Mailing Packages Home
 

I hear some of you talk about mailing packages home from your travels and I'm wondering how that works. Do they ever give you a hard time because neither address the sender or the recipient is in the country you are mailing from? Anyone know if it's possible to mail from a US base if you're not stationed there or don't know someone who is?

Thanks!

I have done it a few times - just walked into a post office, with what I want to send in a shopping bag, purchase a box from the post office, packed it there, paid for postage. I mark the customs form used personal items since it is usually dirty clothes or trip info I no longer need but want to keep.

Hi R,

>Do they ever give you a hard time because neither address the sender or the recipient is in the country you are mailing from? <

No.

((I))

Preparations: A roll of clear packing tape. Typed addresses; both return/sender and destination (be sure to note country of destination). Most large markets have a stationery department with mail materials. Buy boxes at PO or pick up at stores. Pack securely. Decide if air (one week) or surface (two months or less). The real bargain is M mail. It is only for books though. Check with your local PO for more detailed information.

When we mailed home from the UK, they wanted a description of what was inside. We were advised not to put just "clothes" but "used clothes". (which was true!)

Seemed odd, but perhaps to guard against theft?

I suspect you labeled them "used clothes" to avoid possible import duties on new clothes.

Nope, not against theft. Rather against import duty fees.

Christycruz: You had to use "used clothes" because otherwise US customs would assume the package was full of new clothing and you woulld have to pay a duty. Any package mailed into the US will have to clear customs.

rapunzil: I'm not sure I understand your question. &quot;<i>. . . neither address the sender or the recipient is in the country you are mailing from . . .</i>&quot; If you are, say in France, you will be mailing from France. That is where you are so that is where you mail from. Maybe I don't get what you are asking.

Janis, what I meant, was I would be mailing a package from say, Germany, but the to and from addresses would both be in the US. I wondered if that caused a problem, and if you had to use say a hotel address as the 'from' instead of your home address.

Yeah, I worry about strange stuff! &lt;G&gt;

i believe there is a monetary limit as to how much a package can be worth without being taxed.

and, i heard once you can only send yourself up to a certain $$ amount per day.

maybe someone can clarify with exact figures.

you can pretty much send mail from anywhere to anywhere . . . .

Rapunsll, I hope you don't mind me hijacking this thread. I was wondering if anyone has mailed wine before? I was thinking of buying a couple of bottles in Italy, and since we're heading to Paris from there, I was thinking of sending the wine home. Any thoughts? Thanks!

JanisJ, sorry, not so. Not to anywhere.

We're regularly sending parcels to Belarus, one day at the post office they told me: since January 1, 2006 used clothes no longer accepted.

There is a small girl, my co-workers gave me some things for her, kids grow up fast.

Also, there may be limits. Like, only 2 pairs of shoes in a parcel.

So if anybody mails something ahead to a former Soviet Bloc country, you better check the rules.

I've mailed many times from both Ireland &amp; Greece and never had a problem. You just have to wait for them a few weeks.

FainaAgain: I actually did originally write something along the lines of &quot;(well just anywhere - Cuba, and a few other places come to mind)&quot; --- But deleted it before posting since I thought it would just confuse the issue.

For what rapunzll wants to know, those exceptions to the rule really don't apply.

Rapunzll,

Normally, if you are not affiliated with the military or being sponsored by someone who is, you probably won't even be able to get on a US base these days. Even if you could, you would not be able to use the military post offices as they are for personnel stationed there as they are highly subsidised to provide a service to our military members. Even I as a military retiree, while I could get on base/post most places would not be able to use it to mail stuff home to myself.

Maybe you could use DSL or fedex if you are worried about the packages arriving (both allow you to track the codes).

While traveling to London for work I had to send some materials back to the office. I took the labels from my office before I went on the trip and then left the packages with my hotel in London who I guess had a regular DSL pickup. I am sure you could find a post office or other spot to drop the packages off if you are in a big city. I'm not sure how much it cost because was paid for by my work.

I sent packages from both Scotland and Ireland once. They took awhile, but it was fun to get our gifts and guidebooks a while after our return. My last package from Paris arrived very shortly after we did. I think I didn't communicate the CHEAP part enough, pas tros cher!

Rapunzll... my sister and I once mailed shoes and dirty clothes to California from Paris. The postal people spoke no English, so we relied on my limited French and a language book. It was fine &amp; cheap... packages arrived a few days after we did.

On a September trip to central Scotland several years back, we sent our cool weather stuff home (along with some new sweaters) once we reached Amsterdam. It was nice to not have to carry it around, and we had that box for years after. It was easy to do. We bought the box in the post office and they taped it for us.

When I mailed packages from Scotland last year, I used the lodging address as my return address. I think I did the same thing in Munich - just my name, c/o the hotel name and address. I don't know if I checked the requirements first or just assumed I'd be better off with a return address in the country of the package's origin. In both cases the packages reached me, luckily!

I don't see Switzerland mentioned here...has anyone had an easy experience mailing a package home from there? I am currently in Italy and I've read that the postal service here is very unreliable, if a package arrives at all it's often been opened en route.

My next stop is Switzerland so I thought that may be a better option. (Montreux or Lucerne). Any thoughts?

Thanks

Education. Search postal sites. All the rules and such are laid out in simple English. Use PO supplies. Use printed labels. Enclose a similar label. Cover the label with clear packing tape. Surface may take months. Check on special rules for 'gift' packages. Spend a few minutes at your local PO before you leave home. Postal services are one of the 7 wonders of travel!

Security..insure or register, again, inquire.

On my first trip overseas (I was alone) I mailed back two packages.

One was old clothes and 'Ireland' stuff (as the first three days of the trip was in Ireland). The rest was in the UK.

The second was from a liquor store - I had bought about $100 worth of mead and scotch, to be sent to my apartment (where my boyfriend was waiting for them). Well, first they were sent back because the shipper didn't put the phone number on. Then it was sent back because they broke in transit. The third time...well, I don't think they were sent a third time. I tried to contact them (it was 1996, pre-internet for many folks) but never got a good answer. it was about 6 months later, and I couldn't dispute the charges or anything at that point. Never did get the alcohol :(

We've mailed large or fragile purchases home from foreign countries in Europe and have not had any trouble.
The eastiest thing to do is ask the shop if they will mail the purchases for you. We've done this in large stores and small independent shops. You pay a little extra but it is worth being free of the hassle of finding the PO etc.

opps - hate it when this happens - just noticed the original post is from march 26th.
probably not much use to poster at this point.

nanabee - I didn't have a trip planned at the time, and still don't as I'm planning on moving in the near future, but I was wanting to know for future trips. So, all input is appreciated.

I stopped sending things back after postage just got too expensive. I used to mail books back if I went to Britain, but there is no longer an international book rate on either side of the Atlantic.

I simply buy less. I have totally abandoned collecting souvenir pamphlets anywhere. I found they just cluttered up my house and eventually got tossed. Almost all the information is online now, so you don't need them to write up a trip report or refer to later if you want to answer a post.

I just did Austria for 4 weeks with a 22&quot; suitcase (I had a washer where I was staying). Having such a small bag also kept down the amount of souvenirs to small items.

&lt;&lt;Having such a small bag also kept down the amount of souvenirs to small items.&gt;&gt;

And my favorite, nearly weightless souvenir: vintage photos or prints. (Also new art works on paper = visited an artist in Todi in his studio, one of many in a &quot;co=op&quot; of artist's studios/residences. Loved the work, and takes up almost zero space in a bag. Awfully easy to bring back compared to pottery!)

I got a necklace and a pin. For my sister and brother-in-law there were music tschotskes. They are both musicians. My brother-in-law got a tie and they both got key chains and socks with musical instruments on them. I also bought a book on Empress Elizabeth (Franz Josef's wife) but left another book behind. That was it.

And never again with pottery. I want to downsize. I have many nice pieces but I am afraid many will have to go in a yard sale or on ebay.

And jewelry almost always fits the recipient, as well. ((H))

Hey, the recipient was me.

You might be able to mail a package from a US Military base if you can get on base. I often mail from a local Navy Base and they never ask me for ID.
But to get on base I must show my military ID&gt;
So I would not count of using the military to mail stuff.
I can't imagine that a tourist would have any trouble using any countries postal service.