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Desperately seeking return of forgotten purse from Rome

Posted by StellaBella (Washington, DC) on 08/14/22 01:25 PM

My best friend accidentally forgot her purse in a a Rome AirBNB, her family was rushed checking out because flight got cancelled and the only returning flight they could rebook was at some ungodly early hour. Good thing she had all passports in hand.

The Airbnb host has been lovely and has communicated she will hold it, and happy to help to mail it or hand it to someone flying back to DC. The contents include her drivers license, insurance card, and prescription medicines for her son that are labeled.

It is advisable and legal to mail? FedEx, DHL, or UPS? Alternatively does anyone know of a fast service? We are trying to find friends who are flying back from Rome but it’s a long shot. Thanks in advance

Posted by Mardee

Duluth 🛶

08/14/22 01:51 PM

8274 posts

I've shipped using DHL before and had no problems. I also know that FedEx and UPS both ship from Italy to the US, including express. You or your friend might want to check their websites for more info.

This post from a few years ago might be helpful - https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/mail-a-package-from-italy-to-usa

Posted by Laurel

Forest Grove, OR

08/14/22 02:51 PM

11817 posts

As long as she doesn’t send it through Poste Italiane. We had great service from Mailboxes Etc several places in Italy. They ship FedEx.

Posted by Frank

Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA

08/14/22 03:03 PM

23650 posts

Don't over think it. Have the B&B pack it in a box and mail it or send it via an express service. I don't know why people want to knock the Italian post if they haven't use it. It works fine -- slower than a FedEx - everything reached us. Several years ago we sent a large, high value, art piece through the Italian mail with no problems other than it took about a month for delivery.

Posted by David from Seattle

Seattle, WA, USA ☔️

08/14/22 05:29 PM

6841 posts

Any of the well-known places already mentioned would work just fine. You will need to choose price and speed of service, and that'll vary (it'll probably cost more than you expect). Make sure it's packed carefully, and be sure to insure it appropriately (it has ID and other valuable info in it...,you don't want that going missing).

Posted by Laurel

Forest Grove, OR

08/14/22 10:03 PM

11817 posts

Frank,
We had good luck with PI when it didn’t matter while we lived there. But for two trips, in 2019 and 2021, our boxes went astray. We eventually got them, one badly damaged but saved and secured by the USPS in Seattle so it could be forwarded, and one last year that required a Herculean effort by me to get them to find it and move it out of Italian Customs. In either case, over €600 worth of holiday gifts. We will drag stuff with us our use DHL or FedEx from now on.

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