Posting Packages from Central Europe
 

Newbie to Fodors, forgive me for repeating a thread, but I wanted some updated answers..

We are planning a trip to Central Europe in early-mid December for the Christmas Markets. OF COURSE I will be purchasing all kinds of goodies in Budapest, Vienna and Prague. Flying into Budapest, potentially flying out of Prague OR coming back around to Budapest for the grand exit.

Here's my question -

Do you prefer to bring all your treasures with you on the flight, and just pay for that extra luggage (which you have to 'lug' around the entire vacay) or do you recommend posting a box from each city? I feel like this might become expensive. I was thinking that if we end up looping back around to Budapest from Prague, that I would mail out from Prague a box of the biggest and bulkiest (and heaviest) items that simply are too cumbersome to keep in a carryon.

Now, here's the bit I need real advice on:
1 - How does a traveler go about securing one sturdy box, some tape, etc., AND
2 - Would you folks recommend just using the country's mail service (in this case, Czech), or would you find a UPS-like service instead? If not the post office, which services would you recommend?

Lots of other questions, that I'll post separately, but I am primarily wondering how I am going to get my goodies back home without having to lug them all over the Alps...

Thanks!
~Californian stuck in Texas

#2 is hard to answer, as it may vary from country to country.
Also national mail services often have joint ventures for parcel services with big global players like DHL.
Costs can vary by size or weight of parcel, so it can matter if your parcel is big but not heavy, or heavy but not big.
UPS is usually available wherever you are, but I find them usually/mostly very expensive.
If you made up your mind from where you plan to post the parcel, I'd suggest you google a website for expats living in that country. This may trigger more relevant input than the anecdotal experience of the occasional tourist to Czech or Hungary.

Good thoughts. Thank you!

Wondering if each postal service doesn't sell packing materials in their own shops? For instance the online shop of the Austrian postal service has packing materials:

https://onlineshop.post.at/onlinesho...-verpacken_231

Why not ask at the desk of your hotel? You are probably not the first person to want to send stuff home.

Lavandula

"1 - How does a traveler go about securing one sturdy box, some tape, etc., AND"

Here in Vienna the supplies can be purchased at the Post. Keep in mind that the Post is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

"2 - Would you folks recommend just using the country's mail service (in this case, Czech), or would you find a UPS-like service instead? If not the post office, which services would you recommend?"

I can not speak to CZ, but only half of our holiday cards sent from Austrian Post reach our international friends and family each year. :(

My preference is to pay the extra baggage fee; if I know there is a chance I might purchase something fragile, I will often just carry the item on the plane with me. Over the course of our travels I have "carried on" an entire travel case of crystal and a tajine; I was prepared to carryon the rug I purchased in Marrakesh this spring, until the kind airline staff marked the bundle "fragile" and arranged for it to be hand carried to the plane.

You can ship duty free, within limits and restrictions that are available on the US Customs website. I'm not sure if it would be worth it because even if you exceed the duty allowance, the duty is not all that much.

My friend and I are going to Europe in Oct. and we have a folding bag and if we need to we'll check it with our stuff and split the baggage fee.

<How does a traveler go about securing one sturdy box, some tape, etc.>

When I have done this (Amsterdam, Paris) everything was available right at the local post office. Sorry no specific experience with your cities.

I think it's easier to keep purchases with you, but then I'm not a big shopper and I do check one suitcase on the way home.