My friend is visiting Greece for a week-long tour of swimming at islands near Naxos. He plans to spend three weeks in Greece and Italy afterward. Is there an easy way to send his swim gear back to the US? Postal service, fed ex? An office near Kolonaki where he will be staying for a few days after the swimming.
1
louisxiv
It better be some valuable stuff. Have you ever checked the cost to mail International Mail. I have sent a lot of stuff to Europe over the years and have found that the general rule is what ever you paid for the item it will cost you approximately the same in postage fees to mail, maybe an exception to this would be if you are mailing one feather. Also fedx and ups are just as bad if not more expensive.
2
travelerjan
LouisXIV is right ... since USA gave up any "sea mail" all stuff is flown airmail. Huuuuge costs. I sent 2 books to Athens; $38. (a work-around for BOOKS -- Amazon UK! if you open an account w. them and send books to Greece, the same 2 books would cost about $8 postage... but thats no help for swimgear).
3
louisxiv
I all depends on how big the box is and how much it weighs. I would either carry the swim ware with me and return to home with me or when you are through swimming just throw it away.
Also before you mail it make sure to check to see if US customs will let it in. Probably not a problem, but you never know.
4
mariha2912
Link for calculating postage through Greek post
https://www.elta.gr/en-us/calculatepostage.aspx
USA goes on the "Rest of the world" price list.
5
louisxiv
#4, nice reply. At least the OP will be able to calculate the amount. It seems to be calculated by weight, and if 1 kilogram is the minimum it looks the minimum cost could be 27 Euro.
6
vackar16
Thanks very much to everyone who responded. I sent my friend the information that shipping will be very expensive, I sent him the postage estimator and I sent the location of the post office closest to where he will stay in Kolonaki.
Thanks for your input!
7
onyx007
Depending how big and how heavy the equiment is, then an Express Service like DHL, UPS or FedEx
might be the same price as "normal" post.
I know from own experience (aka working with DHL) that sending a DHL package to the USA is the
same price as sending it inside Europe !
8
thrym
Your friend is not planning to do any swimming in the three weeks after Naxos? Not sure what you mean by "swim gear", but i would keep my bathers, snorkel & mask with me just in case. They don't take up much room in the bag.
9
Thorn Tree
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