Travelling with Food Questions

[bonniejoy03]

We rent a villa a few times a year and always wonder the best way to pack through frozen meats and foods. Last year, we purchased a "Horizon" bag which was recommended to us by other villa renters. Some folks say to freeze the food, wrap it in newspaper, and it will be fine. Our concern is that we typically have to stay overnight at an airport hotel with our frozen food. Any recommendations for the best way to keep meats frozen. We do pack everything through. Thanks.

[kyshel]

Hi BonnieJoy3
Don't laugh, but I have used insulated curtain fabric (you can buy at better fabric/upholstery stores) to wrap food! I don't know if it really does matter, but I was told to pre-store in a deep freezer instead of reg freezer (ask a neighbor if you don't have one) to get the benefit of lower temp storage. I keep the food in one bundle whenever possible to avoid temp loss. Only once did I have an [unexpected] overnight stay, but my food (steaks) stayed frozen inside. There is always the hotel ice maker/bathtub! I wonder if those silver "space" blankets would be useful? Newspaper is still good to use first to absord condenstaion.

[bonniejoy03]

Kyshel. Great idea! Don't have a deep freezer but planning to freeze for a few weeks before we go. Please explain about keeping food in one bundle? Yes, we are those people also that fill up the tub with ice for our food and drinks! Because we are overnighting in Philly before we go we will have to keep everything as cold as possible. I have never used the newspaper in the lining of the bag. You say that it helps? Do you wrap your meats in plastic wrap and then newspaper also? Thanks for the tips. Leaving in a little over two weeks for Anguilla and am trying to think ahead!

[kyshel]

I try to keep the food in mass bundle, instead of spreading it out like sheets or small packs, to keep it as solid as possible. If your bag is insulated, that's great--I've never used one of those since we seem to be running off last minute and I'm not one to cook on vacation if I can help it! Prices in places like Hawaii and some carib islands scream to bring your own steaks/roasts if you're not a fish eater. You could take one of those ice packs that come with mail order foods (I know--you'd think I never throw anything away--cant' help it!) Wrap in heavy duty foil instead of plastic, but the newspaper just takes the moisture from teh sweating pkgs if you line the bag. Have a great time--do you have room for one more? I'll bring my own steaks!

[cruisinred]

Hi Bonniejoy-



I have often faced the same dilemmaregarding frozen food, as we travel down to the Caribbean to do sailing charters. I found the following product recommended on a sailing forum I read....from the description, the stuff lasts for days to keep food frozen.



http://www.techniice.net/



Cruisinred

[funtimes]

We used to bring in food all the time to Jamaica - especially in the days when you could not even get sugar in this largely sugar producing country. We would freeze ahead and pack many items in our golf bags. I haven't thought of doing this lately because of the new regulations - Do you have difficulty with customs? Many times travel packs of non perishable foods work well - nuts, trail mix, drinnk mixes, tuna, pringles etc. Mainly we just eat local foods, fishand save money using fresh market ingredients. Happy travels ...Funtimes

[maylinglai1]

Alternatively, for Jamaica have you looked at hiring someone to purchase food at the local markets for you? I think they can sometimes get it cheaper than the grocery stores. I stayed at Prospect Plantation via LL and the cook could somehow get things a lot cheaper than if I had gone to the market myself.

[bonniejoy03]

Hi Maylinglai1. Yes. We checked out this in VIrgin Gorda this year. They have a store called Roadtown Wholesale. You have to buy in bulk (such as 3 items at a time) but the prices are great. They will also deliver to the villa. Unfortunately, we tried to contact them to close to our trip. Next year we will plan ahead and have the villa provisioned. We do enjoy bringing our own food. This past year for Anguilla and VG we thought we did a great job of packing the food and keeping it fresh. We purchased these "cold" bags from Horizons LTD. They held up well. We typically like to know what the country is known for and avoid bringing those products from home (for example, fresh fish, spices, etc.)

[kyshel]

I'm truly crushed that you didn't use my idea about thermal draperies!!

[bonniejoy03]

Not that we didn't consider it!! By the time I had the food and ice packed, the carry on was stuffed!!! I had to compromise the lettuce to seal the bag! Those ice packs do that up a lot of food. We have now paid a lot more attention to the food in the countries we visit. We did find half decent lettuce and fruit so we will count on it down there and not try to bring. We weren't that impressed with the meats so will carry our own. Thanks for all of your suggestions. I now have two Horizon bags and am ready to travel!!!!