We recently came back from Hawaii, an 18-day trip covering three islands. I usually don't buy a lot of souveniers, but did buy more than usual this trip since I figured I wouldn't be back for awhile.
However, the problem became, how to get it all home? Only so much fits in a suitcase! I discovered something that might be handy for others with a lot of stuff.
The US post office has a relatively new service. Its a flat rate shipping box. The boxes themselves are free. Anything that fits in them goes for $8.10, regardless of weight. The boxes are not that big, I don't have the dimensions, ones a square,ones a rectangle, however, they were big enough to ship home a 12-inch bowl. We got some boxes at a post office in Kauai and took the unused ones with us the rest of our trip--they're flat, sturdy cardboard and fit easily in the bottom of a suitcase. The rectangle one has self adhesive, however, you need the special post office type tape for the square box. I did have the forethought to bring the tape from home, we never found it along the way, apparently we aren't the only ones sending stuff. Like I said, I found boxes on Kauai, however, other post offices were out of them, good thing we grabbed enough when we could. We ended up giving some of ours to another couple we met.
So, you might want to pick up some of those boxes before your next trip (like I said, the boxes are free from the post office) and take tape with you. We sent 8 boxes home, all arrived with contents intact. BTW, pullups make great packing material--clean ones, that is!
However, the problem became, how to get it all home? Only so much fits in a suitcase! I discovered something that might be handy for others with a lot of stuff.
The US post office has a relatively new service. Its a flat rate shipping box. The boxes themselves are free. Anything that fits in them goes for $8.10, regardless of weight. The boxes are not that big, I don't have the dimensions, ones a square,ones a rectangle, however, they were big enough to ship home a 12-inch bowl. We got some boxes at a post office in Kauai and took the unused ones with us the rest of our trip--they're flat, sturdy cardboard and fit easily in the bottom of a suitcase. The rectangle one has self adhesive, however, you need the special post office type tape for the square box. I did have the forethought to bring the tape from home, we never found it along the way, apparently we aren't the only ones sending stuff. Like I said, I found boxes on Kauai, however, other post offices were out of them, good thing we grabbed enough when we could. We ended up giving some of ours to another couple we met.
So, you might want to pick up some of those boxes before your next trip (like I said, the boxes are free from the post office) and take tape with you. We sent 8 boxes home, all arrived with contents intact. BTW, pullups make great packing material--clean ones, that is!
