MAKING THE MOVE TO ITALY

Destination content © John Moretti, used from Living Abroad in Italy, 1st Edition.
Maps © Avalon Publishing Group, Inc.

"These days, there are scant few things that you cannot find in Italy or order via the Internet.
One of them is a decent bagel."

Prime Living Locations

Shipping Options

So, what should you take to Italy? The best answer: as little as possible. Shipping large and heavy things like furniture will be very expensive. Pound for pound, it can cost about as much as an airline ticket for a human being. For example, shipping a standard UPS Worldwide Express 25-kg (55-lb.) box from Vermont to Milan runs about $200.
  Many apartments for rent are fully furnished or at least equipped with the basics, like a bed, dresser, refrigerator, and often a washing machine. Unless you’re planning to buy a house and absolutely must have your zebra-striped sofa, there really is no need to bring it. Between Arezzo’s famous antiques and the contemporary furniture of Milan, there is a heavy temptation here to buy something local. Similarly, bringing clothes to Italy is like taking cheese steaks to Philadelphia. Even if you don’t describe yourself as a fashionista, chances are you will have bought a partial wardrobe after only a few months in Italy. The quality is good and the prices are relatively low.
  One thing that is less expensive in the U.S., however, is any sort of sporting goods. That includes just about everything, from fishing poles to running shoes to, believe it or not, bicycles. Bear in mind, though, that renting skis and snowboards costs much less in the Alps (as low as €20/$26 per day for the whole kit) than in the Rockies, and renting them in situ is a lot more convenient than hauling them around in a car or train.
  By all means, take along any expensive electronics, such as a laptop computer, as they are also pricey in Italy. You should pack them with your carry-on luggage: If you have them sent separately, you could incur a 20-percent import duty, which is a large figure when you’re talking about computers.
  These days, there are scant few things that you cannot find in Italy or order via the Internet. One of them is a decent bagel. (There’s one business idea.) So, the best packing advice I can offer is: When in doubt, leave it out.

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Shipping Options
The English yellow pages website in Italy (www.intoitaly.it) has a comprehensive list of shipping companies with English-speaking staff.

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