Has anyone looked into or have experience with the cost to ship a bike to Italy (Venice more specifically) and back? I will be in Italy for about three weeks in late Fall and would like to haul a bike (in a rental car) around with me to ride occasionally. I'm not interested in renting locally because bicycles, pedals, saddles, wheels/tires, gearing, brakes, etc., vary significantly and bike shops never rent the quality of bicycle I prefer to ride. Where can I check for shipping costs/arrangements? I've been looking on-line, but have had not seen anything that can answer my question.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23340 posts
You only have two choice. Take your bike as checked luggage and pay the surcharge - perhaps 80 to 100 or maybe more now. Second send it via an express service such as UPS or FedEx. Just go on line and you can get a quote for the price to ship. It will not be cheap. Bike theft is problem in Europe so you need to be prepared to deal with that. Of course, you can do as we do and pack the bike a suitcase and no one knows it is a bike except the guy on the x-ray which then inspection but we always survive.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5562 posts
Jim, There was a similar question here recently. Here is the link. It has a lot of info on shipping a bike. www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/87505/bike-mail-it-or-pack-it-for-the-plane.html
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32913 posts
You do know that there is nowhere in Venice to ride a bicycle, right?
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Ha, yes Nigel's comment is funny and exactly correct. Actually there is a little area of Venice called St Elena where you "could" theoretically ride a bike. But in all of my trips to Europe and Venice...Venice is the one and only place where I've never seen a bike.
Posted by
OP
Ogden, Utah, USA
49 posts
Thanks everyone, for the information, especially the web link. I didn't say I was planning to ride a bike in Venice, only that I was inquiring into the cost to ship a bike to Venice. I will be touring the southern half of Italy (via auto) and was considering bringing a bike along to ride when I have the time. For example, we have a one-week time share and that would be a perfect time for several rides. Additionally as we stop at various towns in the country, I'm sure I could find the time to get a ride in here and there. Thanks again