Luggage, tagging and locking and ID questions! creative anyone?

[Already In Love]

Okay, so I'm cutting this WAY CLOSE. my husband and I just finished packing our clothes last night and we have 3 suitcases and a garment bag between the 2 of us (in addition to 2 carry ons) we'll also have 2 duffle bag type bags for our boys when all is said and done.

 

Now,

 

I know I need to put luggage tags on them, IDing my home address so they can be returned if they get really really lost, and the tags from RCL are here, so that will ID my room number, but

 

1) How do you go about "identifying" your suitcase? Ours are black and brown and may mix in with other people's bags. Has anyone come up with a clever way to make their bag stand out? I've never done a cruise before but I hear that when you disembark (if you dont' self-disembark) sometimesm there is just a huge pile of luggage to go through .. how can I make mine stand out?

 

2) locks? whoops. I don't have any locks! I keep hearing about TSA locks, but what are they and where do you get them? (I live in a smallish town 60,000 people).

 

I'm not too terrified about theft, we dont' have anything super valuable in there. I was even thinking of just securing our zippers together with zip-ties. But then I realized Im probably not allowed to bring sissors onboard in my carryon so How would i cut the zipties to get into my bags? I know zip ties are not terribly safe as they only require cutting to remove them, but at least it woudl discourage someone from opening the bag quickly and removing some items.

 

I'm driving ot the port, not flying, so my bags won't be changing hands very many times during the trip.

 

3) My grandmother always said that you should print a page with your address and itinerary on it and place a copy in each bag of luggage on top of your clothes, that way if something is lost and ID tags removed somehow, they can still return your contents to you. Is this still the prevailing wisdom? If so, how much information would you provide? would it be suffice to say that we are cruising with Royal Carribean to the mexican riveria on the Vision of the seas departing LA on 10/22 and returning to LA on 10/29 and then to give RCL 1-800 number if luggage found. And then also to leave my email address so that if the luggage is found after 10/29 they can contact me and I can arrange to have it shipped back to me?

 

advice, recommendations? please?

[madhouseinc]

Okay, so I'm cutting this WAY CLOSE. my husband and I just finished packing our clothes last night and we have 3 suitcases and a garment bag between the 2 of us (in addition to 2 carry ons) we'll also have 2 duffle bag type bags for our boys when all is said and done.

 

Now,

 

I know I need to put luggage tags on them, IDing my home address so they can be returned if they get really really lost, and the tags from RCL are here, so that will ID my room number, but

 

1) How do you go about "identifying" your suitcase? Ours are black and brown and may mix in with other people's bags. Has anyone come up with a clever way to make their bag stand out? I've never done a cruise before but I hear that when you disembark (if you dont' self-disembark) sometimesm there is just a huge pile of luggage to go through .. how can I make mine stand out?

 

2) locks? whoops. I don't have any locks! I keep hearing about TSA locks, but what are they and where do you get them? (I live in a smallish town 60,000 people).

 

I'm not too terrified about theft, we dont' have anything super valuable in there. I was even thinking of just securing our zippers together with zip-ties. But then I realized Im probably not allowed to bring sissors onboard in my carryon so How would i cut the zipties to get into my bags? I know zip ties are not terribly safe as they only require cutting to remove them, but at least it woudl discourage someone from opening the bag quickly and removing some items.

 

I'm driving ot the port, not flying, so my bags won't be changing hands very many times during the trip.

 

3) My grandmother always said that you should print a page with your address and itinerary on it and place a copy in each bag of luggage on top of your clothes, that way if something is lost and ID tags removed somehow, they can still return your contents to you. Is this still the prevailing wisdom? If so, how much information would you provide? would it be suffice to say that we are cruising with Royal Carribean to the mexican riveria on the Vision of the seas departing LA on 10/22 and returning to LA on 10/29 and then to give RCL 1-800 number if luggage found. And then also to leave my email address so that if the luggage is found after 10/29 they can contact me and I can arrange to have it shipped back to me?

 

advice, recommendations? please?

 

First of all, by all means put a copy of your itenerary (sp) in each piece of luggage. As far as putting your home addy inside I would advise against it. If someone - not too nice shall we say finds it, they would know your home would be empty and open to burglary. I plan on putting my daughter's home addy in it - if sent to her she could make sure it gets to me.

 

For quick ID, they have some brightly colored duct tape - just one slash on each side and you will find yours in a flash.

 

The TSA locks - QVC carries them, but I also think Target and Wallmart do. If you decide to use the platic ties, buy some colored ones - if someone legal opens them, they leave a note.

 

By the way, check TSA website they have a lot of good ideas.

 

Happy sailing

[springtxbill]

As you are driving, there will be no restrictions on scissors or nail clippers to worry about so you can cut the ties.:)

[nparmelee]

Since you are not flying, you don't need TSA locks at all and the itinerary isn't as important, just get cable ties from the local hardware store to use as locks. Make sure to take a pocket knife with you to cut them off and take extras for leaving the ship. For identifiers, either get bright duct tape and make x's on the bags or get the colored wrapping ribbons to wrap around handles to help you find the bags. Don't forget to breathe! and have a great trip.

[Sheffie]

Glad to hear you have the packing done!!!!!!! Yeah!!!!!!!

 

You should start de-stressing soon!

 

Have a great cruise!

[digitalgirl]

I bought two rolls of duct tape, one to match the color of the luggage tags sent from the cruise line. I wrapped the tape around the bags and then wrote my name, ship and cabin on the tape with marker. I could tear the tape and open the bag if needed, and it was extra security if zippers were pushed.

I took a second roll for the trip home. It made it very easy to spot the bags after the cruise, at the train station and at the airport.

I found various colors at Walmart or Ace Hardware

Have fun

[wrp96]

I put bright neon colored shower poofs on the handles of all my bags. Makes them real easy to spot.

 

When you put your phone number on the luggage tags, put your cell phone not your home phone. If your bags get misplaced while you are on vacation, do you want them calling the phone you have with you or the phone that you are nowhere near and won't be anywhere near until after the vacation is over.

[DonLou]

Instead of duct tape I use masking tape. I just put two or three long strips on all sides of the suitcase, top and bottom. It looks ugly as sin but sure helps when you're looking for your luggage. Some do get stripped off but most stay on. The masking tape will not mar or damage your suitcase the way that duct tape does.

 

And yes, you do have to go hunting for your luggage at disembarkation. Fortunately, it is usually placed in an area that is associated with your assigned disembarkation color tag.

[Mekamax]

Colored pipe cleaners around the handles help when disembarking to find your luggage. Also you can use the zip ties and as someone else said you can get them off with fingernail clippers - just remember to pack the fingernail clippers in the carryon... We didn't and it took us forever to get the ties off!!!! :eek: :D debbie

[Sheffie]

Colored pipe cleaners around the handles help when disembarking to find your luggage. Also you can use the zip ties and as someone else said you can get them off with fingernail clippers - just remember to pack the fingernail clippers in the carryon... We didn't and it took us forever to get the ties off!!!! :eek: :D debbie

 

For those of you who are flying, we just put a small pair of scissors in the outside pocket of one of our checked bags. They are a lot easier to use than those little nail clippers, and if they are in the checked bags, they are not a problem at security.

[anniecat]

we put fabric ties on each handle....I'm a quilter so I have lots of choices...I usually use about a 3 inch wide by 12-18 inches..tie it on and knot it very tight, and let it fray. not (knot) elegant...but no one will mistake my black bag with lime green, hot pink and electric blue flags. :eek: we also use those plastic ties, keep a huge pet sized toenail clipper in an outside pocket, and inside leave a fresh tag, and a nice note for TSA to please replace after clipping off the first for inspection. Only once did they not re-tag. I may invest in actual TSA locks....but I'm a key loser...so not the best plan.;) Oh yeah....I make luggage tags (from office max etc) (just place your info and seal) with our outbound info with dates and hotels etc, and then another set for homebound...with our work info. I also put in each bag on top, addresses, dates, phones numbers of all places we'll be. Must work...never had a bag get lost (yet).

[miami]

When flying, I use neon plastic ties in addition to the TSA locks. If security opens your bag, they will leave a note or so I have heard. It the neon tie is missing, I know someone else has opened my bag.

 

To identify my bags from everyone else, I do have neon orange tags and fabric on the handle. I have thought of stenciling my initials on the bag.

 

I do put my itinerary inside each bag along with a contact name and number (not my home number).

[AZPam]

I used a yellow paint pen and simply wrote our last name across the top of our suitcases. Never have a problem finding them or somebody else mistaking them as their own. Not too many people out there with our last name, but maybe it wouldn't work as well for a Smith or Jones.

[fivefoot4]

I also put some form of identification (name tag) inside my suitcases and include my name address and phone no.

 

I also attach small bright scarfs to my suitcases too so I can see them clearly in the hundreds all waiting to be picked up.:) Mine are bright green with white spots lol

[Beth & Rob]

MARKING YOUR LUGGAGE------the pom poms and yarn balls can get caught in the conveyor belts. Use brightly colored duct tape or luggage straps. Put your initials on the bag and also a strip around the case. Can be seen from a distance, easily picked out and at debarkation, you don’t want to spend a ton of time looking for your bags.

[OceanDreamin]

A couple of years ago I was flying with my young daughter pretty close after Easter time. I went to a 99 cent only store, and got HUGE glittery easter stickers, and let DD "decorate" the outside of our suitcases with them. We missed a connecting flight, and when we made it to our destination our luggage was not with everyone else's arriving on that flight. I glanced over to another area - and there were our sparkly bunny/easter egg decorated suitcases waiting for us -- I could see them across the baggage claim area!:D This worked so well - and NO ONE else has anything at all similar, that I have kept my suitcases decorated with those sparkly stickers.

 

I too am driving to the port for our upcoming cruise, so will just use the cable ties/nail clippers trick as far as the locks go.

 

Have a great trip!:)

[Keith1010]

We put very colorful ribbon on the handles. Two pieces of ribbon on each handle which make it very easy to identify our bags, particularly if they are black or blue. Second we put two pieces of identification on each piece of lugggage and one inside.

 

In the past, we have not used locks but we plan to use it for an upcoming trip as for this speciific trip our suitcases are going to be taken by another vehicle from our home to airport, from airport to hotel, from hotel to ship, and in reverse order when we disembark. So, because they will be out of our hands for several times we decided to go with locks. Now, we realize that if someone really wants to get into our luggage they can break off the locks. We have purchased TSA approved locks so that we can leave them on at the airport. As I said we have never used locks before and actually have never had problems but we thought under the circumstances we would use locks for our upcoming trip.

 

Keith

[98Charlie]

So many people travel now with bright tape or colored pom poms on their luggage that I took indentification marking to the next level by painting large daisies on the fronts and backs of all our luggage. I use bright colors of fabric paint and paint the flowers free hand.

 

Our luggage looks a bit like we got stuck in the '60s hippie movement, but at least it's verrrry easy to spot it on disembarkation and at the baggage claim area in airports.:D

 

Dianne

[etsumom]

we also painted our initials and stars very large in neon yellow fabric paint on the sides of our black luggage. never had a problem spotting it! (Also dont have to worry about the kids "borrowing" it again :p )

[martinimadam]

TSA now has authorized locks with combinations! I too am poor with remembering where I so carefully placed my keys. The combinations work great. I bought double the number I needed and will keep one in each of my suitcases so, if the lock does get cut, I'll have another to replace it.

[GORDONCHICK]

I use purple duct tape on the handles of our luggage and neon green tsa locks. So far, we have driven to our ports, but next September we will fly for our Alaskan cruise.

[cusyl]

At Kmart I got laminate luggage tags. I put a picture of my pet on one side and name and location on the other side. No one can pick up one of my suitcases without seeing my cat's picture.:D

[Crusin Karen]

This sounds very involved, but only takes a short time to do...get a neon colored poster board. Type your name, address and phone # on computer paper, copy and paste for how many you need and print up. Cut the poster board into large rectangles-ours are about 4"x5". Using packing tape, tape your name, etc info onto a piece of poster board. Punch out a hole on top with a hole puncher, insert doubled yarn, ribbon or string and tie to your suitcase. I have this on our suitcases in brilliant red; made some for my DS and his DW in neon yellow....since we are Irish and I had some shamrock stickers, I stuck one on each label. You see your suitcase immediately and the only cost is for the poster board (about $1) since all the other items you have in your home.

[a forever cruiser]

We make our own tags so our luggage will be easy to spot. We buy plain gift tags then we decorate them with our stamped intial on one side and vacation stickers on the back. We then laminate them so they dont get ripped.