Sending clothes home
 

We will be attending a wedding in Bavaria, then heading by train to Italy for 2 weeks after that. We would like to send home our formal clothes needed for the wedding festivities, since we will have no need for them on the rest of the trip. What is the best way to do this?

Chicgeek
I have the same question only from Venice. Wedding dress and Tux's need to be shipped home before leaving on the train for a week.

I've done that in Switzerland several times. I went to the post office with my extra clothing in a bag, purchased a sturdy box from them, put the stuff in the box, and paid to mail it, regular mail. Can't advise the situation in Bavaria or Venice!

Is FEDEX or UPS a possibility?

You will gaff at the cost from the post office, but choke on the spot with prices from Fedex and UPS. Use the post and send it by ship for the lowest cost, generally. Sometimes priority is not much more expensive these days. I would wrap it in plastic to protect it.

There is little chance that US Customs will inspect your package but if it is a high value item (you must fill out the customs declaration when you mail it) they might. If you are bringing the clothes with you to Europe you will not need to pay duty. If they are purchased over there the mail-it-home allowance is much less than the $800 take-it-home-with-you duty free allowance.

Hi chic,

The mail is better than private shippers.

From the Customs Service

Once per day, you can mail yourself $200 worth of goods duty-free; mark the package "For Personal Use." .. Any package must state on the exterior a description of the contents and their values.

Just write "dirty clothes" on the customs form! A package from the post office wasn't cheap but convenient and well worth it to lighten my suitcase for the rest of the trip.