Traveling with home goods and minor electronics...

[nrml]

Hello all,

new here and did a quick search but the keywords were a bit vague so didn't get much.

Anyway I'm starting to furnish the place I bought and so I'm planning to bring things like bed sheets, towels, small electronics like a google home mini and bluetooth speakers, a small security camera and the like on the plane. Just things I know I can get for cheap in US (or sometimes free) that I can use overthere.

Thankfully as long as I don't go over 50lbs I can check-in up to two pieces of luggage for free per person traveling with me. So my question is what if any inconvenience should I expect at Santiago airport bringing all that stuff through? Total I'm bringing two big duffle bags and two large luggage suite cases. My wife is coming with so she's got 2 and I got 2 and of course we're bringing clothes in carry-ons that we'll be leaving there.

I've brought stuff like that before and never heard a peep from anyone so I dont expect anything. But I usually get there in the early morning flight, this time its like mid-morning. Oh and I'm a dominican citizen, she's a mexican/US dual citizenship holder.

Any thoughts or insight welcome.

 

[AlterEgo]

You shouldn’t have any problems

Our family has come through with 8 huge suitcases, 4 carryons and 4 personal bags.

 

[nrml]

You shouldn’t have any problems

Our family has come through with 8 huge suitcases, 4 carryons and 4 personal bags.

Awesome. While I have you here and this is a little off-topic, I read some posts where you talked about shipping your car. I think you or another poster said that folks who just got their Dominican residency can get some relief on taxes/fees. Do you know if this applies to Dominican citizens?

 

[Riva_31]

Awesome. While I have you here and this is a little off-topic, I read some posts where you talked about shipping your car. I think you or another poster said that folks who just got their Dominican residency can get some relief on taxes/fees. Do you know if this applies to Dominican citizens?

You are able to bring value under 500.00 US dollars as a gifts, so for sure no problem.

 

[AlterEgo]

Awesome. While I have you here and this is a little off-topic, I read some posts where you talked about shipping your car. I think you or another poster said that folks who just got their Dominican residency can get some relief on taxes/fees. Do you know if this applies to Dominican citizens?

Dominicans who are returning to live in DR are entitled to a one time “returning Dominican” discount. It’s substantial. You will have to prove you have spent less than 6 months in the country over the prior two years. This can be done with your passport, or you can go to the immigration office in La Féria SD and they will provide a statement for you. We had to do that because passport had been renewed and didn’t show two years

 

[ctrob]

I did the exact same thing that you're doing - a couple years ago flying on a tourist visa. I packed up two large suitcases with linens, towels, toaster, coffee maker, blender, 32" tv's, dishes, pots and pans, silver ware, throw rugs and more. I unboxed everything to save room and wrapped everything with the towels and throw rugs. For me, it was way easier then shopping down here, plus I got the brands I wanted.

I made that trip twice, flew first class and was allowed 70 lbs. per bag. Not a peep from anyone upon landing in Puerto Plata. Good luck.

 

[Timotero]

I did the exact same thing that you're doing - a couple years ago flying on a tourist visa. I packed up two large suitcases with linens, towels, toaster, coffee maker, blender, 32" tv's, dishes, pots and pans, silver ware, throw rugs and more. I unboxed everything to save room and wrapped everything with the towels and throw rugs. For me, it was way easier then shopping down here, plus I got the brands I wanted.

I made that trip twice, flew first class and was allowed 70 lbs. per bag. Not a peep from anyone upon landing in Puerto Plata. Good luck.

Were they x-raying the bags upon arrival to POP back then? Because recently, as you go through customs (after immigration and after getting your bags off the baggage claim belt) all bags have been put through an X-ray screener. Several times after going through the scan, I’ve then had my bags opened by the customs inspector.

 

[ctrob]

It's still hit or miss on that xray. I normally just walk past briskly and don't make eye contact.

But even if they did, a toaster or a towel isn't going to cause any concern.

 

[NanSanPedro]

I've never had my stuff xrayed. Just returned in January of this year.

 

[Riva_31]

I've never had my stuff xrayed. Just returned in January of this year.

They always send me thru X-ray.

 

[ctrob]

They always send me thru X-ray.

I wonder, are they even Customs people at that spot? Odd place for an xray, right? I even wonder if the xray is functional, maybe just the belt works? Now that would be funny.

It gives them the opportunity to open your bags and scam a propina.

 

[nrml]

I did the exact same thing that you're doing - a couple years ago flying on a tourist visa. I packed up two large suitcases with linens, towels, toaster, coffee maker, blender, 32" tv's, dishes, pots and pans, silver ware, throw rugs and more. I unboxed everything to save room and wrapped everything with the towels and throw rugs. For me, it was way easier then shopping down here, plus I got the brands I wanted.

I made that trip twice, flew first class and was allowed 70 lbs. per bag. Not a peep from anyone upon landing in Puerto Plata. Good luck.

Thats exactly what my wife and I are doing except for the first class, good to hear this! Thanks for the response!

 

[nrml]

They always send me thru X-ray.

Yeah I fly STI and always go through x-ray and never had an issue but this time i'm bringing a loooot of stuff

 

[malko]

Yeah I fly STI and always go through x-ray and never had an issue but this time i'm bringing a loooot of stuff

The only people i see actually getting checked after the X-ray at STI are people with " multiples " of a same item. Last time is was some old white dude with like 10+phones in their boxes.
We always bring down a bunch of stuff and never had a problem ( in STI that is....... travelling through the US as europeans, they sometimes tick on our cheeses and home-made moonshine ....lol ).