www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hi,
Do you guys take condoms/lubricates on carry on luggage? Any chance to be embarrassed by the questions from customs ?
My last visit to CR was 2 months ago. what's best answer to the immigration officer reason to visit CR again?
thanks

I put those in my checked baggage. In my case, Continental allows 1 free checked bag for travel to Central America.

There's always a chance your bags will be inspected at some point. I would hate to have a random inspection and have someone look in my carry on to find condoms and lube and whatnot. Leaving SJO, I think everyone's carry ons are inspected right before boarding.

In my 3 trips, I've never had an immigration officer ask me any questions. When I went with my brother, though, he gave him a few interview questions. I think it was because I'm a US citizen and he isn't. If you get asked, I'd say you went for ecotourism or surfing at the beaches.

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"El Chino Rico" | el.chino.rico@hotmail.com
Trip Reports - 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th

I rarely check my bags. I don't generally bring a lot of lubricant (relying mainly on generating natural flow) but I will bring a 4 oz bottle or 2 each trip plus a ton of condoms. Maybe I've just been lucky but I've NEVER had any questions raised by whatever I've carried.

I don't know whether it makes any difference or whether they're even discernible by the x-ray scanner, but I usually pack my condoms at the far bottom of my pack and orient them so that they'll be perpendicular to the scanning surface just for good measure. As a liquid, the vial of lubricant is supposed to be limited to 3.4 bottles and carried in a clear plastic bag, but I just pack that in my (non-transparent) toiletry bag (along with my shaving cream, toothpaste etc.) and that also gets packed into the bottom of my bag. If anyone ever noticed any of it on the x-ray, they never said anything about it. OCCASIONALLY, they'll pull me off to the side to ask to hand inspect my bag, as I suspect they sometimes do to most people on a random basis. Or maybe they noticed something else that looked questionable. BTW, I also sometimes carry other stuff that you're technically not supposed to have in carry-on like a small travel umbrella, a small pocket knife, a bic lighter etc. (all generally packed as inaccessibly as possible). When they do physically look inside my bag, they generally just poke around a LITTLE. I don't think they've ever gone so far as to open up my toiletry bag to look inside or dig deep enough to notice my condoms or, if they did notice them, they didn't say anything about it. YMMV

because you like the country? Once upon my return to South Florida customs asked what I was doing in CR (I have only stayed up to 48 hours on my visits and never left the gulch). Told the guy gambling; it was quicker and cheaper than getting out to Las Vegas. He followed up inquiring how I had done. I had in fact gambled for a few hours the night before and told him whatever my tally was (+/- a couple hundred, who remembers?). Waved me through.

I never check my bags and I always bring condoms and lube. I put the lube in a clear travel bottle and put it in a small zip lock bag so it does not leak. I usually only have a couple of condoms left after my trip and usually give them to the last girl that I have been with before I leave. Depending on how you pack your backs you can tuck your extra condoms and lube with your dirty socks and underwear. I had my bags search one time entering Colombia and when the guy searching my bags found my condoms and pocket rocket he smiled and gave me a thumbs up. Hope this helps.
Zeus

One trip I had a few condoms in a ankle money belt I use
of coarse they had to X ray it...

" What are those rings " the Gringa asked as I smiled.

Fiedler

The answer to the question of why the frequent trips to Costa Rica? To buy property (a cafe finca, a condo, whatever). You just can't get enough choices so you keep coming back to consult with Brother Christopher Howard. You are a hard sell, not easily satisfied.
The other Brothers provided enough admirable answers on your other question.
Oh, and yes, Greengo, love hurts but sex shouldn't--hence the lubes.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

I use a laptop backpack as my carryon (no longer like dragging anything behind me) and put my condoms in it, and put lube into the one 26" soft-sided rolling bag that I check.

I think the backpack (plus my hiker-type clothing) makes me look like an ecotourist as I haven't had any problems since I switched to it. A roll-on looks too business-like and can invite suspicion.

I was flying on Taca through San Salvador one time with just a carry on that didn't have much in it, just some clothes and lots of condoms. Security always checks bags there, not sure why, they just do. I forgot my carry on had all those condoms in it and the cute, young latina security guard started going through my bag and, after a minute, she looked up at me with a big grin. It took me a minute to realize what she was grinning about.

Anyway, no big deal, it was pretty funny to me. I guess if it were one of the gringa security guards, they would not be as tickled by the whole thing.

I put all that stuff in the carry on. While the likelihood of anyone finding it in a carry on is slim, truthfully, I dont want the embarassment. I'd be a little self conscious about it.

If a female security officer finds condoms and lubes in your luggage and gives you a big grin, the dedicated monger asks her for a business card...and then follows up. You get it where you can.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Why should you worry about carrying something that is perfectly legal and shows that you are considerate enough to play safe? Are you going to be ashamed if someone pulls them out? So what?

Just because its legal and considerate, doesnt mean I want people to know about it. I consider my sex tourism private, and dont want 'civilians' knowing what I'm doing.

I'd prefer they look at me as a guy who is enjoying the volcanoes and culture, not their young women. Thats why it all goes in my checked baggage, and my carry on looks nothing like a guy traveling to bang hookers.

Guys,
Your being paranoid. These TSA/forign agents aren't stupid. They know what your up to. Relax, your not breaking any laws and your supporting their ecomony.

U.S. TSA agents have found 36 condoms and a dozen pillow packs of lube once in my carry on bag to Amsterdam and asked "what are these for?" I smiled the biggest smile I could muster and said "I'm planning on having a hell of a time" then winked.....I thought the guy was going to piss his pants laughing. (and he waived me right thru and said "have fun" I responded "don't worry, I will!")


B

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as my father says "better to be lucky than good"

Ahhh...don't worry about it. My last carry on had about 12 pair of Victorias Secret panties, tube of lube, dildo, vibrator, porn and a bunch of other crap. The lady running the x-ray machine actually looked around the corner of the monitor to get a look at me. I winked and smiled. She gave me "the gringa look". Ja Ja Ja Ja