<p>Anyone know best way to get stuff home from semester abroad in Europe? D took 2 suitcases at $50 each and a third is $200.00 to come home. Not sure her clothes, shoes, and books are worth that.
Love Fedex ground for getting her stuff to college but checked with them and Fedex ground doesn't go there. </p>
<p>Any advice or ideas?</p>
<p>If Fedex doesn’t operate in that country, another company may. Has she checked DHL? She also should investigate the local postal service. There probably are different rates for surface (by boat) and for air.</p>
<p>Thanks for your response HappyMom! I called DHL here in US and they said I needed to ship a minimum of 3/month to open an account. Guess most people sell back their books. They are heavy but she has several she wants to keep.</p>
<p>Things have changed since I used DHL in Latin America. We used to use it all the time without any special account - just like Fedex & UPS operate here now. </p>
<p>She should check with the postal service there. If it is only books that will be shipped there probably is an international book rate that is cheap.</p>
<p>No, it’s not worth it to ship back. I checked when D1 went abroad, and the cost was so unbelievable that I told D1 beforehand that whatever she couldn’t fit into 2 suitcases then she would need to leave them behind. You could get on FedEx and DHL site to calculate cost. I even checked out airline’s shipping service.</p>
<p>I agree with Oldfort – generally not worth it. I had D dump whatever was ratty or unneeded before coming home, and I really would not bother with books. She might want to weigh everything – and measure linear dimensions – just to make sure she’s ok. There were different limits coming home from Italy than going there, which I never quite understood.</p>
<p>Agreed…if it doesn’t fit into the two bags…it gets left behind. We purposely sent DS with clothes, and linens that we did NOT want to see take a return trip…that stuff was left in Europe. We even told him to pitch his old sneakers there. I will say, I had friend when I was in college. She couldn’t fit everything into her bag so she wore (layered) several layers of clothing…she WORE everything (three layers of everything) that was bulky so she could fit other “stuff” into her bags. Just a thought.</p>
<p>DD dumped so much of her stuff before coming home from the middle east last summer.
we were just talking aobut her friend waiting to leave Cairo, unexpectedly, and how much harder it is to pack everything under duress! and I don’t think shipping fedex is going to be an option.</p>
<p>Too funny. I remember one trip through customs behind the ladies with multiple layers of clothes on and huge overstuffed suitcases. Sure enough, they were taken aside for some questioning. (Not Americans.) We often ship back via regular mail, whatever the lowest tier cost is- much as if we were sending a gift home- mid-size box of the (lighter)things you don’t mind risking to loss or that you can wait the extra weeks for. For us, cost was 20-30. Agree, it’s hard to choose what’s left behind.</p>
<p>Quick question. S1 is in a program in Italy this semester. I was thinking of sending him a care package–any ideas about a cheap way to ship to Europe?</p>
<p>^^hi MB; we meet again; I investigated this before my older daughter left to go abroad; I subsequently told her that anything she needs she needs to get there; no packages from here; it’s a fortune…there is no cheap way because there is only airmail…a small priority box from the post office is $50 to ship…</p>
<p>I also was thinking of sending a care package for her 21st b’day…but the shipping would cost as much as what was in the package…</p>
<p>oh well…I’ll send an e-card instead…</p>
<p>one other thought; amazonuk will possibly be cheaper if you want to order something on there to be sent…</p>
<p>Agree with Rodney. I was going to mail my neice a package last fall when she was in France. Shipping was ridiculous, so I ordered and had stuff mailed there instead. Have used Amazon UK many times and they are as good as Amazon US. You might even be able to find something on ebay.</p>
<p>Madbean: We sent our daughter a care package of a few paperback books in English ordered from Amazon UK, and that was not too bad. Much, much cheaper than mailing them from the US. (She was living in a small village with a host family that didn’t speak English and attending an Italian school, so those books got some fair attention.)</p>
<p>CARE PACKAGES abroad- guys, I found a great idea for this, just use ebay/Amazon in that country. I have sent my DD several surprises from within her country. But do warn your CC company first or that charge may be declined.</p>
<p>That being said, there have been no good deals to be found for mailing to Europe. DD plans to have family visit for her graduation and all of us take an extra empty suitcase which she will fill for the trek home. Also, sell useful items to students who remain there.</p>
<p>Oops, cross posted with the two posters above, but I can attest to the fact that it is cheaper and works!</p>
<p>just ordered something on amazonuk…with free shipping!!! this is a no-brainer people…</p>
<p>If you do decide to ship something to Italy, check the USPS’s list of items not eligible to ship to Italy – this list is long and extensive. Beef jerky? No. A leather belt? No. Shoes? No. Toys? No – unless they’re made solely from wood. “Artificial flowers and fruit and accessories for them”: No – but I’m still waiting to see exactly how the Italians accessorize their artificial fruit. Stylishly, I’m sure.
[url=<a href=“Italy | Postal Explorer”>Italy | Postal Explorer]Italy[/url</a>]</p>
<p>^^haha artificial fruit??..and why would someone be sending that to Italy anyway?..</p>
<p>Thanks rodney & mamom (we have to stop meeting here like this) barbara backwards and somemom. I suppose I will suggest he buy new sneakers as he wants his old comfortable ones, and use your cool AmazonUK or IT trick for his 21st bday.</p>
<p>With apologies OP for the short hijack.</p>
<p>to the OP: assuming you are not visiting? if you are, an extra empty suitcase that you can fill up with stuff already used that you can bring back will work as well…</p>