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The BDSM Traveller

Papess

00:51 / 20.12.04

Is there some advice one should heed when traveling overseas and borders with fetish gear and/or adult toys? One precaution I would think, is to remove all batteries. Is there anything else one needs to be aware of with any other items? Has anyone had any really embarrassing situations at customs before and would be kind enough to impart the wisdom they have gained from experience?

8===>Q: alyn

01:17 / 20.12.04

Those people have seen everything before and really don't care... but if you have a bomb fetish or something, maybe you should do without for the duration.

Papess

01:50 / 20.12.04

No. Definately no bomb fetish. I suppose "those people" have seen quite a bit, but once when I was travelling, and inside my own country, I was stopped and nearly didn't make my plane for a buffed up piece of wood I was keeping to make into a wand. Really, it was just a stick that was all smooth. They insisted to know what I was doing with it and what exactly my purpose was with it. I actually had to tell them it was to make a wand so that would let me board. They didn't bat an eye at that, so I see your point, but if a simple stick could cause so much hassle, (I really, really didn't want to tell them what it was for, but found the truth would set me free, so to speak.) then maybe a riding crop, a pair of handcuffs, gag, etc... might be percieved with much more concern.

8===>Q: alyn

01:59 / 20.12.04

What, in your carry-on luggage? No, I don't imagine you could get handcuffs onto an airplane that way. Just check them!

Papess

02:09 / 20.12.04

Hehe, no, no. I wasn't going to be that foolish, but just wondering of the possibility of when I land going through severe interrogation at customs, *gulp*. Not one of my fetishes or kinks.

8===>Q: alyn

02:30 / 20.12.04

Where you going?

Papess

02:56 / 20.12.04

England.

8===>Q: alyn

03:05 / 20.12.04

Woot! Don't eat any pizza, though, okay? They have nasty pizza over there.

Probably you were grilled about your stick because they couldn't figure out what you were doing with it. It's unusual. Sex gear they know about.

Papess

03:15 / 20.12.04

Ahh, right. Good point!

Oh and believe me Qalyn, being of Mediterranean descent I know a good pizza. I must say, I remember having some pasta while I was there the last time and..eeewwwww! Like pablum and ketchup. Sorry you lovely English people, but I will stick to the British fare while I am there!

alas

07:17 / 20.12.04

Oh no! Don't stick to British fare! There are fabulous restaurants (in London, esp!, but not only), of all sorts! The food has gotten much much better of late!

In pubs, well, yes, stick to jacket potatoes and christmas pudding cheesecake (that favorite dessert of Shakespeare's), but live a little while you're there and have sushi and Chinese and of course Indian . . .

07:51 / 20.12.04

Blowfish did a really good summary of advice for travelling with toys - I'll try to find it on their site when I'm not serving the public.

Two pieces stuck in the mind:
- it's illegal to bring handcuffs into a lot of countries withut an import license
- many insertable toys that can be bent into different shapes and hold their shape are made of silicon with a wire centre. On an X-Ray machine, they will look suprisingly like a lump of plastic explosive with a fuse. You won't be popular.

More top tips to follow, hopefully.

modern maenad

09:26 / 20.12.04

Have faced similar dilemma before, and opted to leave all toys at home (bad enough having your knickers waved about in public). If you are stopped could you request to have them look through your stuff in a private room?? (I don't know about you but I don't mind the idea of customs officers seeing my private collection, just not other passengers, who I may end up sitting next to for several hours....). If not, and your finances can stand it, how about buying a few bits when you get over her. You could try Sh!, its a feminist/lesbian sex shop in London - 39 Coronet Street,
N1 6HD tel (020) 7613-5458. Happy holidays!!

8===>Q: alyn

09:44 / 20.12.04

- many insertable toys that can be bent into different shapes and hold their shape are made of silicon with a wire centre. On an X-Ray machine, they will look suprisingly like a lump of plastic explosive with a fuse

So then a good way to smuggle explosives around is in the form of dildoes. Good to know.

Ganesh

10:14 / 20.12.04

Pizza/pasta: it's ju-u-ust about possible that any given dining experience is not representative of the entirety of the United Kingdom; as with anything, quality varies.

BDSM stuff: apart from the obvious (avoid actually wearing metal stuff under your clothes and/or anything up your arse) and the handcuffs thing, I'm reliably informed that the best policy is brutal, unembarrassed honesty. A friend who runs a bondage/SM company and is well used to transporting gear in and out of the UK suggests telling inquisitive customs people, "well, you're obviously curious; would you like to try it?"

8===>Q: alyn

10:24 / 20.12.04

Dammit, Ganesh, I know what I'm talking about. I've been having British pizza airmailed to me once a week for 15 years, just to prove that it's inferior.

Grey Area

10:28 / 20.12.04

pointless and uncalled for

10:38 / 20.12.04

If you have no problem with showing designated officials then contact your local airport security for advice. They will be able to advise you of what they consider suitable arrangements ahead of time and you can work with that. just remember that whatever you have to do going out, you will have to repeat on the return journey so contact the UK airport as well.

Even if there is no book to go by per se, making the effort to try and do so usually results in being treated with some consideration. Also cavity searches are unlikely to be undertaken just because you have some diverse sexual tastes and frankly they don't care if you try to smuggle in a riding crop unless it carries a particularly high resale value.

Check with the UK consulate about the legality of bringing in handcuffs.

Ganesh

13:01 / 20.12.04

"well, you're obviously curious; would you like to try it?" Hmm...I always go by the rule that you are very polite and not at all cheeky to the men who could detain you for many hours and make your life quite miserable in that time.

The friend in question is a charming, white-haired seventy-year-old homosexualist gentleman with a plummily actorish voice - so he gets away with. I'm not sure that I'd use that line myself.

Goodness Gracious Meme

13:27 / 20.12.04

well yes, I don't think I'd be trying that one any time soon.

Lots of good points here, a couple more ideas.

If there's stuff you absolutely must have with you that's likely to be customs-unfriendly/tricky, post it to a friend and pick it up once you get here.

Think about possible DIY replacements, it's no hassle carrying DIY/garden stuff through customs, for example.

have got some links somewhere w/advice on this stuff, will have a dig and get back...

Elegant Mess

13:30 / 20.12.04

Think about possible DIY replacements, it's no hassle carrying DIY/garden stuff through customs, for example.

*mind boggles*

*tries very hard not to think about Dad's B&Q obsession*

pointless and uncalled for

13:34 / 20.12.04

Which is a perfectly normal healthy natural thing.

Papess

16:05 / 20.12.04

Thanks for the advice everyone. I think I am going to forgo the gear this trip. I am travelling with my son as well and certainly do not wish to have to be delayed or have to explain any of my personal items to him. I shall go the DIY route, and probably ship stuff over the next time I travel to avoid any hassles. Customs will be difficult enough with a four year old.

It is very useful information though, and I am glad I asked, because otherwise, I might have been holed up at customs (oh, bad, bad pun) with my son for hours.

Thanks again, this is very useful for future travels, and perhaps for other kinky types who wish to travel with gear. I am personally, still very interested in the sites that people mentioned and the information therein.

Cheers!

cusm

16:27 / 20.12.04

A friend of mine, having been in this situation with a customs officer fiddling with his cock ring asking what it was simply answered, "personal jewelery" with a pointed look. He was rather quickly whisked through the rest of customs after that.

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