Is is reasonable to mail Christmas cards from Assisi to the USA (multiple locations) in early December 2024? Cost for a 1 oz envelope? Will the mail ever arrive? How long should it take? We will have close to 50 cards to mail. The cards have a beautiful manger scene from Christmas 2023 in Assisi that my husband took and we've had especially made for this purpose. Is this reasonable, or should we simply mail the cards from home (Florida) before we fly to Italy in early December? Thanks.
Posted by
Paris
10186 posts
If the cards are normal size and weigh up to 20 g, the cost per envelope is €2.45.
If they weigh more than 20 g but less than 50 g, the cost per envelope is €4.
https://www.poste.it/prodotti/postamail-internazionale.html
I would think that the special thing about the cards is that your husband took the photo and you had them made. Personally I would save money and worry (and vacation time) and would mail them from the States before traveling.
Posted by
St Paul
153 posts
Our daughter lives in London and orders her cards online from a US based company to our home for us to send to their US family/friends as an international stamp from the UK is now £2.80. A quick search shows €2.20 per stamp from Italy to the US.
We have had mail arrive from one week to four weeks. We haven't had any lost mail though one piece of mail showed up about a year later. We have successfully sent mail from most countries, timing varies.
Posted by
San Diego, California
5595 posts
Perhaps give the cards to a friend in the USA, with instructions to mail on a certain date? Good luck!
Posted by
Maryland
112 posts
We just mailed one from Italy to the US - Cost: 2.50 euro - not cheap.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you Everyone, for your prompt and helpful replies. I think we're going to take the reasonable approach and opt for putting our cards in the mail the day before we leave home. I really appreciate everyone's friendly response. This is a very nice group of people! But then, hey, we're talking the Land of Rick Steves followers!
Posted by
910 posts
Well hopefully they will arrive before Christmas 2025 if you mail them from Italy! I wouldn't waste the money or risk it. There's no reason you can't mail them before you leave the US. The earlier they arrive in December; the longer people can enjoy the card!
Posted by
Washington DC
28050 posts
The Italian postal system used to have a really dreadful reputation; knowledgeable folks did important mailings from the Vatican Post Office in Rome if it was practical. I do not know to what degree the situation has improved. Given the cost, I would absolutely arrange to have the cards mailed from within the US.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33808 posts
I understand the romantic appeal of mailing them with Italian stamps, and from Assisi no less!!
But, if you can, I'd get them sent from home. No risk, no worry.