Luggage

[Check with airline to get the most up-to-date information.]

Carry-On Luggage

You may carry on to the aircraft: one (1) piece to be placed under the seat or in the overhead storage racks. The size of this carry-on luggage must not exceed the dimensions of 45 inches (22 inches by 14 inches by 9 inches) and must not exceed 40 lbs. In addition to the one piece of carry-on luggage, you may also carry a purse or briefcase or laptop computer. Luggage not meeting these specifications must be transported as checked baggage.

Checked Luggage

You may check two additional pieces of luggage free of cost. Each piece of checked luggage must not exceed 70 lbs. Each piece of luggage must not exceed 62 inches (obtained by adding the sum of the length, width and height). For each extra bag there is a $110 charge.

Other Popular Concerns

Framed backpacks must be checked as one of your pieces of luggage -- they are not considered a carry-on because of their size. Certain large musical instruments can be checked as a piece of luggage. Bicycles: Must be packaged in a box, bag or crate (you can get a box from your local bicycle shop). If this is used as one of your allotted checked luggage packages there will be no cost as long as it does not exceed 70 lbs. If the bicycle is extra it will be treated like any other piece of extra luggage and cost $110. You may want to consider buying a bike in England and selling it before you return to the States. Please remember that should you choose to bring your bike to England, you will have to pay to bring the bike back home also.

WHAT TO PACK

The following information gives some recommendations on what you should bring to England. The tendency is to overpack. It is a natural inclination--try to resist it!

GENERAL RULES

Dress for comfort, although you may wish to keep the following in mind. The British tend to dress the same as we do, with some exceptions. They tend to wear more somber colors (especially black!) Jeans are perfectly acceptable in informal situations. Even for casual times, Brits tend to wear shoes and not tennis shoes (or, as they say, trainers.)

Special occasions: There will be instances where you will need to wear something a little dressier. For example, most clubs operate on a "no effort, no entrance" policy. For men, this means wearing a good pair of black trousers, dress shirt and shoes. Ties are not usually required, but it is a good idea to bring a couple nice ones with you for the year anyway (they don't take up that much space.) Women generally wear skirts or dress slacks (they tend to be black), and a "clubbing" top. (These differ greatly in style, but will not be sweatshirts or T-shirts.) If you are not dressed correctly, they will almost always deny you entrance. There are some situations that you may want to dress up for, such as going out to dinner at a nice restaurant or going to the theater. While they won't have a bouncer at the entrance to a performance of Romeo & Juliet at Stratford, you may feel a little out of place in jeans. So plan on having a couple of nice dress outfits for the year, either bringing them along or buying them there. Waiting until you get there to see what is in fashion is not a bad idea.

Dressing for the English weather: Winters in England are not as severe as in Minnesota, but don't underestimate the cold. Have a good winter coat; you won't need or want down or bulky clothing. A waterproof jacket is essential and you will want an umbrella (telescoping kind is handy.) If you've ever been tempted to buy a Goretex jacket, now is the time! Think layering. Fleeces, sweaters, scarf, mittens, hat are welcome. The British tend to keep their homes and buildings cooler than we do and the cold does penetrate. Warm loungewear, slippers, a polar fleece blanket are all recommended by former participants.

Walking: You will probably do a good deal more walking than you are accustomed to in the United States. Good walking shoes and/or good tennis/running shoes are an absolute MUST. If you are a hiker, bring your hiking boots.

A good waterproof backpack is essential if you are going to travel cheaply and quickly. Students presently in England recommend the internal frame variety. A daypack is also useful for day trips. Some backpacks come with a handy zip-off daypack. (Current students recommend that you buy your backpack in Minnesota; they have found the quality there to be superior to those purchased in Birmingham.)

You will find a variety of miscellaneous items very useful: a Swiss Army knife, a travel alarm, a battery operated radio and/or CD player, flashlight, nail clippers, small sewing kit, etc. (Be careful what you put in carry-on luggage! See below)

IMPORTANT: Take a "safe sack" (a small bag that hangs around your neck inside your shirt for valuables) or some positive method of securing your passport and money. These are available in places where they sell luggage, including places like Target. There are professional pickpockets in every major city in the world, and foreigners are a prime target.

Cosmetics, toiletries, film: It is not necessary to take these items, as they can easily be purchased abroad. However, past participants have recommended that you pack a large supply just because they are cheaper in the U.S. and will take up room in your luggage that you will need when you go home. Especially contact lens solution tends to be more expensive in Great Britain and Europe. We have been advised that some of the highpower x-ray equipment unsed for checked luggage may damage film, so we recommend that you put your film in your carry-on luggage.

Electrical Appliances: British electricity runs on 220/230 volts, AC 50 cycles, not 110 volts as here. Also the plugs are very different. If you want to use a 110 volt appliance, you will need a converter and a plug adaptor, which you can buy here (e.g., at a place like Radio Shack.) However, most students recommend that you buy your curling irons, hair dryers, etc., after you get there and avoid any problems with the electricity. They are not very expensive.

Laptops: Students have found laptops very useful, not only for wordprocessing and email, but also (for those with the capability) for DVD usage. Starting in Fall 2002, students have been able to connect to the Internet from the residence hall. For those students without laptops, there are computers on the campus. There are also numerous Cyber Cafes located in all the major cities of Europe which will give you Internet access for a fee. NOTE: many laptops have a built in 110/220 capability, so you would only need a plug adapter, not a converter to use them. Check your specs, if you are bringing a laptop.

Cell Phones: Most U.S. cell phones do NOT work in Europe. Many students in 2003-2004 purchased British cell phones after they arrived in Birmingham. They have found them extremely useful, both while in Birmingham and while traveling. Parents have also been grateful for a way to reach their students wherever they might be traveling.

Glasses and contacts: To avoid long delays and the expense of an eye examination, bring along an extra pair. Bring along your eyeglass prescription. If you wear contact lenses, bring a pair of glasses as a back-up.

Medications: Bring both hand-written and typed, signed and dated prescriptions of all drugs you are carrying or may need while overseas. Have enough medications for the entire trip or make arrangements for refills to be mailed to you. Have your pharmacist label all containers with generic names. Carry all medications and medical documents with you. If you need syringes, check with the airline in advance to see if they are permitted as a carry-on item.

Summary of suggested items:

Raincoat
Swimsuit
Weather-proof warm jacket
hat, scarf, gloves
Sweaters, fleece
waterproof comfortable walking shoes
shirts/blouses
good tennis shoes
dress clothing (in moderation)
jeans (expensive in England)
exercise/running clothes
quick-drying slacks
umbrella (telescoping)
camera
polar fleece blanket
film
towel, washcloth
Safe Sack
backpack, day pack
travel alarm clock
Swiss Army knife (in checked luggage!)
flashlight
photos of family, friends, home
address book

Whatever you take, do not overdo it! A good rule is to get things together and then put half back in the drawer. Think about what you may want to buy there, instead of bringing it along. RESIST OVERPACKING!

Carry on luggage: There are stringent rules being rigidly enforced about carry-on luggage. Do not carry anything sharp in your carry-on luggage. This could include nail clippers, tweezers, knitting needles, any kind of knife, etc. Pack any medications you take in your carry-on luggage, just in case your checked luggage is delayed.

Pack your money, passport, letter of proof of student status (we will give you this) in your carry-on items. Do NOT pack any of these in your checked luggage!!

Final note: Mace and pepper spray are illegal in England, as are any "offensive weapons".