Carry on or luggage?

[MissBlue]

it doesn't matter headinthetrees- once you are cleared to enter the country, they're done looking at the minute details of your luggage (except of course for the standard security check on the way out to ensure no 'contraband') - but nobody compares how many pieces of luggage you leave with, to what you brought in.

tizzy - lost luggage is no more or less likely in JA, as it is in any other airport - i've never had luggage lost or damaged in 25 years going to JA.... on the other hand, it happened twice within 8 years when i lived in Hawaii and went back and forth from there a lot. It's no more or less likely in JA than anywhere else - and it's standard procedure for most airlines that if anything does get lost, they hand-carry it to you when it is recovered.

[rastagirl777]

The only food items I bring with me is Olive Oil and Matzah Meal. I bring the Olive Oil because I prefer cooking with it as opposed to the oils available in Jamaica - and its wicked expensive there. The Matzah Meal I bring for a friend and that's simply not available - but he makes kickin' maztah balls with it that we all enjoy

Other than that I prefer to shop and eat locally and seasonally. When I'm in JA, I eat JA.

[suzengrace]

Carry-on all the way...If am staying less then 2 weeks I have no problem with everything in a carry-on. If staying longer or have things to bring over than I check in luggage (grudgingly-I fly US airway and they charge per bag-really adds to airfare costs). I can always seem to find essential (esp liquid ) items when am there (ie bug spray, lotions, etc,etc) But its one less stressful thing to ponder on when you can just walk off with your luggage-as opposed to waiting for it and hoping it not only gets there but gets there in one piece (with no thiefing as they say).

But its really not that hard-and yes if you forget something or need something more than 3oz liquid, I bet you can find it or something comparable at mega mart in mobay or hi-lo negril or Sav-la-mar, etc,etc...

[likkle red]

I would do a carry-on and if you need some products while there such as sunscreen, shampoo, etc you can always buy them in the little strip mall next to Burger King in the nice new pharmacy or at Value Master or Hi-Low. If you have any of these products left when you get ready to leave you can always leave them for the help at your hotel.

Safe travels

[yellowjeep]

I like what Rastagirl777 said - do carryon if it's not an obnoxious size - I can't tell you how many times I've gotten on a flight with an acceptable size carryon only to find someone has some huge piece stuffed into the overhang meant for 3-4 pieces - then I have to walk further back to put mine in the overhead - sucks when you land because then you make everyone mad by holding them up because you have to navigate back to get your sack before exiting the plane. I use a cooler on wheels as my check in - that way when I get to jamaica, I have a cooler to keep all of the Red Stripe in - can keep a lot more Red Stripes cold in a big cooler than a little refridge! Good luck!

[rastagirl777]

Oh, oops. I misread the question - what do I bring BACK that I can't get in the states? (I flipped it around to what I bring with me to Jamaica. Sorry. Old and addled).

I bring back fresh nutmeg, fresh pimento berry (allspice), HiLo or Grace Hot Sauce, Gray's Spicy Sauce and various pre-packaged seasonings - jerk, curry, chicken spice, chicken seasoning, fish seasoning that my friends at Wise Choice mix up and bag on their own. That and of course 30-50 lbs of Blue Mountain coffee...