<p>Hi everyone-- D is spending spring semester in the UK and we’d been planning to do some traveling together before she gets started in late January. Except…how do we manage this without having to lug 14 weeks worth of clothing and books around with us? I’m hoping someone here has a solution to this I haven’t thought of!</p>
<p>Remember reading about this when D went for summer but didn’t research further because didn’t need it. Try this link and see if it helps. No actual experience with this…maybe someone else can give you real life stories.
<a href=“http://www.excess-baggage.com/storage_services/storage_services.php”>http://www.excess-baggage.com/storage_services/storage_services.php</a></p>
<p>Ooh, thank you!</p>
<p>Realized meanwhile that this thread should be in Parent Cafe. </p>
<p>Some ideas I have (no experience) would be to contact the school she will be at and see if either they can store the bulk of her luggage there while you travel or if you can ship the bulk of her luggage to the school and only carry with you what she needs for your travels. I’d also contact the study abroad office at her current school as they may well have heard of other students in the same predicament and might have some ideas. In any event, enjoy!</p>
<p>Most of this hinges on what the itinerary is. For example, if she is studying in Scotland and you are flying into Paris and then the train to London and then on to the university, it might not be hard to carry the luggage with you. But if the plan includes multiple cities, budget airlines or lots of public transit it would be more difficult obviously. </p>
<p>Easiest would likely be to have someone at home ship her bags, and then time them to arrive a few days after her arrival. This option won’t be cheap though, a couple hundred at least. Most train stations and airports have left luggage offices where they will store your bags. If you are coming back to your arrival city, this would be an option, as would a self-storage facility. Self-storage seems like the cheapest, this one in central London even has a left luggage option. Just some ideas to explore!
<a href=“Self Storage Kings Cross > 50% Off Up To 13 Weeks | Access”>Self Storage Kings Cross > 50% Off Up To 13 Weeks | Access;
<p>Rosa, my daughter left to study in England for two years with one suitcase and a carryon plus her laptop. Everything else, blankets, towels, she bought over there at Primark. I would say it is like Target. Reasonable prices. Electronics do not work too well for the long term, so hair appliances are better to buy on the cheap over there. </p>
<p>Prior to this, she spent six weeks studying abroad and did the same. Books are a bit of a problem but shipping to and from England is expensive. She had to become a minimalist and she loves books and shoes but she had to leave some behind.</p>
<p>We did the reverse. After her study abroad, we met her and traveled around a bit. Since she only had those suitcases, it was not a big problem. In one of the places, we consolidated into one bag and used left luggage for several days but it was not cheap. It was a matter of convenience for us not to lug around so many bags on that piece of the trip.</p>
<p>I would check with the school to see if you can leave some luggage there. Sounds like a great experience.</p>
<p>I studied in England for three months, and I also only brought one suitcase - I would just try to cut down on what she brings.</p>
<p>D and I did 10 days in Paris, Salzburg, & Munich before her Study Aborad began in Berlin. I did laundry near our hotel late one afternoon in Paris and found it to be an interesting people watching experience. </p>
<p>When my daughter studied in Spain last semester, she wished she had brought less stuff. Her host parents’ apartment was tiny and she didn’t have much room!</p>
<p>A belated thank you to all of you! Lost my internet connection for a couple of days. I think I will ship a box of stuff to her UK address before we leave…we’re flying to Rome and will take the train north bit by bit. </p>