I am cycling from Nuremburg to Venice in August, and am trying to work out how to get my bike to Nuremberg, and back from Venice. I have booked both legs already with Ryanair.
Does anyone have experience of sending their bike in a van like anyvan.com or sendmybag.com ??
I am wary of trying to take it on the plane and it also means disposing of the box in Germany and picking up a new one in Italy.
Any advice gratefully received!
Europe tour - send bicycle ahead in a van??
Re: Europe tour - send bicycle ahead in a van??
From my experience, taking a bike with you on the plane is always cheaper. However, given how much Ryanair now charge for a bike (£60 each way), it could be a good idea to see if there are better options.
I've not heard of anyone using trans national couriers for their bike, but why not contact these courier companies and see what they charge (please post the answers). One reason for the expense is that they often charge by L+H+W (ie volume) and bikes come out big.
You will most likely have to box your bike for courier service anyway, so no saving there.
No problem getting rid of a box at the end of your outbound. If at airport, just find a cleaner and hand it over, or leave by rubbish bin. I've never had a problem and have done this many times.
Coming back. I usually search on google maps for bike shops in the area of my last hotel or airport and then contact or just go to get a box.
I think that with the high bike carriage prices from budget airlines, it may soon be a better bet to take a scheduled airline where you pay more for the ticket, but your bike goes for free.
I've not heard of anyone using trans national couriers for their bike, but why not contact these courier companies and see what they charge (please post the answers). One reason for the expense is that they often charge by L+H+W (ie volume) and bikes come out big.
You will most likely have to box your bike for courier service anyway, so no saving there.
No problem getting rid of a box at the end of your outbound. If at airport, just find a cleaner and hand it over, or leave by rubbish bin. I've never had a problem and have done this many times.
Coming back. I usually search on google maps for bike shops in the area of my last hotel or airport and then contact or just go to get a box.
I think that with the high bike carriage prices from budget airlines, it may soon be a better bet to take a scheduled airline where you pay more for the ticket, but your bike goes for free.
Re: Europe tour - send bicycle ahead in a van??
A courier normally requires full boxing and protective packaging. They also charge by a combination of volume and weight.
There are specialist couriers, but if you look at them, they have their own boxes you have to buy: https://sendbike.com/collections/packaging-supplies
There are specialist couriers, but if you look at them, they have their own boxes you have to buy: https://sendbike.com/collections/packaging-supplies
A novice learning...
“the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.”
“the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.”
-
willem jongman
- Posts: 2750
- Joined: 7 Jan 2008, 4:16pm
Re: Europe tour - send bicycle ahead in a van??
What a pity you have already booked the flights. The train would have been so much more convenient (and scenic).
-
gregoryoftours
- Posts: 2235
- Joined: 22 May 2011, 7:14pm
Re: Europe tour - send bicycle ahead in a van??
It's really not that difficult to get rid of a cardboard box at one end and get another at the other end. If you pack your bike carefully, eg removing your rear derailleur and taping it to your chainstay, padding and bracing where appropriate, you'd be pretty unlucky to get serious damage. As Simonhill says, just locate bike shops at your destination with Google maps, and email them ahead of time, using Google translate.