AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Travel Silly Packing Question

I am packing up for(as many of you already know by now) our first trip to Belize. I know many of you wonderful boarders have recommended not to pack much...I am trying my darndest not to. I just finished compressing 4 spacesaver travel bags(those new bags that vaccuum pack your clothes) and what a workout it is Anyway...a thought came to mind, perhaps a little to late, that I may have a problem at the airports when checking my luggage. Will they open up my vaccuum packed clothing to perhaps check for hidden items....my fear is that they will and will never be able to pack it back up and my belongings will be arriving in Belize all over the baggage claim area Anyone from the states know if anything like this might occur? Thanks...Goody

goody, i've never used those bags, but i do know that they will go through your suitcases and inspect everything. i always tend to overpack, you know it's about the right shoes and cute outfits. seriously, you can get by with shorts, tops, capris and you will be fine. extremely casual and laid back town.

have fun. you're gonna love it.
mimi

Goody,
When we left the states, no one went thru our bags that were check thru. The only time we had our bags opened was leaving Belize when all our clothes were funky and we really didn't care.
We lived in bathing suits all day, shorts or a sundress for me at night when I wasn't still wearing my bathing suit with a sarong. Could have packed for the three weeks we were there in one good sized bag. I would suggest that you take half of what you think you'll need out of your bag. As for shoes, I think I wore flip-flops once or twice and when I put my sneakers on to go home, I felt like I was wearing ski boots. Have a blast!!
C

We arrived at Golson. Our TropicAir tickets had been prepaid so I thought I would save everybody some time and rush right through customs and pick up our boarding passes. I was never given a second glance by the militia style customs agents and neither were my 9 companions.

how funny. maybe it's just me. i don't think i look guilty, but i've been to belize 3 times and have been searched each time. i get the wand search thing in houston, too.
huh...

Hi mimi! There's something to that 'looking guilty' thing. I was held up in customs 21 years ago while vacationing with my parents in the Bahamas. I had been in the casino and a blackjack dealer (yet another BAD BOY from the UK) coerced me into going out the night before our departure to the happening places where the locals went. The next day I was subject to searches every step of the way, and to add insult to injury, got terribly sick on the way home.

Hi, Goody2shuz! I have thought about using those bags. I can see how they would work on the way but please let me know how they work on the way back. It seems to me that you would not be able to vacuum pack on the way back. Thanks, Kathy

We have used those bags on both our trips to AC - coming and going. We pack all our clothes, swim suits, etc in them. No problems with customs unpacking the bags or even looking in our luggage. They work great and save a lot of room. mobunny

There is another kind of bag similar to the vacuum pack bags. You roll the air out. They work great. I got mine at the luggage store.

REI has the bags that you roll the air out of.
If you have time to order they are in the travel accessories section. www.rei.com
I have used them for several years, they really take a ton of abuse.