While the rules will likely change before I go to Italy in October, I doubt it will be the same as before. I rarely if ever check bags, HATE IT, and the queues now will be more than ever; not to mention that with more bags checked more bags will be lost, AND i only have an hour connection through AMS on my way to FCO--highly unlikely the bag will make it there in time!!

So, I was thinking of just shipping it to my hotel. It's about $110 for a 30lb bag, for the 5-10 day service I think (less for 4-6 weeks, but who wants to do that??)

Has anyone done this before?

Shipping services -

First Luggage - www.firstluggage.com or from the US 1-800-224-5781.

Excess Baggage - (in Britain) ships to 300 countries. www.excessbaggage.com or from the US 1-800-783-1085.

Contour USA - US agent of Excess Baggage
www.contour-usa.com

Luggage Express - www.usxpluggageexpress.com or 1-866-744-7224

Luggage Forward - www.luggageforward.com or 1-866-416-7447

Other US based services -

www.skycapinternational.com
www.virtualbellhop.com

Is that $110 one way? What about returning..?
Who's the shipping company..?
Do you know if your hotel will agree to accept a package and hold for xx days for you..?

Wow, I didn't know there were companies that specialized in this..Luggage Express has good prices, has anyone used them or any of the others listed?

thanks!

I often have online shopping from Gap sent to my hotel(s) in the US before I arrive as they won't ship to Australia. I call the hotel & tell them its comings & to hold it. I haven't had a problem. I also was touring the US on business once and left a suitcase full of outlet shopping at the W in SF after spending a weekend in the Napa. I was staying there at the finish of my trip a week later.

Give your hotel a call & ask them. The only problem might be customs. It is a pain shipping my luggage back to Australia as I have to go to customs and sign for it.

Just realized I was looking at domestic rates for Luggage Express, which are good, but the international rates for the USPS are probably less.

And yes, Travelnut, I will contact my hotel before doing so, but I doubt it will be a problem.

I would expect international rates to be higher than domestic rates, as customs inspection/documents must be factored in.

travelnut, the rates I looked up on USPS WERE int'l (and yes, that is for one way)

I used Luggage Express to ship bags to my hotel in Hawaii from the east coast. I had a shoulder injury and a stop over in San Fran and did not want to collect and recheck the bag. It was very easy and the hotel said they deal with the shippers regularly.
I would ship my bag again without question especially now. I expect that the current situation will help the shippers business since I knew my bag was at the hotel before I ever left home so no worries with a lost bag and no need to have much in your carry on.

You'd better still plan on checking some sort of bag, lest they think you're a terrorist planning on not making it to your destination, or doing a dry run.

On second thought, bagless might become the way to go, if you can prove you had the bag shipped in the first place.

LOL....Firstluggage quoted me $978 to have 2 suitcases arrive at the hotel on 10/6 and get picked up on 10/17

LOL...

I don't understand how someone could have such a stron objection to checking their suitcase. I also would never book flights that had only 1 hour to make a transfer.