Matt09H Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 I am leaving France at the end of the month after almost 5 years in Strasbourg.I wanted to ask what other people who have left have found to be the best/cheapest option in terms of bringing all their stuff back. I am moving back to London so will probably be swapping living alone in a F3 flat for a small bedroom in a shared flat in London.I will try to sell all of my furniture but that still leaves me with a lot of stuff to bring back. So far I have had quotes from removal companies charging between £1200 and £2500. Another option is just hiring a van and driving it back myself which would be cheaper but would then need to drive back from London to Calais so that the van would be dropped off in France.I was told that using a shipping company who would basically wrap the stuff and send it over would be a cheap option but even for that I am being quoted the same kind of prices as the removal companies.Does anyone have any tips from their experiences from moving to or from France? When I first moved here the company subsidized the move but I need to finance this one myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Is there any chance you could link up with somebody on here who is moving out here. Then you could share the van hire costs? Just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 [quote user="Matt09H"] so will probably be swapping living alone in a F3 flat for a small bedroom in a shared flat in London.I will try to sell all of my furniture but that still leaves me with a lot of stuff to bring back. [/quote]Just a thought ... if you will be occupying a small bedroom in a shared flat, are you planning to put most of your stuff in store? 'Cos you will find it impossible to live in a small space surrounded by lots and lots of boxes - IMHO of course.Edit: When we brought our stuff over from France we had a part load on a van that was evenually heading to the south of France and then on to Spain - very good company, very good price. Perhaps you could find such a company that covers your area.Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt09H Posted May 8, 2007 Author Share Posted May 8, 2007 Sharing a van could be an option..is anyone else leaving end of May in the Alsace area?I'll probably be dumping some excess stuff in my parents house...sure they'll be delighted. I am trying to sell all of my furniture so it's unlikely I'll have too much anyway.Sue - do you remember which company you used? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Matt, many of the Removals questions are posted on this boardhttp://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/315/ShowForum.aspxMaybe start a new thread, something like "Anybody Moving to the Alsace in May?" - it might come up with something. It's worth a go for the sake of a bit more typing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt09H Posted May 8, 2007 Author Share Posted May 8, 2007 thanks..i'll give it a go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lacote0_0 Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 We have had excellent service in both directions, and at prices well below what you quote, with part loads (they are already going from/ to your area) from Bishops Move and Britannia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee&Tom Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 HiWe used this guy - Alex - Tel: 07831121555. He regularly does part/full loads to and from all over France and is very reliable and reasonable. He can also recommend an excellent storage company.Good luck with your move Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 [quote user="Matt09H"]Sue - do you remember which company you used?[/quote] I don't, but I can find out. Though I don't think they will cover your area - I am almost 100% sure that they only do runs through the west and middle of France down to south coast and then onwards to Spain, and then the reverse, of course.Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anton Redman Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 " Another option is just hiring a van and driving it back myself which would be cheaper but would then need to drive back from London to Calais so that the van would be dropped off in France " When I checked about 5 years ago none of the national van and car rental companies offered one way hire on vans . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt09H Posted May 8, 2007 Author Share Posted May 8, 2007 thanks for the info everyone.. I will try the companies and nos. that you gave me...Re the van....another colleague of mine left last year and had to drive the van back to France as they couldn't leave it in UK. Like you say they don't seem to do one way deals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lacote0_0 Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 They may not allow a one way van rental even in France.I was charged double mileage to leave a van hired in Annemasse in Dieppe, although that is some time ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt09H Posted May 10, 2007 Author Share Posted May 10, 2007 I think you're right...I got quotes for a 2 day van hire picking up in Strasbourg and dropping in Calais next day for 780 euros.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eslier Posted May 11, 2007 Share Posted May 11, 2007 If you've already had a quote for £1200 the that sounds like quite a good deal to me. By the time you hire a van, pay for the crossing/tunnel, pay for the diesel, pay the tolls and buy a few drinks and a meal for whoever you get to help you, then it will probably end up costing not far off this amount anyway. If you want to do it yourself then it may be more cost effective to take a cheap flight over to London, hire a van there and make the return trip. At least then there won't be any problems with returning it to the same depot and you should be able to get a cheap return on the ferry or tunnel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted May 11, 2007 Share Posted May 11, 2007 [quote user="Matt09H"]thanks for the info everyone.. I will try the companies and nos. that you gave me... [/quote]The removers we used for a part load were: David Dale Removals - http://www.daviddale.co.uk/ Worth an email anyway as they are pretty good at replying to them - usually in the evening when the days jobs are done.Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee&Tom Posted May 11, 2007 Share Posted May 11, 2007 Matt09hHave answered your email re; Alex the removal guy - did you get it?Dee&Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt09H Posted May 11, 2007 Author Share Posted May 11, 2007 Hello Dee&Tom, I got it , thanks very much...sounds like he will do a great job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.