With all the activities on offer in the US, sometimes extra baggage is a necessity, especially for those looking to take part in some or many of the outdoor activities. With rock climbing and hiking, you will need to take with you bulky and heavy items, which can be awkward to take on commercial flights, as are skis or surfing equipment. You may feel safer in the knowledge that your expensive equipment will get there hassle free and in one piece, which is where Send My Bag comes in.

Whether you’re going on an adventure break, a famous US road trip or even for a city break, Send My Bag can make taking your luggage an easy and safe option without you having to worry about excess baggage fees or lost luggage. Our service provides pick up and drop off, door to door, which makes travelling so much easier and stress free. You can ship your baggage for the outward and return journey, or just for the return journey, if you have too many souvenirs or you have been on a shopping spree! We can also help if you wish to relocate to the US.

Send My Bag’s service is also very handy for students who need to transport a lot of items to and from college in the USA, especially those who need to clear out their student room at the end of each semester. This way, students won’t have to miss out on their favourite possessions but can create a home away from home to help with homesickness.

If you need to transport items to the USA, you should look into the various options available for shipping to the USA. Certain options will be more suitable for you than others. You can choose between several different options for international shipping to the USA. Here are some of the options below.

SEND LUGGAGE TO THE USA

With Send My Bag you can send your luggage and boxes to the USA. If you are going on holiday to the US or relocating there, you can avoid a lot of stress by sending your bags. It means you can hop on public transport as soon as you arrive without dragging your bags behind you. It also means that you can take many more of your personal belongings than a typical airline would allow, and you can avoid those dreaded excess baggage charges. Send My Bag has numerous international routes, with a great-value flat rate for each route up to a massive 30 kg. This means that you can bring your favourite books, DVDs and keepsakes, etc. to help you set up home abroad. To learn more about sending luggage to the USA, visit our ‘How it works’ page, or our ‘FAQs’.

SEND GOLF CLUBS TO THE USA

The USA has some of the world’s best golf courses, such as Cypress Point, Pine Valley and Shinnecock Hills. So why not send your golf clubs to the USA so that you can sample these courses without having to rent golf clubs. It is easy to send golf clubs to the USA with Send My Bag. Before you do, make sure you find out how best to package them by visiting Send My Bag’s information page on how to send golf clubs.

SEND YOUR SKIS TO THE USA

There are numerous ski resorts in the USA, from Aspen, to the Sundance Resort, to Lake Tahoe. You don’t have to rent skis when you are there. Instead you can send your skis to the USA with Send My Bag. It is easy to do so, just make sure your skis are packaged up well and visit Send My Bag to find out how to send your skis to the USA. Check out our ski shipping information to learn about how to safely parcel your skis in line with regulations.

REMOVALS TO THE USA

If you are moving to the USA, to work, for retirement, or to be closer to family, you’ll have plenty of things to take with you. You’ll be surprised at home much stuff you have, and how difficult it is to get rid of things. You will, therefore, need to consider international removals to the USA. Before you hand over your precious possessions, make sure that all your items are well packaged so that they won’t get damaged in transit. Use appropriate containers for your items and seal all packages well.

STUDENT SHIPPING TO THE USA

The USA has some of the best universities in the world, including MIT, Harvard University and Stanford University. If you are moving to the USA study there, or indeed travelling within the USA to go to college, you can use Send My Bag to transport your items to your dorm. Check out our student shipping page and learn how to receive 10% student discount.

SENDING A PARCEL TO THE USA

If you arrive in the USA and realise that you have left something behind at home, you could ask a friend or relative to send a package containing the missing item to the USA for you. You can also send and receive Christmas or birthday presents. If your loved one has moved to the US you could tell them you are thinking of them by sending a care package. This is a great idea for students spending a year abroad in the USA or for expats who have gone to live in the USA, and who are feeling a bit homesick. Send My Bag can send parcels internationally to the USA for you. Please ensure your parcel is parcelled up properly so that everything arrives in one piece. Take a look at our information page on how to send a parcel to find out what you can send with Send My Bag and how to package your items.

AS WELL AS SENDING PARCELS, BAGGAGE AND LUGGAGE TO THE USA, YOU COULD ALSO LOOK INTO THE FOLLOWING MEANS OF SHIPPING ITEMS INTERNATIONALLY, IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE YOUR HOME THERE:

AIR FREIGHT TO THE USA

You could send items to the USA by air freight. You might decide to do this if you have large items to transport, such as a table or an armchair. The price you will be charged for this service will depend on the weight and size of your shipment. Sending items by air freight usually takes one to two days and is usually quicker than sea freight shipping, but normally more expensive. However, you will likely have to use the services of a customs agent to handle customs clearance for you. Also, you will need to sort out transportation for your items to and from the airport. You will, therefore, have several different costs to pay if you choose air freight. If you send internationally by air freight to the USA your items would likely arrive at one of the major airports, such as John F. Kennedy International Airport or Los Angeles International Airport.

SEA FREIGHT AND CONTAINER SHIPPING TO THE USA

You could ship your possessions to the USA by sea freight rather than air freight, especially if you don’t need to receive them immediately. Sea freight usually means shipping items in containers. With container shipping your items are transported inside a large container on board a cargo ship. You might choose this option if you have very large items to transport internationally, such as furniture or even a car. Sea freight can be cheaper than air freight, but you will need to use the services of a customs agent and will need to sort out how to get your items to and from the ports, with this all adding up in terms of cost. When using container shipping to the USA your items will most likely arrive by ship at one of the major sea ports, such as Los Angeles, Long Beach or New Jersey.

SHIPPING GOODS TO THE USA

When shipping goods to the USA you need to be clued up on the country’s customs rules. You should be aware of any duty that you need to pay and what items are allowed to be shipped to the USA, which items are restricted, and which are entirely prohibited. You should have a look at the section below on ‘What can I send to the USA? What items are restricted?’ As you will see below, items that you are restricted when shipping to the USA include items deriving from certain countries, such as the Sudan, Syria and Cuba.

With Send My Bag™ you can travel with almost everything you would normally find in a holiday suitcase, for security and customs reasons however certain items are prohibited, please find these listed below.

• Aerosols or any other pressurised containers;
• Liquids, Pastes and Gels of any type (including nail varnish and perfume);
• Toner Cartridges;
• Loose Batteries;
• Animals and Animal products;
• Firearms and firearm parts, ammunition, explosives, weapons (including imitations of same);
• Flowers and plant products;
• Human remains or ashes;
• Medical samples;
• Items that require a temperature controlled environment;
• Pornography;
• Prescription drugs and pharmaceutical products;
• Tobacco;
• Religious Artefacts
• Foodstuffs, perishable food articles and beverages including, but not limited to: Wine, Beer, Spirits and Champagne; or
• Packages that are wet, leaking or emit an odour of any kind;
• Valuables and high value items including but not limited to antiques, paintings, jewellery, precious stones and electrical equipment (see 11.6 regarding low value electrical equipment);
• Cash or other forms of tradeable currency;
• Credit cards;
• Passports or other confidential personal documentation;
• Irreplaceable items;
• Other Dangerous / hazardous goods;
• Other illegal or restricted goods.

More information is available under section 11 of our terms of service.

In addition to the above when sending to United States we prohibit the sending of:

• Gambling Devices.
• Items of Cuban Origin.
• Items of Iranian Origin.
• Items of Myanmur Origin.
• Items of N.Korean Origin.
• Items of Sudanese Origin.
• Items of Syrian Origin.

The following items will be accepted but are sent at your risk and are not included under complimentary cover:

• Electrical Items, including but not limited to; Tablets, Mobile Phones, Computers, Hi-Fis, TVs.
• Glass & Porcelain.
• Any other non standard excess baggage items.

If you choose to send any of the above please ensure you package the item appropriately, for example a TV inside a suitcase is not appropriate.

The weather in the US varies from the north of the country to the south and from coast to coast. The US has most climate types, meaning that there are a wide range of activities to enjoy in the US. There are 59 national parks covering everything from desert terrain to lush forests, mountain vistas to picturesque beaches.

Some of the most popular and famous national parks in the US include the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Yellowstone Parks, the Smokey Mountains, the Rocky Mountains, the Everglades, the Sequoia Giant Forest and Death Valley. All the national parks provide a wide range of outdoor activities including hiking, rock-climbing, skiing, biking and water sports for those who enjoy the great outdoors.

America’s cities are a major draw for those looking at the county’s cultural history. Must see cities on many people’s lists include: New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Chicago and Washington. These are the perfect stop-offs for city breaks or as part of a road trip, with plenty of cultural things to see and do and, of course, plenty of shopping opportunities. You can easily get around the country either by road, rail or air travel and even by boat.