agree its not as good as it used to be. Sometimes we come back with loads and sometimes nothing! Last September DH got a load of T-shirts (designer names) for about £3 each plus loads of other clothes...I on the otherhand got nothing on the clothing front. But I did buy 3 Kipling bags at really good value, yankie candles, make-up and a duvet set in the Macy's sale (with the extra discount for oversea's customers) which was really cheap and a very high quality and the equiv here would have cost way way more.
So it just depends what you want and when you go..and off course how much you can get back in your case

[Laszkowicz]

Thanks guys. I get the jist, travel light n will have room for prezzies.

Wife won't go in her 'holiday of a lifetime' without GHD straighteners. Lol.

We prob will wash with kids n ice creams etc.

[MrRomance]

PP's have already covered the legal side of customs and excise so I won't rehash that but I think what the lady in your travel agency may have been trying to say is don't go with 4 case and come back with 5 because it raises suspicion and in my experience that is somewhat correct.

We travel P.E. so we get 2 cases each. We didn't take 6 cases with us but we bought 6 back and they were all gone through by security. Not sure the same would apply to one extra case on the return leg though.

There was a time when shopping for clothes and trainers was GREAT! I remember those days with fondness but things are different now. Prices in the US have gone up A LOT and also the exchange rate has gone down. The deals of yester year are not the same as they were.

That said, there are definitely deals to be had and as long as you don't go nuts (believe me I have seen some crazy things on my return flights with people piling up 10 cases of stuff they bought "cheap" only to get hit with customs charges) you should be fine. You have an allowance that you're legally able to bring back.

[Laszkowicz]

Thanks mr romance.

[wayneg]

Originally Posted by Laszkowicz

Wife won't go in her 'holiday of a lifetime' without GHD straighteners. Lol.

If you look on the plug/adapter/cable there should be an input rate. If it says something like 100~240v then it is dual voltage and works on the US 110v system as ell as ours. If it just says input 240v then it will not work out there.

[Kath2003]

Originally Posted by wayneg

If you look on the plug/adapter/cable there should be an input rate. If it says something like 100~240v then it is dual voltage and works on the US 110v system as ell as ours. If it just says input 240v then it will not work out there.

Who knew you were such a guru of all things hair straightening, Wayne?!?

[wayneg]

Originally Posted by Kath2003

Who knew you were such a guru of all things hair straightening, Wayne?!?

One thing I will never need.

[Laszkowicz]

One more question then on 'power'.
What if I took a uk 4way, and put an adapter on the plug, then used the 4 uk sockets for our phone chargers, her straightners, Nintendo DS etc.

would that work ?

this is what we usually do in Spain. LOL.

PS
GHD's say 110/230 Val - so these look ok, but Tony n Guy hairdryer says 230/240. v
OMG DW will be doomed ! she likes her powerful hairdryer.

[wayneg]

No problem with a 4 way socket with a standard US adapter, I take one every trip.

GHD's should be ok but Tony n Guy hairdryer @ 230/240 won't unfortunately.

[Laszkowicz]

one unhappy wife.
ow well, she'll have to make do with hotel blower.


Wayne - would you mind taking a look at my plans so far ?

Im a first timer, and didn;t know how people would take it if I opened up a thread with all my details on ?

As a basic over view, would you give me some pointers if I post it next ?

[wayneg]

Post away, I am sure you will get some input.