You have come to the right place if you are wondering what to expect when traveling during the holidays, especially if you are thinking of traveling with wine. Without further ado, let us dive in. But before anything else, be sure to bring all the important things with you, especially a travel sim from Simify that should include a hassle-free activation in another country and a 100% money-back guarantee to give you peace of mind.
What to know when flying with wine
It will help to know the restrictions if you are planning to fly with wine this festive season. The TSA (transport safety authority) does not allow you to bring onboard luggage with over 70% alcohol volume. Simply put, the contents of your luggage should not be over 70% alcohol. Also, remember that you can only bring alcoholic drinks that contain 24 to 70% alcohol volume. Moreover, you can only travel with alcohol that doesn’t exceed 5 liters.
Besides the allowable luggage check-in weight, you will be pleased to learn that there are no limits to the number of wine bottles you can bring on board since the alcohol content in wine is less than 24%.
You can opt to travel with airlines that have cool allowances for wine packages. For instance, Alaska Airlines will fly you bottles of wine from Sonoma for free. Please remember that you cannot bring standard Paso Robles Red Blend wine bottles as carry-on luggage. However, you can always bring your wine bottle as carry-on luggage if you bought it duty-free inside the airport after passing the security checkpoint.
Important things to remember when driving with wine
There are many restrictions that make flying with wine a challenge. Fortunately, you can always drive with wine, especially when visiting friends to experiment with wine therapy this festive season.
You don’t have to worry about TSA restrictions when driving with wine. Consequently, you can travel with a case or two if you want. Alternatively, you can even bring more wine bottles if you are thinking of throwing a party once you reach your holiday destination.
Different states have different laws. Therefore, it will be best to familiarize yourself with local laws if you will be driving with wine. For instance, having a bottle of wine with a cork in it is considered an open container in some states. You can avoid getting into legal problems by putting such bottles in the trunk where it is not easily accessible.
Lastly, you want to enjoy your bottles of wine once you reach your holiday destination. So, it will help to ensure your wine bottles are padded since this will prevent accidental damages when the bottles fall off the backseat or experience a bumpy ride in the trunk.
How to pack wine
Will you be flying, driving, sailing, or taking a railway trip to your holiday getaway location? It will help to remember that no matter the answer, you need to know how to pack wine as this will determine whether you enjoy the bottle or have a messy story of how you didn’t drink the bottle of wine. Always opt for padded wine-carrying cases as they will allow you to transport your wine bottles safely via train or cars.
Alternatively, you can opt for a cold Chardonnay insulated bag instead of a padded wine-carrying case if you are going to a nearby location to enjoy the bottle with friends, acquaintances, or colleagues.
Don’t forget to bring your wine accessories. Always pack your wine accessories to avoid unwanted surprises when you are ready to pop the bottle. Many people will tell you that there is nothing worse than noticing you forgot to bring your corkscrew when you have a bottle of wine to open. Unfortunately, few hotels have corkscrews available for patrons in the minibar. You can even encounter hotels that have unbearable plastic corkscrews that can’t open wine bottles.
The corkscrew aside, it will also help to bring a good stopper, especially if you anticipate not finishing the wine bottle. Having a reliable stopper will help you preserve your open bottle of wine for the next day’s consumption. Yes, you also should bring wine skins since they are excellent reusable wine-carrying bags.
Lastly, remember to pad your wine bottles when traveling this festive season. Keeping padded wine bottles in your suitcase protects them from accidental damage that might result from impacts. An easy way of padding wine bottles is bubble wrapping them or wrapping them in clothes if you are not traveling with a hard-sided suitcase.
The holiday season is almost upon us. Get organized and plan for your travel ahead of time. By doing this, your holiday plans will be smooth and you can celebrate in peace.