Info for shipping /packing boxes/bottles to ....

yep. if you have a 2 piece luggage set then this is your move

if you have some time you could also mail yourself a box.

 

Agreed on the nesting suitcase issue, it's what we do. Each large bottle is about 3lbs so 12 would be good for a bag of 50lbs. They will pack them tightly in boxes and we just put each box surrounded by clothes and bubble wrap and never get any broken. Clothes weigh more than bubble wrap but it's a good protector too.

 

I just flew back from Belgium last night with 24 bottles in four suitcases, all wrapped in clothes, socks, and bubble wrap. The layover in Iceland included handlers tossing my suitcases like it was an Olympic event. Either way, not one bottle was damaged. So I'd recommend this methodology if you've got the bags to check.

 

Backpack also works well if you can fit remaining clothes (that aren't being used as packing for the bottles) into it. On the way over, the backpack can either fit into your suitcase or be used as your 1 personal item (with your actual personal item inside it).

 

maybe this thread can be used for all people that wanne share ALL info / questions on shipping / packing bottles to or from Europe/Belgium/US ...

 

Well done.

I will move some of the more recent posts from the Cantillon thread to this one to help get it started.

Since I've done the deed myself several times, I may well chime in with some comments as well.

 

What is the standard way to ship bottles from Belgium to USA (I know not to send them through LAX)? I see a lot of advice here on bringing bottles back on the airplane, which I've done before, but I have a friend who is willing to ship a few bottles but doesn't know much about it. She was told she can't ship alcohol, has to declare what is in the box, and the largest box she could find from Belgian Post can only fit 3 bottles. Should I have her get a Lazenne 12 large bottle styrofoam box and drop that off at Belgian Post claiming it is definitely not beer?

 

Thanks all for this thread. I bought the shipper at Cantillon and was able to get 12 750's and 2 375's (inverted) back to the US. Of course, it was a major pain to lug it on the crowded train to Germany before I learned the best way to maneuver it.

 

So for those buying the three bottle boxes at cantillon, how/where are you shipping them? Do they ship from the brewery or do you have to carry the boxes to a shipping store?

Gonna be over in a few months and likely taking the train in for the day. Will want to buy bottles, ship them and walk away.

 

I believe they up'd the price to 109€ when I visited last on March 13th.

Also I'll add - you can buy a brand new suitcase (if you don't do the nesting thing) for 35€ at two different luggage stores at the corner <1 block away from Cantillon.

For me, with some clothing for padding, I get roughly 8 (750ml) bottles before I hit the 23kg/50lb limit for luggage. Made it with 3 bags of luggage (20/21/22.5kg) from Brussels to Iceland to Denver and all bottles made it safely.

Another tip - weight your suitcase at home so you know what you're starting with so you know how much weight you have to spare.

Lastly, bottle weights - it's safe to estimate 3lbs. per 750ml & 1.5lbs for 375ml bottles

 

When I go in a few months I will be taking the train from Brussels to Paris, then flying RyanAir from Paris to Dublin. And flying out of Dublin back to United States. Would it be cheaper for me to ship ahead or check the bag with RyanAir and then again when leaving Dublin?

 

Ryanair is probably the worst airline in the world when it comes to baggage.
I'd go for ship ahead.

 

Could I possibly ship it ahead to Dublin, pick it up at a hub and then check it when I'm not on RyanAir.

Not sure how much money I might save and if it would even be worth the inconvenience.

 

So we will be in Brussels at the beginning of May, should I feel pretty comfortable that Cantillon will have the wine check available to buy? We only have one stop left after Brussels so I'd only have to carry it through to one more city and I don't want to carry anything around for the first part of our trip.

 

They seem to have a pretty good stock of it. it is a risk but i would not worry about them running out.

 

I

I guess. But make sure the package have enough time to get there. Ship it to your hotel.

 

Landing in Brussels April 1 and flying out of Amsterdam April 9. I am hoping to bring back a Styrofoam shipper with me as my checked luggage. Does anyone know where I can buy one in Amsterdam? 6 or 12 would be ideal

 

If you find out a place in Amsterdam let me know! I am visiting and have a similar itin and will need a box or two leaving Amsterdam.

 

Also in Brussels 4/7-8. Will you be around?

 

My trip looks like this:
Day and nights in Brussels 4/1, Bruges 4/2-4/3, Ghent 4/4, Amsterdam 4/5 until we fly out 4/9

I'll let you if I find any shippers though. Someone told me to check Gall & Gall which is their largest distributor so I may just ask them when in the city.