This fall I travel to five (5) countries in Europe. They are: Wales, Scotland, Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia. Travel Forum and you, the travel community, have been pleasantly reliable and responsive during my planning process.
I may purchase items while traveling, for example Harris Tweed or other clothing.
Do you recommend I mail the items myself at respective post offices OR rely upon the merchant to mail home?
I don't typically check my luggage on an outbound leg. Sometimes for the return, I'll check a bag. I'm not much of a shopper, we don't buy much in terms of souvenirs. We do bring two expandable duffels that fold small. If we buy enough (usually food, wine, etc.) we'll check our carry on size suitcase and carry on the duffel. I would think this strategy would work really well for lightweight items like fabric and clothing.
I agree with Jules. I do like to shop but always pack an extra packable backpack or duffel with me that I can use when I go home. I typically put any less valuable items (older clothes, etc.) in my luggage that is then checked, and put the purchased items in my carry-on and/or personal bag. Unless you plan on buying masses of items, this method should work for you.
You can find packable backpacks on Amazon or other stores. Here is a packable tote that I just bought and will use for an upcoming trip (it's on sale today only for $16.99).
If you would rather have a backpack, I've used this one before and it works well (it will hold 40L). Here is a smaller version of that that holds 20L.
In Ireland purchased wool goods were shipped free by the merchant with no problem. In France we shipped home jackets through a purchased fixed fee shipping box at post office because the weather was very warm and we didn’t want to keep carrying them everywhere, no problems but not cheap either. In Italy we FedExed wine, it took weeks and was expensive. We have also brought along a lightweight collapsible zippered tote, used as our carryon and checked our luggage. (The first time we did this was in Switzerland because I didn’t want any chance of the tons of Swiss chocolate we bought to melt.) If you buy ‘lots of stuff’ it might be worth it to buy a cheap piece of luggage while there and check it home.
If you have ‘lots of stuff’ it might be worth it to buy a cheap piece of luggage while there and check it home.
That is another good option. I did that once in Edinburgh, which I was flying home from. I went to a local TKMaxx (same company as TJMaxx) and bought a duffle bag to carry home my treasures, as I did not have an extra bag with me.
I’m still waiting for a parcel of my own clothing that I sent home from Italy …. 30 years ago
Thankfully not a shopper but if I were I’d pack an extra canvass bag for the trip home. Or have the merchant ship it knowing the cost won’t be cheap.
There have been some recent posts by people who mailed things home that either got lost or significantly delayed and it was rather expensive. The cost of an extra checked bag that you can track and file a claim if it goes missing is a prudent and probably cost effective choice. There have also been comments on "surprise" tariff tax charges for mailed items (this should not be a surprise). So read up on the dollar value of items you can bring back to the states and ensure you declare all those items and values on your customs form if you bring things back yourself.
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This was an issue I'm facing. I have a few extra things I need to get back to the US. I was going to ship them but the shipping would cost about half of the value of the items.
So, I plan to get them into my suitcase somehow. I have three flights home. I will check my bag on the first one because it is a turboprop and can't handle a normal full size carry on.
But the next two--one across the Atlantic and the other a domestic US flight--are the questionable ones. I have never checked bags on them. If I can close my suitcase, I will do carry on. (No weight limit). But if I must "expand" the suitcase I'll have to check it. Luckily, a checked bag is included in each fare.
I have shipped items back to the US in the past. It is not cheap.
But the question that has not been asked is.....will you have to carry these items around your entire trip? Do you want to? If not, ship them home. If the merchant is honest, and they offer shipping services, then they are usually reliable. I've purchased items from major department stores and had them ship it. I've never had a problem. Not sure about small retailers.
In 2023, we had some kitchen items and gifts that we shipped home. It was not cheap, but neither were the items and they were too cumbersome to continue to tote around for the remaining three weeks of our trip.
We used to be carry on only, however, hubby and I now each check a 24” bag, and we both have an underseater and personal item in the cabin with us. I pack a collapsible duffle in my checked bag and if needed, we will pay for a second checked bag coming home - which is cheaper than shipping (and is free on Delta - paid via a credit card statement credit). However, if we accumulate a lot of stuff and have multiple stops thus becoming ridiculously cumbersome to finish our travels with the additional stuff, we head to the nearest DHL and ship it.
We have also had items shipped by the merchant (cheese in The Netherlands) with great success.
So, long answer above; short answer is it depends on the situation, but in no instance have we used the postal service in Europe. Twice we used the postal service in the US to ship things TO Europe and it took months.
But the next two--one across the Atlantic and the other a domestic US flight--are the questionable ones. I have never checked bags on them. If I can close my suitcase, I will do carry on. (No weight limit). But if I must "expand" the suitcase I'll have to check it. Luckily, a checked bag is included in each fare.
Frank, why are you so reluctant to check them? I get that you will if you have to, but checking a bag would be the first option I would choose, especially if it was free. I could see it being risky if you were heading over there, but it sounds like you are coming back to the states. And in that case, even if a suitcase was delayed, you would get back eventually. When I do that, I always fill the checked bag with older clothing that it wouldn't kill me to be without for a few days (or forever). 😊
My luggage has been delayed many times (including both directions on our honeymoon), but it has always been recovered. One time, delayed two days on a ski vacation with four kids. The airline (Delta) actually paid for purchase and rental of gear and clothing and transport of our luggage from Denver to Steamboat Springs by courier. I have no qualms about checking my luggage. I just don't like to check it on an outbound flight, because delay at the start of a trip is a hassle.
Now, mail, I'm not so comfortable with. I have mailed postcards from Europe ten years ago that have never arrived. I mailed a package from St. Paul to Honolulu and it was found in Guam.
Frank, why are you so reluctant to check them? I get that you will if you have to, but checking a bag would be the first option I would choose, especially if it was free. I could see it being risky if you were heading over there, but it sounds like you are coming back to the states. And in that case, even if a suitcase was delayed, you would get back eventually.
You forget that I don't have a home in the US. I stay in hotels so no wardrobe to go back to.
Additionally, I arrive in the US in the evening and have the domestic flight the next morning. So if my bag was lost, no clean clothes, no toiletries, no opportunity to go buy anything as I am staying near the airport.
Unfotunately, my personal item is already pretty full so I won't be able to put a change of clothes. I bought a new backpack recently which fits inside my current personal item.
