Since my fiance and I are going to a big music festival in Germany after touring Italy, we are also packing large bags (in addition to our carry-on) with all our outfits for the event.

Although we can't afford to ship the bags with the event clothing from the US to Germany, I was wondering if we could do it once we got to Rome so we wouldn't have to lug everything around with trains/buses.

Is this a good idea? Has anyone used DHL for in-Europe luggage forwarding before, and if so, how did it work out? Thanks!

Hi Rachellia,

I think this sounds like a very good idea. DHL should be able to advise you on the details. I know Fed Ex used to require 2-3 days from the US to smaller towns like Cortina.

I hope you aren't taking more than one large bag each! Regardless, for packing I would recommend dividing your his and hers vacation and event clothing between bags. That way if one bag doesn't make it, you will have something to wear out of the other!

Once in Italy, you will need to re-pack for the DHL shipping.

Let us know what you find out.

Should I wait to call DHL once I get into Rome? The hotel in Germany (it's a Renaissance/Marriott and used to holding luggage for travelers/bands) should hold our bags for 10 days or so until we get up there, right?

btw, DHL is owned and operated by ex "German federal mail", who don't have their own brand anymore. You can also ask for advice at any post office in Germany.

Alas, I won't be coming into Germany first, but Italy. I just wanted to ship everything ahead once I got in Rome...I imagine I could find the number for the local DHL carrier once I got to my Rome hotel.

Call the German headquaters, it'll be easier to get the info from there than from their Milan office that covers Italy. The Italian operator most likely won't speak English at all!
Rome Office at: Roma,DHL Express S.r.l.,Via Amaseno 36,Roma

Hello Rach:

I picked the following from DHL's website:

Italy

DHL can be contacted at the following telephone numbers and web site:

Within: 199 199 345
Outside: 02-824 70288
Web site: http://www.dhl.com/it


Drop-Off Locations
Addresses in Italy where you can leave a shipment for delivery.

Country DHL Office
The location of the office from where DHL activities in Italy are controlled.

DHL Exel Offices
Local address details for all of our DHL Exel offices

Import Guidelines
Information on sending a shipment to Italy.

Country Demographics
Information that may be of interest to you when doing business with Italy.

Good luck. Gradyghost

Good luck calling Italy!

Logos...yeah, that's why I was thinking about calling once I got IN Italy. For some reason, when I try to call Italy, I get a really rapid, repeating message in Italian that says something about "Telecom Italia..." and then runs off some numbers that I can't quite make out. Does that happen to everyone?!?! It happens with a without a phone card, and I'm using the correct city and country code as well.