DHL service to ship souvenirs home

We have shipped packages home from the local post offices in Paris, Munich, Lauterbrunnen and Prague. Yes we buy a lot. LOL. They all arrived home in excellent condition. Our largest box from Paris was around 30 Euros...others were less.

I've used Mailbxoes Etc outlets which I think ship UPS. They've always done an excellent job packing and always have spoken good English. There is at least one in Rome that I've used. I might have used DHL while in Germany, but otherwise not much experience with them. But as a private shipper, they'd be far more trustworthy than the Italian Post. Either DHL, UPS or FedEx will be expensive though. My boxes, about 2x2x1 and somewhat heavy with some books and papers typically cost $200-300. A smaller, lighter box of just trinkets will be less, but still more than a typical extra bag fee on the airlines. If you buy something more fragile or expensive and they ship for you, take that option. They can get better prices and the cost of shipping is offset by saving the VAT. Oh - and take a lesson from another poster recently, don't ship things to your home address if you're not going to be home...

I have used DHL multiple tines, though never shipping home from Italy. The have always been very reliable - delivery has been as prompt as promised, and merchandise has always arrived in good condition. DHL's prices always seem to be comparable to UPS or FED EX. But like the other carriers, it is not a particularly cheap way to go - a package weighing just a couple pounds can cost upwards of a hundred dollars to ship with DHL, FED EX, or UPS. If you can, my advice would be to bring your souvenirs home yourself as part of your regular luggage.

Depending on what and how much you're buying, you might be better off paying to check an extra bag on the way home. Weight-wise, a 50lb checked bag will almost certainly be cheaper than mailing or shipping a package of equal weight. There are lots of collapsible duffels (for example, http://www.rei.com/product/809162/rei-stuff-travel-duffel) that don't take up much room in your bag on the way over, but could serve as a checked bag for your souvenirs or your dirty clothes while you put your souvenirs in your carry-on or other, more substantial checked bag, depending on how you travel. Again, it depends on how much and what you're buying, but an extra checked bag might be the fastest and most cost-efficient option.

I know we should not hold grudges, but there is a ghost town in Ohio thanks to DHL. I'd use someone else.

Not feeling tremendous confidence in the Italian postal system (seconded by my hotel), I shipped a couple of pounds of paper home from Italy last year via Mailboxes etc. It was close to $100 dollars for rapid delivery; there was no slow shipping option, even though I wouldn't be home for a few weeks. It arrived fine, and I had it sent to a relative, since I wouldn't be home. In France, Ireland, and other countries, I've shipped via postal service, at much more reasonable prices, with good results. Slower delivery, but the didn't really matter, since my goal was not to have to truck the paper around with me.