Bringing in personal kitchen items

[DANICA ROBERTSON]

My husband and I are relocating to Cuenca in October and I want to bring a few of my chef’s knives and some cooking utensils that I use regularly. (Maybe 5 items in total.) Will this be a problem with customs and will my knives be fairly safe in checked baggage? Thanks for any insights!

[BOBBY PHILLIPS]

Be prepared for some extra scrutiny due to the knives. They came and found me in departure area, took me to the baggage handling area, and made me open the luggage. Speaking Spanish was a plus in this situation I believe. They took my name and address upon finding mine in checked luggage. Make sure the blades are enclosed in heavy cardboard, and then I’d wrap the entire knife up in additional cardboard. Let us know how it goes.

[DANICA ROBERTSON]

Thanks Bobby…maybe it might just be better to buy some there?

[BOBBY PHILLIPS]

I’d say that depends on the quality of the kitchen cutlery you now have. I doubt that you can find equal quality for equal cost in Cuenca. But if you just have some so-so knives made in China, I’d forego the hassle and buy new in Ecuador.

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