<p>D is going to study at King's College, London next semester. She'll be leave on New Year's.</p>
<p>She'll be in London from January to June, with a one month break in March when she's coming home.</p>
<p>My question is, "How much luggage is reasonable? Is it unbelievably expensive to ship things later?"</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for all help. Suddenly, I'm clueless.</p>
<p>Well if she's definitely coming home in March (though plans CAN change....) just pack the right clothes for the season during that period of time- loooottsss of clothes that wick away the water and will keep her relatively warm. Then she can change clothes when she comes home for the spring weather.</p>
<p>If she needs to shop.... tell her to hit up H&M, probably the cheapest chain store in Europe. She'll be amazed to find that the clothes that she'll buy from them won't arrive in the States until 6 months later! I laughed when I saw a hoodie on the racks of my local H&M after I bought it in Prague SIX months earlier!</p>
<p>The clothes she'll be wearing in January won't be much different from those in June. Their winters aren't as cold as here and the summers not as hot. Try not to have to buy anything there. It's really, really expensive</p>
<p>Bring lots of sweaters whatever you do. I am always cold in England!</p>
<p>I hope there is a fun and good reason for her to come home in March. DS did a study abroad in London two years ago from August to December, and did some nice European travel during his school breaks. He went to Vienna, Munich, Amsterdam and the Spanish riviera and the prices were cheaper for those trips than flying him back to the states. I agree with others...the weather isn't much varied in London. Make sure your child takes layers. My kid took two large suitcases and had plenty of room for his "regular clothes" and concert clothes (tux, suit, dress shirts/shoes, etc). He did go to H and M, but beware that the exchange rate makes the cost of any purchases in London expensive.</p>
<p>Mythmom, by chance will you be visiting your daughter? My daughter has been in Turkey since August 11. I was able to visit her about a month ago and I took her winter clothes with me and brought her summer stuff back...</p>
<p>Most airlines have strict rules for international flights and her baggage WILL be weighed. So, call the airlines she will be taking and find out what the limits are. I think 2 bags limited to 70 pounds each is the most common rule.</p>
<p>It is RIDICULOUSLY expensive to send things to London using any method that gets them there within 2-3 weeks. Moreover, in some cases, goods you mail to her in the UK will be subject to import duties. The goods will be held up until she comes and pays the duties and collects the items. (It may be equally difficult when things are mailed to the US, but there seemed to be no rhyme or reason to when things were/were not held by customs.)I strongly recommend she take as much as possible with her. Clothes are expensive in the UK, especially given the current weak dollar. </p>
<p>As others have said, London winters are pretty mild. Make sure she takes something that will keep her, especially her feet, dry. It rains frequently. What residents of the Northeast think of as November weather is what London has for a lot of the year. So, a rain poncho or rain coat and "wellies" are essential. Also keep in mind that dry cleaning is very expensive. So, take things that can be washed, if possible. </p>
<p>Don't load up too much on toiletries. Boots and other "chemists" are pretty reasonable, or reasonable compared to clothing. If it's a choice between her favorite shampoo and an extra blouse, pack the blouse. </p>
<p>I would suggest a knapsack and back frame--I can't remember what they are called at the moment--but the kind campers use-- and a sleeping bag, instead of luggage.</p>
<p>As others have said, unless there's a really compelling reason to do it, I don't think she should come home for her break. It's a wonderful time to travel and see some of Europe. She can stay in hostels and air or rail fare within Europe is pretty cheap.</p>
<p>London can be cold. When I landed in feb this year it was to 3 inches of snow. Last year it snowed the day I arrived and snow (not heavy but snow none the less) was on the ground the 3 weeks I was there. Mild is comparative depending on where you are from - if you are from somewhere that has heavy snows then yes it can be mild. I now live in Oklahoma and find it cold in London - probably more so because here I am just out from the house to the car and there I am out walking in it. </p>
<p>Yes it does rain. But wellies and ponchos in London? - she would really stand out. If she is planning country hikes then maybe wellies - but not really for London. A pair of nice boots and a nice waterproof jacketwould be better. Currently very fashionable in London are flat boots (knee high nice boots - not ugg type - over jeans - really cute - I just got back last week and have been telling my 18 year old about them and and am trying to talk her into wanting a pair for Christmas).</p>
<p>England can be cold right into June. This year my Mum and brother tell me summer was cold. Last June we were there and it was really hot. Best bet is layers. She should be able to take all she needs in a couple of suitcases depending on what is provided accomodation wise.</p>
<p>I agree with the previous posters about not returning in March. Such a great opportunity to travel. You could always fly over to see her - March is not too bad airfare wise. There is the chunnel which will take her to France or Belgium then train travel is reasonable within Europe. Very cheap flights from London with Ryan Air or easyjet to many places in Europe. Just make sure she books in advance to get good prices. Also tell her to check where the airports are. For instance i just flew from Barcelona to London with my Mum 2 weeks ago (less than $40 each). We chose easyjet because they fly out of the main Barcelona airport in Barcelona - ryan air flys out of an airport some distance from Barcelona which would add to the costs.</p>
<p>My son is currently studying in Wales, so I know all about the high cost of shipping him things AND the high cost of items there, due to the strong pound.</p>
<p>Shipping things is very expensive and slow -- so I really wouldn't plan on that route. You can send a flat rate international priority letter through the US postal service for only $11 (takes about a week to arrive) so that is nice for sending cards, candy, photos and little stuff like that.</p>
<p>The airline will limit her to two bags (check the weight limit and weigh them carefully -- overage fees are outrageous) plus a purse and another carry-on. You can pay for a third or fourth bag to go on the plane and it is much cheaper than shipping. My son flew British Airways and we could have purchased the third bag online before going to the airport for 30% less than what they charged there. Adding additional bags is the cheapest way to do it -- but keep in mind, she has to negotiate all that baggage at the airport.</p>
<p>The best thing to do is to pack as light as you can -- harder for girls, I know. My kids tend to pack very lightly -- they have done quite a bit of travel and have figured out what they really need. My 13 year old spent 3 weeks in Europe last summer and his luggage only weighed 13 pounds. I couldn't have done it.</p>
<p>If money is available, doing some shopping in London would be a good choice -- she will want to anyway.</p>
<p>I also recommend that she not return to the US during the break -- I can't imagine anything that she hasn't already seen here in the US that could top the opportunity to travel to new places in Europe.</p>
<p>I second the comments about shoe wear. Take good solid soled (sp?) shoes; damp weather and wet feet are a terrible combination. Take sweaters, together with an underarmour or two. It is not 'really cold' but it can be raw and damp.</p>
<p>I second the comments about visiting other places. Students do get great discounts that are not as widely available to the over 40 crowd to which parents belong !</p>
<p>On the baggage issue, check with the individual airline. My son took two bags, each under 50lbs, to France in September. The key here is the type of bag: suitcase frames can weigh more than you think. WEIGH the bag empty and try to find one that weights less than 5lbs emptied. Do not pack to overflow; leave room for the things that will inevitably be bought. </p>
<p>Airlines will charge you overage; for 8 lbs on one bag, my son paid Air France $ 50 dollars ! We tried and just could not get the weight any lower.</p>
<p>I am told that Europe to US flight is even stricter when it comes to weight of bags in that you can not always just pay a fee and take the bag. You sometimes need to just be under the weight period, which can result in discarding items in the airport, and/or using HMPS to send the discards home...</p>
<p>Layers, layers, layers!</p>
<p>I think two suitcases for the whole time she's there is plenty! She'll be wearing jeans most of the time. She'll buy some accessories at the outdoor markets while she's there to change things up (scarves, etc.).</p>
<p>I bet the program she's enrolled with will give her a suggested packing list. Kids tend to overpack, not the other way around.</p>
<p>What a wonderful opportunity for your D! She'll have a great time!!</p>
<p>And I third the comments about traveling during her time off...Maybe you can join her during your Spring Break! She should definitely look into a Britrail or Eurail pass.</p>
<p>Ditto the underarmour! London is chilly! I'd pack light-weight gloves/scarves too for those outdoor walks!</p>
<p>Thank you all for your thoughtful replies.</p>
<p>Here's the deal of travel for us and D.</p>
<p>Two of her guy friends were going to be in England too: one Oxford, one Cambridge, and she planned to travel with them. Both have wimped out. Her friends who are going abroad will be in Madrid. She does want to visit there, but they do not have the month long vac like the Brits do. </p>
<p>She is a 105 lbs after eating a bag of chocolate bars and is afraid to stay in hostels by herself. She is not really the adventurous type. We're proud of her for getting herself to go at all. She's not in a program; she applied directly to Kings herself, which is the only way study abroad in England works for Barnard (they are not too flexible with their approved programs.)<br>
So she is using up all her brave chips in going, alone, into a university without an enclave of American students. She will be living in regular dorms that close for a month. She can't see herself traveling by herself for a full month. She was getting cold feet and only resolved to go when I said she could come home.</p>
<p>I would love to go visit. I have been to England, but there was so much I didn't see. However, S will be off the same week I have off, so taking S,H and me to England seems prohibitively expensive when the exchange rate is so poor. One at Barnard and one at Williams is not easy for us financially, especially since I have resolved to take no loans (I'm getting on and want to retire before I'm 80!)</p>
<p>So, if I've missed something about travel, please fill in blanks. Thumper, I appreciate your input, but study abroad advisor said that the exchange rate has gotten so bad that airfare probably would be cheaper than travel. I was thinking of waiting to get her ticket until she's there for a week or two in case she meets someone she feels comfortable traveling with. If her dorm were not totally locked, she would not come home.</p>
<p>If she is coming back in March you are probably better off getting her 2 return tickets from here (ie US to London and back January/march then buy another US to London and back March/June - you can probably wait till she is home to buy the 2nd ticket). It is much more expensive to buy tickets flying here in England. When my mum used to fly here to visit I would find tickets for $500 from here and she would end up paying 500pounds ($1000) from there. Check it out anyway - it may have changed. Even if you get a ticket that returns in March and she then decides to stay and travel (maybe she will make some friends to travel with) you can generally pay an extra fee to change it (well make sure you buy a ticket you can change - I got one through a priceline bid once and it was not changeable).</p>
<p>I can see her point about not travelling alone. Maybe once they are in England her friends will realise what a great opportunity it is and decide to travel. If they do end up travelling give them a lecture about being sensible - a friend of my daughters travelled Europe last summer and could not find a hostel in Rome so, not wanting to pay for a hotel, slept in his sleeping bag in a park. Got all his money and possessions stolen. Luckily no injuries. I just shuddered when I heard about it - free lesson for my keen to travel daughter though. It was a really stupid thing to do!</p>
<p>Oh try Kayak.com for ticket searching. It goes through all the airline web sites and gives you a long list of prices then you buy direct from the airline.</p>
<p>Why not buy the airline tickets for January departure with a return in June, and wait a little to buy the March tickets? March is one of the easiest months to get airfare deals. That way she will have the option of traveling to Spain, or whereever it is that her friends are. Even though she is apprehensive now, she will be changed by her experience; it is hard to predict how and when. But if her new mates want to hit Paris and Amsterdam over March break, you don't want to have to say "no" because of pre-purchased tickets.</p>
<p>On the subject of clothing for European teens - a couple of pairs of great-fitting, dark pants and a pair of good-looking boots that are comfortable for walking are priorities. A dark raincoat that covers her behind and has a zipout lining is the other indispensible.</p>
<p>What might end up happening is that she makes a close friend in England and that friend invites her to spend the month-long break with her.</p>
<p>I would keep that in mind before buying the plane tickets.</p>
<p>It is normal for a person to be nervous about traveling to unknown territory (so good for your D!), but once she settles down and immerses herself in the new experience, she'll forget all about her initial worries.</p>
<p>Edit: Cross-posted with midwestener!</p>
<p>I am following this thread avidly and appreciate all your responses.</p>
<p>Since she lives in NYC she has appropriate clothing. You Brits would be shocked to learn how much rain we get -- 43 inches a year as opposed to London's 22. You have more rainy days, but we have more rain!</p>
<p>Good advice about how to handle tickets. And I hope she does meet folks to travel with. We've been to Paris so I know she's be comfortable there.</p>
<p>She is hoping to have a friend at St. Andrews so a trip to Scotland is also in the offing. She's just worried about filling an entire month.</p>
<p>The airline limit for the most part has gone to 50 lbs per bag, from what I can gather. A major pain, when away for any length of time. Check with the airline to make sure, as perhaps there are exceptions. Keep the heavy items in the carry on, though no liquids. Buy shampoo and any heavy toiletries there, even if more expensive. Take light suitcases. </p>
<p>Weigh packed bags a few days before leaving. Things will need to be weeded out, and the process is painful. My D in Peru, off for a year, had piles and piles. Many different clothing needs, gifting needs. We stayed up all night removing items, reweighing, removing more. I kicked myself for the set of suitcases bought last winter at a sale, nice, but just too heavy when weight is so important. Take something light, though a bag with wheels for the underground and public transport would be quite helpful. </p>
<p>Other ideas for that month in March. Volunteeer work, a short job? Eastern Europe I'd hope would still be cheaper, and is beautiful. Will pm you one idea. Travel is pricey, but staying in one place is cheaper and quite interesting, and with Ryan air, a flight or two should be do-able. </p>
<p>Good for you and her for making this come together, despite doubts In the end, she'll be quite proud of herself. She'll have an interesting time, being there without the crowd of American students so often part of semesters abroad.</p>
<p>Two big, suitcase-sized duffel bags work best for space and weight. You can put an amazing amount of stuff in them without them having weigh a ton. They are also easier to store once they're empty, since you can flatten them. You can find the ones with wheels at a very reasonable price at places like Target.</p>