Bringing things home from France
 

I was just reading a thread about things to buy while in Paris. I pack very little when I travel overseas. I bought more than the carry on would hold. I found at La Poste they have boxes for a set amount, ready to send to the states. It worked perfectly and took only a week or less to get here. I paid $40 euros and nothing was broken (spirits and olives) or marred (poster, etc.) I've seen these recently advertised in the states now. It saved a lot of aggravation traveling light!

Wow, that's great to know

How much do you think the box weighed?

Yes, we have done the same thing on our trips. We do carryon only. On our trip last month, we still had room for a couple items, but they were liquids over 3oz so we just mailed a box home. I would much rather pay for that than deal with checked baggage. Just my own personal preference. We cram as much into the box as will fit as they have told us there is no weight limit. They always make it to Oregon within a week, which is great!

thanks for sharing! wish I had known that last week :-(

How large are the boxes they offer? I was considering packing an empty duffel bag or something similar for the return flight, checking one back and carrying the other, but this might be a better and more affordable option.

They have boxes of varying sizes and varying prices. To me, it only makes sense if you're packing very heavy and expensive items. I wouldn't pay $40 to ship home stuff that cost the same or less, especially if it were things I could buy back in the USA.

La Poste has an English language web site, www.laposte.com, which has some excellent information.

Out here in the hinterlands of Southwest France, La Poste employees have been extremely helpful and patient with my French.

On display in the local post offices are the packages (colis) with set shipment costs, but I haven't paid much attention as we are waiting for our "stuff" from the US, rather than sending anything back.

I would say to be prepared for long lines as the post offices handle many more services than available in the US.

I was at La Poste in Les Halles and there was no one in line. My French is not too bad and had no problem beng understood; I think they might be used to it. My box was, about 24" x 12" x 12". Like I said, there were bottles, books, shoes, laundry, stuff. Heavy- and they helped me tape it closed. It arrived perfectly!

Two years ago after attending a language school in Sancerre, I sent home a box of things to make my suitcase lighter, and my French dictionary was stolen from the package whereas more valuable items arrived in fine shape. I've sent things before and had no trouble, but it can happen.

Hi all,

I cannot find the answer to this question at the US CBP (Customs) website. They give directions only for sending gifts:

If I wish to mail myself a packege, what if anything must be written on the package?

If I send someone a gift the CBP says:
"Be sure to mark the outermost wrapper with the:
* Words “UNSOLICITED GIFT” and the words “CONSOLIDATED GIFT PACKAGE;”
* Total value of the consolidated package;
* Recipients’ names and
* Nature and value of the gifts inside. ......"

Thanks

((I))

I have noticed that they do not weigh the boxes when you bring them back to the post office. I know that some boxes that I sent exceeded the official weight limit (canned goods, for example), but as long as the box is closed properly and not bulging, nobody cares. For each box that is overweight, there are ten others full of just styrofoam and a trinket.

If packing liquids, what do you use for cushioning? Does la poste sell styrofoam "peanuts" or something similar or do you have to find that elsewhere?

Sue, did you bring back bottles of sanceere?

I think I'd be inclined to send home the dirty laundry so I could put all my cool new stuff (that isn't liquid) in my carryon.

How is this better than bringing things home in checked luggage?

I travel light. I don't always check luggage on outbound leg.

But for return trip, the value of the content changes. Change of clothes, toiletries, guide books, etc. are no longer essentials and can be sent back in checked luggage along with other things I purchased.

On the return leg, my carry-on (a collapsible bag) contains the most valuable things I bought allowed by the carry-on regulation. The rest are in the checked luggage. I don't need to make a trip to a post office or pay a package fee. Luggage delayed? Does not matter. Luggage usually arrive within a week -- still ahead of the packages sent separately from a post office.

I have used a parcel only after I have run out of space in the checked luggage.

<<How is this better than bringing things home in checked luggage?>>

It is less to deal with in taxis, on a train, if you might be going anywhere in the interim, etc. etc. etc.

hi ddena,

thanks for this tip.

can you tell me how much the box cost? and if packaging material (i.e. styrofoam) and tape were available/included? i don't normally travel with packing tape! :)

i'm curious about this as our luggage was quite heavy (and possibly overweight) when we came home last fall from france ... we're heading back and our shopping list is already quite long!

Packing material and tape are not included. But it's not too hard to learn to pack a roll of tape. As for packing material, I have always found that crumpled newspapers do the job quite well, and they are free, even if you have to pick them out of the trash.

We've always shipped things home while traveling for extended periods of time. Only thing ever lost was a print sent home from Ireland while in its place was a Bible. Go figure.

Funny, maile.

As packing material, if I recall, I used crumpled paper and dirty laundry or shoes I wouldn't wear again.
:^)