<p>My son will be going to the "other coast" for his freshman year. We do plan to purchase essentials after he arrives...but what about the other stuff. With the cost for additional luggage on most airline, we were considering sending a few boxes via Fedex. (Is there a cheaper method?) We were thinking of shipping to our hotel rather than the dorms...I presume this is a good idea. </p>
<p>How do others do it?</p>
<p>Suggestions would be greatly appreciated...</p>
<p>Southwest doesn’t charge for bags.</p>
<p>My son shipped home a great big roller suitcase via Fed Ex this spring and it cost $35; about comparable to airline fees.</p>
<p>Buy bedding from BB&B at home, to be picked up at the store in college town.</p>
<p>Have everyone who is going help mule stuff right up to the 50# limit.</p>
<p>The Delta AmEx card gives everyone a free bag, which could pay back the cost of the card pretty quickly.</p>
<p>We shipped UPS ground directly to the college. Most schools have some sort of package room set up for move-in day as well as dollies to bring the boxes to the rooms. Definitely order items on line for delivery to the school as well - I prefer that to buying at BB&B from home and picking up at the store near the college because I heard of the stores running out/items not being available when you get there, etc. plus you still have to wait in line at the store. Mail order works great for just about everything. Very often shipping is free or lower than doing it yourself.</p>
<p>Try to buy as much as is reasonable before you get there. There’s a lot going on when you get there and a lot of emotions, so we found it best to have as little “required” things to do as possible since we could then just “go with the flow” of whatever came up. (Refrigerator pick up, impromptu party on the floor, etc.) Plus stores are chaotic and lines are long no matter where you go. My younger daughter wanted to help her sister set up her desk so we saved the “school supplies” to purchase near campus and I was glad that’s all we needed to do, it was very freeing. Oh, and I guess we did a quick supermarket shopping to get laundry detergent and such. </p>
<p>Everyone has their method, just try to figure out what will work best for your family.</p>
<p>Our D went to college on the opposite coast. We flew Southwest…each with two large suitcases, a carryon bag and another item (instrument case, and computer case). We ordered large things here at Bed Bath and Beyond (pillows, mattress pad, desk lamp etc) and picked them up at the BBB near her college. We went to Staples and bought a cheap printer, and wireless keyboard/mouse. Target for the small TV and microwave, and toiletries. We shipped nothing.</p>
<p>If you have not already done so, try posting similar question in specific college thread. We got some helpful advise that way. It can vary by school and location.</p>
<p>We were just like thumper, with a few exceptions. Flew United and it was with our son, not a daughter (which probably meant less stuff). His carry on was computer bag and a backpack. He had a large LL Bean duffle plus a truck with wheels. We picked up stuff at BBB and staples and CVS. Nothing shipped except tons of goodie bags of food throughout the year.</p>
<p>Flying SW we plan to take boxes as “pieces of luggage”. Will order school books son and after verifying condition (and hopefully browse them a bit) will ship those using the USPS flat rate boxes.</p>
<p>I am inclined to suggest a) catapult, or b) air-lift, based on our experiences. Really good solutions are hard to come by. Young men often need less paraphernalia than young women, though, which might help. After the first year, we learned that purchasing some things on locale was a really good idea. The college may provide advice about sending things by UPS, USPS, or FedEx to the dorms. Some colleges make arrangements for deliveries to students. At the end of the first year, your son may have an on-campus or near-campus storage option of some type. We have taken/shipped less each year, as it became apparent how to pare down.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the great suggestions. We keep receiving info from Residence Hall Linens, “The Complete Value Pak” for $199.95 seems like a great deal. Has anybody ordered from them? How is the quality.</p>
<p>BTW, how often does your child really change their sheets when at college? When my son was at boarding school, I think they sheets were changed only when we came to visit…my me…lol!</p>
<p>A friend sent her son to college, he asked what he should do with the sheets at the end of the year. She had sent 3 sets for him, figuring them to be in not too good condition she told him to just throw them away in that they would buy new ones for the following year. He then informed her that he still had two sets still in the package…</p>
<p>^lol! I don’t know of many kids who have learned to change their sheets, at least the guys. I do not suggest you buy the value pak; it’s a rip off and not good quality. For $200 you can get what you need at BBB or Target at much less $$$. You’ll want to get XL twin sheets, a XL twin comforter, egg crate, a pillow, several towels, shower caddy, flip flops, and air freshener. That’s more than what than the “complete value pak” includes and hopefully you’ll get it for less than $200.</p>
<p>Better quality and nicer choices through BB B. Don’t order the “value pack”…not a good quality. The only ones we know who did so were international students who were traveling from a foreign country without parents with them…and even THEY were disappointed with what they got.</p>
<p>OK, BB&B it will be. A few more questions, being from the west coast, and my son going east…should we buy him flannel sheets for the winter, and does he need more than just a comforter, extra blankets or are dorms usually warm enough that he will not really need to worry about being cold?</p>
<p>Oh, Limabeans, air freshener is a great suggestion, without changing the sheets and probably never taking out the trash…it will be much needed!!</p>
<p>My daughter went from CA to Providence and found in winter they were overheating the dorms-too hot all the time. So maybe he should wait and see on extras.</p>
<p>SockherMom - One of the few things my D sent home was the down comforter -she uses it at home, but it was much too hot for the dorm room. She was comfortable in windy Buffalo with her cotton sheets, summer-weight comforter and a blanket.</p>
<p>Thanks all…just worried about my little boy being cold ;)</p>