<p>My granddaughter is going to Cornell University in Itihca New York.</p>
<p>We need to get her clothes, bedding, and sports gear there. Probably 200lbs.</p>
<p>What is the least expensive way to do this?</p>
<p>Airlines as extra baggage? By mail?</p>
<p>Please help. Thank you.</p>
<p>The first 120 pounds could go cheaply as luggage (two 50 pound bags, one 20 pound carry on). The cost for two bags should be around $40 (see [Baggage</a> fees for major airlines](<a href=“http://budgettravel.about.com/od/airfarescruises/tp/majors_bagfees.htm]Baggage”>http://budgettravel.about.com/od/airfarescruises/tp/majors_bagfees.htm)). Do not go over the 50 pound per bag limit.</p>
<p>Other dense items should go via priority mail flat rate boxes. Bulky light weight items should go UPS.</p>
<p>Is she going alone for her first move in day? If not, then the second person could pack minimally and use most of his or her baggage for your granddaughter’s stuff.</p>
<p>Books can go by USPS “Media” rate. This is very cheap, if a bit slower than first class mail. Just be sure that the package only contains books and other media. Send the snacks and clothes separately.</p>
<p>She will need serious winter-wear for Ithaca, but that can be shipped later (October?) or she can buy it at Target or the shopping mall. There should be a decent second-hand store there too if she prefers “vintage” clothing. Have her check out the city bus routes once she’s installed at Cornell so that she can learn how best to get around town.</p>
<p>Remember Bed Bath Beyond has a program where you go to the store in your area and pick out what you want/need. Then you go to the store near your school and pick everything up. This saves on the hassle of shipping linens, towels, chairs, etc.</p>
<p>We found that fedex ground was the cheapest way to ship and we also used the bed bath and beyond thing where you pick up stuff close to the school.</p>
<p>If you fly with southwest, your first two checked bags are free. :)</p>
<p>As someone else has said, stores like Bed Bath and Beyond allow pick up in the location closest to the school, The Container Store has a college night in May or June with big discounts and they will ship at a rate that is very reasonable. They use their corporate shipping rate which is far better than you can do on your own.</p>
<p>You can order things like mini fridges and microwaves thru Target or Walmart and pick up at the closest store to the school. Best Buy and Sears will allow you to do the same thing but you can order at the store closest to school and pick up on arrival. This required a call to a manager but worked just fine.</p>
<p>We have found that FedEX Ground is the least expensive way to ship packages and have used it for move in and move out for both kids as well as for shipping anything to them</p>
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<p>Depends upon where you are sending it from? If you are not too far, driving is cheap. If you are doing it within the USA lower 48, I like Fedex Ground (cheaper than Airline luggage fees).</p>
<p>We also did a careful evaluation and discovered that Fedex Ground was the least expensive. Also, fed ex makes it is easy to go on line and watch the progress of your “stuff” as it moves across the country from your home town to your school town, which is reassuring. (During daughter’s initial move to college town, we traveled with two suitcases each - 4 total - and shipped two boxes.)</p>
<p>I second the Bed, Bath and Beyond route. You dont even have to pick it up, they will deliver all for a very nominal fee. You basically go through your local store with a wand that records all your selections. Similiar to a bridal registrar. We sent my s across the country and had everything sent. As the winter approached I ordered items and had them sent directly without paying shipping costs as many retails waive them.</p>
<p>We also found that Fedex ground was cheaper than UPS. We did a combination of sending a couple of boxes ahead of time, particularly stuff that would be awkward to get in a suitcase, and paying for check-in luggage on the flight there. I flew with her so I put a lot of her stuff in my carry-on as well.</p>
<p>What is the cheapest way for kids studying abroad? Uk/EU? Any one know?</p>
<p>I would find out what the luggage rules are for the airline the kid is taking & pack to the limit (but not beyond). Whatever doesn’t fit, the kid does without or buys there or ships it if preferred. There is a flat-rate international box that the USPS has which is pretty reasonable. If folks are planning to visit the kiddo, they can bring a few more things the kiddo might like. Travel abroad shouldn’t be focused on having tons of “stuff” that they lug around & have to find space for.</p>
<p>Oh yea, for other kids that are figuring out what to bring to their Us, I would first figure out who is going with the student & what the rules for the airline are. When we dropped S off, we were all able to bring one carry on + one piece of checked luggage. We fit all our stuff in our carry-ons so the checked pieces were things he wanted/needed for school. We bought whatever else was needed after arriving on campus & looking at the physical space so as not to overcrowd the dorm room. If the kid is driving, whatever fits can go & whatever doesn’t either needs to be mailed or remain behind.</p>
<p>With respect to international flights, be very careful to check both the weight limits AND the size limitation that apply, and check both for the trans-oceanic flight as well as any local flight, because these are often different. (And if your kid is attending an orientation in a different city than they’ll end up in it is often booked as separate tickets, each of which follows its own weight restrictions.) Having said that, D spent six months abroad with one duffel bag that weighed under 40 lbs. She did fine.</p>
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<p>Now that USPS has eliminated surface shipping, the cheapest way to ship … Buy new stuff there.</p>
<p>well I can say the slow boat to… is probably cheapest.
We just sent D an express envelope- by USPS, supposed to take a week or so.
It took three- cost $35.
I sent her a small package by USPS priority express- cost $45, supposed to take two weeks, it took six.
( however- this is inthesticks India, not a city.)</p>
<p>Europe through the Back Door by Rick Steves & similar books have good suggestions on how to pack carefully so you don’t need to be bogged down with so much “stuff” that keeps you from being able to travel easily. One of the benefits of having few possessions is that you have a lot more options about “picking up & going” when opportunities beckon & you’re now weighed down by what to do with all your possessions. Pack light & know you can always purchase more, as needed.</p>
<p>Opera,</p>
<p>I assume you mean USPS has eliminated surface shipping for overseas?</p>