shipping souvenirs home
 

I'm guessing that it's easiest to ship these home using the local post offices? Is there a lot of red tape? Do you have to bring bubble wrap, etc. with you or can this normally be purchased at the P.O.? If not - where are best places to buy these supplies. We ended up with many more treasures that we had planned last year and the couple of legs of our journey when we took the train -- we were regretting the extra baggage more than we can say!

What country are you talking about?

We shipped purchases home last summer from France and it was easy, and the items arrived in one week.

France.

Hi C,

Bring your own bubble wrap - unroll it and lay it flat in your suitcase.

Bring your own boxes - also unfolded and flat.

There are rules for mailing stuff home.

See http://tinyurl.com/2g94zh

((I))

How about Italy? Are there UPS or FedEx offices(or the equivalent)? I have heard that the Italian post office is very slow.

When we know we are taking a trip and will be purchasing breakables, we take our own bubble wrap, strong tape AND an empty hardsided larger suitcase. We use the cheap Samsonite hardsided because strong enough but very light weight.

We have brought home china, pottery, etc. from China and Europe and save shipping cost and the wait for souvenirs to arrive. Have not broken anything important ~ yet!

Yes it is very easy to ship items home from the post office in France. I would still bring my own bubble wrap..you can buy it in Staples if you live in the US. (I saw a huge roll yesterday for about $20.)

I had a hard time finding it in France last spring, even in Paris, although others seem to have located sources with no difficulty.

We have brought stuff in our suitcases before, but now we do carryon only. So we ship stuff home. In France, go to the La Poste (they are everywhere). We got the XL size international boxes, which were 38 euro. They will sell you the box and give you the form to fill out. Then you can take it back to your hotel or apt and set up the box, stuff it to your hearts content (no weight limit...whatever you can cram in it), seal it up (self sealing) and return the box and form to the La Poste and you are set. We did that last summer and the boxes arrived back here on the west coast in 7 days. Nothing was broken, and we didn't use any bubble wrap. Just used whatever soft items we had, and worked it that way.

Fodorites always come through for me -- this is exactly the info I needed -- thanks so much!

Glad to help:) That XL box is 12"x8"x18". There are two smaller size boxes as well, but if you are shopping I doubt you would want those, lol! The box is a reddish orange color. Now, do some shopping for me to, ok:D

I've done this in Switzerland and Paris. I used a box I purchased at the post office. For packing I used dirty clothes. It was no hassle in the least.

Hello all,

This question might be a bit of a stretch, but could you give me an idea on what the costs are to ship from France and Italy to the US (Fl)? I know it'll vary by weight and the items, but maybe an idea?

MMS, you mentioned a box for 38E, that's not including all the shipping costs is it?

Thank you!

No, that 38 euro was the box and shipping total.

mms - Very useful and dangerous information

wombat7--Glad to help, but I won't accept any blame for the checkbook:D I know...it IS dangerous info! But I will say that it was like Christmas day every day that one of those boxes arrived. Yes, we shipped several, lol!

mms - from your post it would appear the box went by air - do you happen to know if there is a box that can go by sea? Slower for a cheaper rate means more Euros to spend on what goes into the boxes!

Thank you very much for that info.. it is VERY dangerous indeed... but excellent to know.

I have no idea if there is a cheaper way. But then again, getting the stuff home quickly was awfully nice!

Gosh darn. In the days before Sept 11 I brought home chine from England and pottery from Mexico and wine from Oregon just by wrapping in t-shirts etc in my suitcase.

Now that TSA sometimes goes through your luggage, I've discovered they don't wrap things back up and breakables are just floating around in there loose.

I've taken my own tape and scissors before but never bubble wrap. May have to add that.

Any suggestions for shipping from Italy? I am adding bubble wrap and tape to my suitcase.