Carryon versus Checked bag

kivrin

When I am making my packing list for India (many changes thanks to all the wonderful posters here!), I am struggling with a couple things:

1. I know that you are supposed to pack ALL drugs in your carryon .. However, since I am going for over a month and take a few daily pills, that is amounting to a pretty good space hog. Should I pack all medications in the carryon, or can I pack a few days in the carryon and put the rest in the checked?

2. Is a normal tshirt sleeve modest enough? I plan on packing a 3/4 sleeve cardigan, but most of my lightweight tops are short sleeve.

3. Is there anything that you just wished you had packed? I usually do a very good job of packing everything I need, with few things that do not get used. (I don't mind carrying blister bandaids and not using them.) but ... I am trying to think of the one thing that everyone gets there and says "Doh .. why didn't I pack _______"

Hal

1. Good idea.

2. T-shirts are fine but take some long sleeved shirts to keep the sun and the mozzies off.

3. Can't really think of anything. Maybe a good towel. I found it hard to buy a decent one for a reasonable price.

jaibharatma

One of my checked bags went missing. It was delivered to my hotel after 5 days. All new items, cosmetics, and medicine were gone.

Aishah

I would pack the bulk of medicines in the carry on and also anything you absolutely cannot do without if your checked bag does go astray. This would include one set of clothes. I have heard of so many stories where luggage was held up en route and the owner had to wait nearly a week for it.

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steven_ber

I'm sure there are times when I've though "I wish I'd brought .......", but I can't remember what any of those things were, so it couldn't of bothered me that much, maybe a guidebook on the couple of times I went without one, but I still got by.

Overpacking really got to me though on the times I did overpack, every day I'd ask myself why I brought so much stuff.

Hold on, I've thought of one "I wish I'd brought......", a travel partner.

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Aishah

Steven! Next trip forget about the Railways - go to the Travel Partners Forum!!

steven_ber

They say Indian Railways and it's rules are difficult to understand, but when it comes to complexities and unfathomable mystery, Indian Railways is a doddle compared to women.

Haylo

That is only so you aren't stuck without important medication if they lose your bags, there's no problem with putting the rest in your checked baggage. Also when deciding on quantities, bear in mind that drugs are very inexpensive in India and most can be bought over the counter.

If it's modesty you're worried about, short sleeves are absolutely fine, they won't offend anyone. Hal has a good point about mossies and the sun though.

Not really, I spend a lot of time away from home, and I pretty much know what do and don't need when I'm away.

You might have to ask around to find out where to buy certain things, but everything you actually need is available in India. Millions of people survive for years on what you can buy there!

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Wildhorse

True, but India is notorious for fake drugs. Cheap stuff like aspirin may not be a problem but the more expensive anything is (say, malaria tablets or rabies vaccine), the greater the risk involved.

ashutoshrawat

Your concern regarding fake drugs in India is right but If you go to big chemist shops and always ask for a proper bill for the drugs bought then I think you need not worry ,it wont be fake.In big cities like Delhi, Mumbai you have Medical chains like appolo which you can trust.

edwardseco

Amen but don't quote me on that.

I thought carryon was the first thing they search for drugs. Pharmaceuticals are cheap in India, things like Doxy are pretty safe to get there especially for me since I can verify its effectiveness by my skin sensitivity. I have done this over the years..