Suitcase transfer

One consideration is to travel light - the forum travelers here have helped me travel for 3 months at a time with only a 21" suitcase.

That would be the easiest and cheapest !

Fedex and DHL are the usual suspects in this regard. Our personal experiences using Fedex for shipping materials ahead (including suitcases) have generally been positive, and the costs weren't particularly outrageous as I recall.
Suggest getting quotes from each of them to give yourself a benchmark, then shop around further to see if a better deal can be had. Don't forget to inquire about any duties that may need to be paid on an international shipment.
That said, it might be easier and cheaper to just pack light as was previously suggested.

Travel light ... try telling my wife that, I could manage 3 weeks with a carrier bag but thanks for the very sensible suggestion ... I’ll check out fedex thank you

Casually suggest to your wife that she look at travelfashiongirl.com to view her travel capsules. She tells you exactly how to travel for months with coordinating pieces.

It truly is wonderful to jump off a train with a small suitcase. Once you do it, you will laugh at all of the crazy people dragging their 24" suitcases !

1 ten pound rolling bag per person--10 kg maximum. Big purse or day pack for toiletries/meds.
No exceptions.

Your wife should only bring what she can carry herself!

Step Number One: Don't bring a "suitcase".

Maybe you're just using that term generally (meaning "any kind of luggage or bag"). If that's the case, time to update your vocabulary.

If not...the image of a large, rectangular, hard-sided suitcase harkens back to the days of "steamer trunks", something I'd consider a complete anachronism for today's travel realities. A traditional "suitcase" is HEAVY (even when empty) - every ounce/gram counts, and you are not doing yourself any favors by using a bag that weighs any more than it needs to (when empty). Second, large, hard-sided containers are horrible when you need to carry them more than a few steps - which is why (back in the day) wealthy folks had "porters" and other hired help to lug them for you. Those days are long gone for almost everyone - everyone should expect to carry their own stuff because there isn't going to be a handy helper around when you need one. Finally, a large "suitcase" is an invitation to bring 10 times more stuff than you really need. A large space will surely get filled up, just as a smaller space will - so do yourself a big favor and start with a small space (smaller than you think you could possibly survive) and you will find the results a lot more manageable.

Try Send My Bag.

I used them last month to send a bag from the UK to the USA but they also deliver throughout Europe. My bag was picked up by a DHL courier and delivered by them. It was cheaper than FedEx and UPS.

Roger, tell you wife to come check out this forum. You would not believe how liberating it is to not have to haul heavy bags.

I travel for up to 4 weeks (could be more) with a 14 lb backpack, and a smallish shoulder bag. My DH has a smaller backpack and a laptop case. That's it, and that's plenty.

Some folks have more electronics, or more cosmetics, or need special clothing for special events, but still, a 21" roller bag or 30 liter backpack should do for almost anyone. (We did have someone on the forum last year who had to pack riding clothes - including boots!)

I did the heavy suitcase + overnight case + purse thing many years ago, as a student. I will never ever do that again.

What an excellent resource this is thank you one and all ... yes David I'll use the term bag maybe not 'suitcase' - we have learnt to use very very light fabric bags (especially since flight baggage charges got so high). The problem is we like to eat out in the evenings and my wife likes to "dress up" - it's a big part of the holiday for her and I couldn't deny her that pleasure (not that I would deny her anything much she's bigger than me) ! so I'll start weightlifting classes and grin and bear it ... I'll also check out 'Send my Bag' - thanks Frank II.

Dress up = one little black dress + 5 different scarves and 2 pair of shoes (ballet flats and heel...if she must). Jewelry and scarves weigh little and take up little room. Dress up doesn't always mean 'dress'. Accessories can also dress up basic day wear. There is a lot to say for mix and match clothing that can go from day to night.
She might love the capsule dressing link. Loads of others on Pinterest...or google.

I imagine roger’s wife will not be well pleased about the unsolicited advice to cut back on her packing.

She probably won't appreciate our advice ! But I do the same as Maria suggested - I bring scarves and few necklaces and I can have a different look every night !

Yes Norma ... she's a little concerned but is slowly coming round to seeing the point ... my suggestion that she's bigger than me didn't go down too well but I should be out of A&E later this evening.

:))) Roger!
She probably took good care not to injure your suitcase- carrying arm.....

Roger, I thought that was a very bold move on your part to discuss size, so Imhad hoped to divert with my Pinterest options....guess that didn't work as quickly as I hoped.

She might enjoy looking at the blog The Vivienne Files. More upscale and really fun capsule wardrobe suggestions. Does she like Hermes scarves? They anchor many of her color suggestions. Easy to sub in more affordable and casual clothing as well.

http://www.theviviennefiles.com/