Luggage Handling at MDS Events

Overview

At MDS events, luggage handling varies by event type, location, and logistical considerations. This article outlines the four main types of luggage handling procedures, with examples for each

Luggage Handling Types

Type 1: Participant-Carried to Bivouac (MDS Legendary)

Process:

• Participants keep their luggage until the technical and medical checks at the bivouac site.
• Luggage is then placed in a designated area before the checks.
• The organization loads luggage into buses and transports it to participants' assigned hotels.
• After the event, luggage is retrieved from the hotel.

Location-specifics:

• Applicable for MDS Legendary.
• Participants stay in multiple hotels (e.g., 3 to 5), with luggage delivered to the correct hotel.

Event: MARATHON DES SABLES Legendary

Type 2: Hotel Lobby Drop-off and Return (MDS 120 & Raid)

Process:

• On race day, participants leave luggage at the hotel lobby.
• Luggage is moved to a secure storage area by staff.
• After the event, participants return to the same hotel and collect their luggage from storage.

Locations:

• Raid Namibia
• Jordan
• Atlantic Coast
• Morocco
• Cappadocia
• Fuerteventura

Event: MDS 120 and MDS Raid

Type 3: City-to-City Transfer (e.g., MDS Peru)

Process:

• Luggage is brought with participants to the departure hotel in Lima.
• On race day, participants leave luggage on the bus when heading to the race.
• Luggage is then transported by the organization directly to the arrival hotel in Paracas.
• After the event, participants collect their luggage from this new hotel.

Locations:

• Lima (pre-race)
• Paracas (post-race)

Event: MDS Peru

Type 4: Special Access for Handicapped Delegates (Handi MDS)

Process:

• Wheelchair-bound participants carry their luggage to the bivouac and leave it under the tent.
• This is an exception granted for accessibility.

Location/Event: Handi MDS

Note: Support runners follow a process similar to Type 2

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Summary Table

Handling Type	Description	Applicable Locations	Notes
Type 1	Carry to bivouac, then bus to hotel	MDS Legendary	Hotel-specific luggage delivery
Type 2	Drop-off at hotel lobby, secure storage	Namibia, Jordan, Atlantic Coast, Morocco, Cappadocia, Fuerteventura	Same hotel for return
Type 3	Leave on bus, hotel-to-hotel transfer	Lima to Paracas (Peru)	Different hotels
Type 4	Wheelchair participant exception	Handi MDS	Support runners: process similar to Type 2

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