Traveling with e-liquid to South Africa

[90lbwussy]

Hey everyone,

I'm going to be moving to South Africa (from the US) in about a month. I'll be taking my e-liquids along with me--approximately 30 or so bottles. What is the best way to transport these? Have any of you traveled with a large amount of liquid before? I think I can fit a lot into my carry-on luggage, but I don't know if all the bottles will fit into the small zip-lock bag that I am required to put my liquids in. If I pack some of them in my luggage, do you think they will be confiscated at customs? Should I ship some to myself, or would that also be a bad idea? Any help or advice would be appreciated.

 

[umzungu]

Customs are pretty clueless. Would put in my luggage and give some and just explain what it is or spin a story of aromatherapy oil or something. In your hand luggage you will have to explain a lot more often than just customs.

 

[notdanielbutdaniel]

Yeah I agree with umzungu, if it's in your carry-on luggage it's far more likely to be problematic than if it's packed away in your suitcase.

 

[dragonbone]

Agreed. If it was me, with that amount, I'd make it look like aromatherapy oils for personal use. Maybe print labels and shrink them on with that tubular heat activated shrink wrap (cheap on eBay). Or just paste new ones on, if they are small sample bottles.

Carry them neatly in some sort of container in your check in. (Like one would do with expensive aromatherapy oils). One or two with original labels in your carry on zip lock baggie, should be absolutely no problem. I would have a couple in my hand luggage as backup, in case of my suitcase going MIA. Lol.

Actually, it is quite unlikely that you will have any kind of hassle, but if you are nervous and want peace of mind, take some precautions.

 

[VANA]

Do NOT bring them in your carry on. Put them in a ziplock in your checked luggage. You will be fine if their in your carry on more than like one 30ml or a few 10 Mls it would raise suspicion, also going through security disconnect your tank from your battery and turn your device off. I've heard horror stories of people going through security with everything a click away from vapeing make it look like your not about to use it.

Also on planes I found the best way to ask if you can use your vapor on a plane is wait for drink service and ask the flight attendant if you can use your " nicotine inhaler" And then pull on it and take a deep breath to let out little vapor make sure to ask loudly so others around you hear their response and don't raise attention. NEVER smoke it in the bathroom it will set off a silent alarm. Being in a small room like that.
Learned from my vast travels would wide.
Happy vapeing safe travels.

 

[Matthee]

Seems you have received some sound advice. Will be great to welcome a vaper to our country. Hope to hear more from you in this subforum. What area of anthropology will you be working in?

My experience in planes: They are loath to allow vaping in your seat, appears just too much like smoking. Most airlines I use now have "no vaping" as official policy. So, I keep to nicotine gums, but will sneak in a puff or two under my jacket when the lights are off. Also a sneak puff in the small room, blowing downwards - have not as yet set off their alarms!

 

[90lbwussy]

Thanks everyone--I agree that trying to pass through security with 15 or 20 bottles of liquid is likely to look sketchy. I'll put most of them in my checked luggage, mixed in with shampoo and toothpaste and other stuff. If I split things up a bit, it will be harder to lose everything. If some is in my carry-on, at least I'll still have it if my suitcase goes missing or something is taken out; if security gives me issues (although I've never had any to date) at least I'll still have a bunch in my checked baggage. Maybe I'll bring three or four in the carry-on (I've traveled with up to five before) and the rest in my luggage.

I'm moving to South Africa for PhD research in Social Anthropology. I'm going to be studying community theatre--why people do it, what they use it to talk about, how it shapes the actors themselves, and generally, what it can tell us about culture and society in contemporary South Africa. I'm generally interested in the anthropology of art and the anthropology of ethics.

Any vaping meet-ups in South Africa? Anyone from Jo'Burg? That's where I'll be living, at least for the first six months while I work at Wits.

PS--my profile pic is from Cape Point