Travel

Lithium cells travel in the cabin rather than in the hold. That applies to any rechargeable object with a built in cell, and it is the rule that most often causes a bag to be opened. Removable batteries come out of the device and travel separately with their terminals protected, which also prevents the second problem.

1. Clean and dry everything before it goes in the bag.
2. Engage the travel lock, or remove the batteries.
3. One object per bag, hard cases for glass.
4. Keep lubricant in a sealed bag inside the case, since pressure changes make bottles leak.
5. Under 100 millilitres per container in the cabin, or put the bottle in the hold.

A hotel bathroom is a private sink and solves the problem. A hostel or a shared house is not, which is where a no rinse spray or a pack of wipes earns its place. Rinse when possible, wipe when not, and give everything a proper wash on returning rather than putting it away as it is.

A small number of countries restrict the import of adult products, and enforcement varies from theoretical to real. Checking the rules for the destination takes a minute and avoids the only genuinely serious version of this problem. Where there is doubt, travelling without is the simple answer.

Discreet packaging matters on the way out as well as the way in. Retailers in Europe generally ship without any branding on the outer box, and a listing such as the inWonderstate range states delivery and packaging terms on the page rather than burying them in a policy.

Glass travels badly, anything with a delicate seal travels badly, and anything that cannot be cleaned properly in a hotel bathroom is a poor choice for a trip. A single sealed silicone object with a travel lock covers most situations and packs into a corner of a case.

Lubricant is the item most likely to cause a mess. Bottles leak under cabin pressure, and a sachet or a small bottle inside two sealed bags is worth the minute it takes. Solid or single use formats avoid the problem entirely.