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Welcome to Ask Wirecutter, where deputy editor Annemarie Conte helps you figure out how to make the most of your stuff in real life. If you have a shopping conundrum for our advice columnist, submit it using this form.
Dear Wirecutter,
I’m getting ready for a family vacation, and packing sunscreen is really stumping me. Do I check bags to be able to bring larger bottles? Or should I just buy it at our destination?
K.T.
Dear K.T.,
The Transportation Security Administration’s rules regarding liquids have really put a wrench in the easy-breezy decision-making of packing for vacation. In the past I’ve filled my checked bag with so many bottles of sunscreen for my family of four that either we end up leaving them at our destination or I repack the extras at the end of the trip and bring them home, having given my Banana Boat a transcontinental getaway.
You need to check a bag if you want to bring more than 3.4 ounces of liquids, a category that includes sunscreen lotions and sprays, and your focus should be on ensuring that it reaches your destination intact.
But if you’re not checking a bag, you have a few creative options to ensure a sun-safe holiday. Here’s our best advice.
