Customes

[Jordan]

Hey guys
I was just wondering how likely it will be that my bags will be searched? And are they actually gonna go trough everything? Which countries are the worst? It terms of perscription drugs & having the actual persciption is it really necesarry even for something the the pill? It terms of tylenol what about that? I get headaches fairly frequently, so I always have some with me. Is that gonna be a problem?

I also just want to say that I've done a lot of lurking & finally decided to join. All the advice you guys give each other is awesome. So I look foward to posting & reading more info!
Thanks

[me]

haven't travelled much since 9/11, but i think airport security is a bigger problem than customs.

for drugs, er... pharmaceuticals, i'd sugest keeping the bottle sealed until you get to Europe. and have a copy of the perscription handy!

i don't think there are as many checks between Schengen states, that should help you.

- d

[sejvirgo]

i flew in and out of amsterdam and didn't have any problems. i went through customs without more than a simple question or two. coming home all the guy asked me was if i had a good time. the hardest time i had was getting on my connecting flight at jfk back to vermont after customs. they searched through all of my carry on stuff, made me take my shoes off and all that (i pitied that poor guy touching my nasty flip flops i had worn around europe all summer!!). but while in europe i never had the slightest trouble.

[LHR02]

Have been to Europe 3 seperate times since 9/11 and believe me I take the whole darn medicine cabinet with me! ;D Cold, cough, allergy, flu, several kinds of stomach stuff, tons of excedrin...and always a 'just in case' prescription of antibiotics, pain meds, sulfer....I take a copy of the written script for those. Have never been questioned about any of it. My fear always is waking up in some strange place sick and having to get up and go to the pharmacy and try and find relief....so I take it all along with me. And except for seriously twisting my knee in Italy once I have yet to have to use any of it, except for excedrin.....headaches plague me too. Take what you need, if it is a prescription just toss in a copy on the remote chance you might get questioned about it.

[kateolicious]

What about birth control? I get mine through the youth clinic so I don't have a prescription. Would that be a problem?

[LHR02]

I'm no legal expert in any way....but as long as it is in the mfg packaging I can't imagine anyone giving you grief over that. It's pretty darn obvous what they are and easy enough to verify. Seriously, I wouldn't sweat that for a minute. At least not for travel anywhere in Europe.

[Cynthia]

I've never had a problem taking pills that are in blister packs (the kind that is clear on one side-foil on the other). I tend to travel with one sheet rather than the whole box. I also buy the smaller pill bottles (ex: asprin) and the seal is off because I keep using them however I do not mix in other types of pills in the same bottle as this can red flag a custom agent. Do carry the prescription where applicable- not required for birth control pills unless they may need to be replaced. The bottom line is that every cross counter drug can be replaced almost everywhere so if they really are keen to have your stash you can replace it.

As to checking through your bags, I've found that Asian country agents tend to be the most curious.