please help!....regarding CARRY ON COOLERS and FOOD

[Iluvstjohn]

Ok...so this is like my 3rd post on bringing on food. My husband just asked...."so it's ok to bring on frozen meat on the plane? Do we have to declare it at customs or something?

This got me thinking.....so I can bring the Polar Bear cooler on WITH frozen meat....techni ice probably not....

It can be done as a CARRY ON, right? The last time we did this it was mainly dry goods....so now he has me worried!

Let the packing continue....please answer if you did carryon with frozen food! Ease my mind!

[Pia]

Bringing meat is 100% OK

Pia

[Iluvstjohn]

he had me worried for a minute.....he is like..."don't you HAVE to check it? I said...."I don't think so....but let me ask the experts!

[JerseyDad]

We just did it last month no problem. 3 different folks in our party took frozen meats and cheeses with us. Freeze the crap out of your food, then right before you go to the airport put it in the cooler (we used those soft sided coolers). I lined the inside and top inside of the cooler with newspaper (the bums use newspaper to keep warm so you know its a good insulator). The food was hard as a rock after a full day traveling (left the house at 5 AM and arrive in our villa at 5 PM). Have a great trip!

[JJShaw]

We've also carried on meat and cheeses, never had a problem. We have a 2 hr drive to the airport so all in all about 11 hrs of travel time and our stuff is usually still frozen as well. Time is getting short for us both
Hope to see ya there....

[RonUSVI]

I always ask is it really worth it to haul all of that for a week's 'vacation'?

[Xislandgirl]

Ronnie- for some of us, it is what makes vacation affordable and enjoyable.
I would prefer to bring my 1.29 a pound chicken breasts, a $2.50 pound of bacon, and a $6 slab of VT cheddar. Add in a few other things and I can have 2 breakfasts, 1 dinner, 2 lunches and some happy hour snacks for around $30.
It allows me to spend my vacation money somewhere other than the grocery store or a restaurant.

[Iluvstjohn]

also.....it is time to splurge on some good steaks and other meats that you might not get to have at home. We have "young kids" and the ability to go out and eat a nice dinner isn't always there. My kids are shot by 6pm after being out in the sun and fun all day.

So....it is worth it....

And this is our 2nd time bringing food down...2nd time in 8 trips. This trip is my CHALLENGE! LOL

[cptnkirk]

We think it's worth it, but then ya'll know I'm kinda lets say FRUGAL I figure we save at least $200 by bringing stuff down. More money in my pocket to buy that Mcmansion in Peterbay