Have fun and remember life’s too short to eat cheap chocolate!

In the meantime if you are looking for an international moving quote, you can see a lot of our prices online. Also feel free to complete our quote form or call me back form on our web site. www.upakweship.com 

The post Happy Easter Everybunny appeared first on UPakWeShip.

If you’re in the early stages of moving or thinking about moving abroad in the next year or so, our cost calculator is a genius way to tell you everything you need to know about your move instantly.

To use it, all you need to do is input your current location and your destination, and ta-da! The cost of our various services will be presented to you.

For those who have been offered a lump sum relocation allowance, this is an ideal service, as it will give you not just a ballpark, but a complete cost of how much this area of your move will be if you go with UPakWeShip. Our costs are all-inclusive, and you can then work out how much you have remaining to spend on other aspects such as flights.

Even if you haven’t got a relocation allowance, our calculator will allow you to budget more effectively for the other parts of your move to consider. Those of us who are big planners can make the most of this time by using your service cost as a base to build upon. With other research, you could figure out your entire moving budget during this period of time, where usually you’d be running around last minute!

Once you have used the calculator to find your service, any of our door-to-door options can currently be delivered! This means you can begin your packing preparation ASAP! Having the pallet or U-Crate in your home will take a huge weight off your shoulders, and you can even begin the paperwork so that when moving day comes, all you need to worry about is packing and getting yourself out of there!

Another huge perk of our service is that the pick-up date is flexible. If you’re unsure of when you’re moving, your date can be added later or be amended, provided we receive notice of the alteration. This means you can input a preemptive date – or no date at all – when you order your service!

For more information on UPakWeShip and our services, check out our website! We’re proud to bring 30 years of shipping experience to every customer and endeavour to make your moving process as smooth as possible.

The post Why Our Instant Cost Calculator is Every Mover’s Best Friend appeared first on UPakWeShip.

While affecting ports worldwide, it is especially being felt in Southampton, Felixstowe, New York, and Los Angeles. The shutdowns due to coronavirus mean that some vessels may not be able to enter or choose not to enter certain ports as the loading and discharging of goods grows. Shortages of 20 foot and 40-foot shipping containers have also been a side effect of the Coronavirus and ships that are running as scheduled are at maximum capacity.

Please be patient, flexible, and allow for possible delays in container availability at the time of loading. The more notice we have, the better!

Due to these issues, there is a possibility of extra charges incurred and freight cost fluctuations are a possibility. Your shipment may need to remain in storage at origin until containers become available. Continuous planning and pro-active measures are taking place to mitigate any delays for smooth movements by us, however, delays in transit times are possible. We expect this to continue through early 2021.

UPakWeShip will do everything in its power to maintain your existing quote and transit times and will keep you updated via our automatic tracking system and by our coordinators. Please be patient during these difficult times and know that everyone at EuroUSA and UPakWeShip are doing everything possible to keep your shipment on schedule.

At the time of writing, this is not affecting our U Crate and pallet services but is affecting some of our self-load 20 and 40-foot shipping container routes.

The post Important Information Concerning Shipping: Covid-19 and Brexit appeared first on UPakWeShip.

Where you’ll be living, house hunting, the prospect of starting anew, all of these are the fun aspects of moving. The initial thoughts can seem like a distant memory when the hard work begins, so how can you make the whole process feel less stressful?

Organize Yourself

From the start, you need to be a step ahead. Take time at the very beginning of your moving process to write a list of everything you need to do, and the timeframe in which they need to be completed.

Initially, this may feel overwhelming, but by breaking it all down, you can create an efficient plan of what you need to be doing and when, which will avoid you from feeling overwhelmed with tasks, and will (hopefully) make everything feel a lot more manageable.

Get Time on Your Side

This cannot be emphasised enough. The more time you have, the more organized you’ll be, the more organized you are, the less stress it will be. Simple logic, right?

If you’re moving abroad, everything task has an expiry date. Book pickups, deliveries and shipments way in advance. If you don’t have a designation address yet, don’t worry! Movers will be able to edit the details later down the line, the main thing is that it’s arranged in the first place.

Take off some of the financial burden

One of the easiest ways to lessen the financial burden, is by packing yourself. Yes, this does mean you’ll need to be more organized, but it also can save you a lot of money. Packing yourself means you know exactly what you’ll be packing and where it will go. It also allows you to organize items that are of sentimental value, where packers may not necessarily take as much care.

Consider a self-pack, door-to-door service such as UPakWeship, to lighten both your mental and physical loads. Your own crate will be delivered, you pack it up, and we’ll collect it on a date pre-organised. It means a lot less waiting around, and you’ll be safe in the knowledge your belongings are en route to their destination. Plus, with offices in the USA and Canada, you know everything will be in safe hands!

Reassure Yourself With Safety Precautions

It’s natural to be worrying about moving abroad right now, but we have moved thousands of families, employees and individuals this year. The world doesn’t stop turning and houses are being bought,  job contracts signed and visas accepted – people still need to get to their new homes.

The best way to feel safe when moving, is to research all of the regulations and restrictions on your new country so that you feel confident upon your arrival. As per usual, bringing hand sanitizer, anti-bac wipes and wearing a mask are also going to be crucial to staying clean and safe. And the number one way to stay safe when moving is by using a self-packing mover, so that you don’t have any strangers coming into your home, touching all of your belongings and moving around your house.

Start Small

Once the list is made, tackle one thing at a time. As the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day. If you’ve given yourself enough time, you can start to slowly cross the life-admin bits off your list, building up to the bigger tasks in due course, so that everything doesn’t feel quite so overwhelming.

Don’t be afraid to ask for a hand

Almost everyone will move at least once during their lifetime. This means the chances are, those around you will be both supportive and willing to lend a hand if necessary. Not only does having an extra pair of hands help, but it will also remove some of the emotional burden, and you’ll probably have more fun with someone to chat to!

Be courteous enough to give your friends and family a bit of notice, and make sure to show your gratitude (a cup of tea and a bottle of wine goes a long way)!

Don’t let the stress of moving abroad put you off. If you’re looking for an international mover, ensure to use a company with a no-hidden-fees policy and fantastic feedback from customers. We’re proud to have both – find a quote for your move online today!

The post How to Reduce the Stress of Moving Overseas appeared first on UPakWeShip.

Previously, using a self-packing moving company was largely used as a way to save money. Understandably, moving can be very expensive, and our mission has always been to make the overseas move as accessible as possible to those who want to.

Some people have a strict budget, whilst others would simply rather but in a bit of legwork during their move, and spend the money they saved elsewhere (flight upgrades, new car, new kitchen…).

However, the last year has seen a huge shift in the way people move. Unsurprisingly, people are starting to think twice about packers entering their home, touching their belongings, using their toilets, shaking hands and being in close proximity to one another.

So, what’s the solution?

A UPakWeShip move!

Whilst other movers are suddenly scrabbling to get together a smooth, uninterrupted self-packing service in a matter of weeks and months, we’ve been perfecting it for years.

The UPakWeShip service has always been contactless (otherwise we’d have to have a serious think about rebranding) and 2020 has proven just how invaluable it can be to have this option.

Packing yourself may feel like a bit of elbow grease, but the money it saves and the safety measures it guarantees will be invaluable in the long-term. If you have a couple of trustworthy friends (within your country’s restriction allowance, of course), why not get them involved? Offer coffee, beer or buy them dinner – it will STILL cost you less money than having the ‘real deal’ enter your home – and you’ve got a better idea of where they’ve been!

Our EU self-packing services come in two forms: Pallets and U-Crates.

Let’s go through the difference…

U-Crates

A U-Crate is a specially designed, UPakWeShip ‘box’ which comes in two sizes: 50 cubic feet and 100 cubic feet. Upon booking, you will organise a day with your shipping coordinator for the U-Crate to be delivered in a flatpack form. On the pre-arranged ‘collection day’ you simply take it onto the curb, set it up (instructions are included), and pack your boxes into it. Our U-Crates are a bespoke design, created specifically to maximise the safety and security of your shipment.

Everything will be pre-arranged with your shipping coordinator, who will have walked you through all of the steps necessary for your move. We will come and collect the fully packed U-Crate, and it will appear on your doorstep in 6-8 or 10-12 weeks time, dependent on it destination.

Pallets

Most of us are familiar with pallets – they’re found around most warehouses, garden centres of DIY stores. If you decide to go with our pallet service, it’s worth finding out where they are locally, often you can save money an old, used one for free.

On collection day, you pack your belongings in boxes onto the pallets, secure it safely using any mechanism you choose (we recommend strong plastic wrap and plenty of cable ties) and we will come and collect your pallet from your curb.

However you choose to move, our contactless moving service offers a safe alternative. A further bonus to not having packers come into your home, is that we are also able to offer extremely competitive prices. Our prices are available on our website, and are all-inclusive and determined by the service, not the weight – so you won’t have any nasty surprises on the other end of your move.

Wondering how much your move will cost? Why not take a look at our website right now. We also operate in the USA, Canada and the UK.

The post UPakWeShip: The New Normal for Moving Overseas appeared first on UPakWeShip.

We’ve built a company based on the knowledge that moving needs to be more simple and less stressful. As the world becomes more globalized and moving to different countries becomes more attractive, more and more people are moving abroad and we want to make sure that when they do, they can rely on their moving company if they choose us.

So, what methods have we implemented to make your move easy?

1. Instant Prices

When you’re on the hunt for a moving company with affordable prices, often a lot of back and forth, and even a phone call involved. We wanted to make sure potential customers had a way to find instant quotes that were all-inclusive. That’s why we have instant prices on our website. Simply input the collection state and the delivery country and we can let you know how much each of our services will cost, right this second.

2. Add a delivery address later

We know that in an ideal world, you’d have everything sorted before we collect your belongings. However, the reality is this often isn’t the case. Whether you are renting accommodation, house hunting or using storage, you can change your delivery at a later date and don’t need to worry.

3. Take your time to pack

If you’re unsure of the precise date of your move, we can drop off your U-Crate or pallet and collect it at a later date. Whilst we do ask for a couple of weeks’ notice for full delivery and collection, once your service has been dropped off, just reach out to your shipping coordinator to organize a day that works for you.

4. We specialise in curbside moving

We recently published a whole article on how UPakWeShip was social distancing before it was a necessity. You pack your items yourself, you know what needs extra safety and security measures, nobody is entering your home – all of the information on our collection/delivery moving service is available in this blog post. We’ve had years to nail curbside moving, which is why we offer such a smooth, efficient service.

5. One Company, Door-to-Door

When you book a move with UPakWeShip, you can rest assured your belongings are in safe hands across the Atlantic. Our HQ is in Charleston, however, we also have offices in Europe – so whether you’re moving to or from the EU, it will be UPakWeShip you’re in contact with throughout. If you’re wondering what the benefits of a destination office is, take a look at our blog post on the topic.

6. Our team are on hand to walk you through your move

When you organise a moving service with UPakWeShip, you won’t be talking to a robot or passed from team to team. We have a fantastic team who will walk you through the processes needed for your move to take place. From forms to tax to payments and organising collection/delivery, our expert shipping team is there to help you with questions and queries to put your mind at ease.

If you’re looking for a moving company that puts its customers first, look no further than UPakWeShip. For more information on our services or to receive an instant quote today, take a look at our website. Moving from the US to the EU? Take a look at our US site.

The post How UPakWeShip Makes Moving Easy appeared first on UPakWeShip.

1. How has UPakWeShip changed since its initial conception?

“The idea simply started as a way to offer the public a cheaper way to move overseas if they wanted to pack themselves – a little like a budget airline but for people moving. Sort of a ‘Freddy Laker’ of the moving business if anyone else can remember that far back! The concept seemed to work, and customers loved it, so we started to develop the business further, and came up with our U Crates, which offer door to door moving.

“So much has changed since the initial startup. The obvious is that we’ve grown into a multimillion business with overseas offices, but I think the biggest change over the last 15 years is the technology.

“We started with a phone, a fax, a PC, and cardboard files. Now, we are paperless and cloud-based and have an amazing custom-built database that connects with our customers to make the whole process easier! If only it could make the tea! 

“We also now have our automatic online pricing system, which is a real game-changer as it allows everyone to see all the different moving options and the prices 24/7. It allows us to keep our overheads down as there’s no longer the need to have staff emailing out direct quotes. Instead, our staff can concentrate more on the moving experience for customers, answering questions, and guiding them through the process.”

2. What’s been the biggest lesson learned as UPakWeShip has evolved?

“Wow, so many lessons! To name a few: Nothing ever goes exactly to plan, nobody will do as good a job as you and your team, never burn bridges, learn to delegate, don’t ever presume, and as a Brit, it’s always worth thinking things out over a cuppa! 

“I’ve also learned that if at first, you don’t succeed, it’s important to look at your business from the outside in, looking at things from a perspective customers’ point of view will always help with problem-solving.”

3. Why is UPakWeShip different from other moving companies?

“The main one is that we allow you to pack your own things. Obviously, this saves you the money on using movers, but it also means nobody needs to come into your residence and touch all of your belongings – pretty invaluable at the moment!

“We also charge lump sum all-inclusive prices – our prices are online for everyone to see, and we have the most brilliant, knowledgeable, personable, team you could ever have to hold your hand through the process! We also have our own offices andpersonnel in the USA, Europe, and the UK so you get the great UPakWeShip customer service door to door.”

UPakWeShip is very popular right now during  Covid-19 because we do not need to send anyone into your house to collect your things. We can maintain social distancing with our driveway or curbside collection and delivery services.

4. What motivates you on a day-to-day basis?

“Coffee, and my wife! Not in that order though, of course! I also have a lot of employees and family that rely on me for a paycheck. In all honesty, I just enjoy this business… I’m always thinking about how we can do things better for our customers, how to make the international move a little less stressful, more affordable, and just plain easier!”

5. UPakWeShip is a very family-oriented business, do you think that benefits how it operates?

“There are two sides to this. It’s great to be able to provide for family members and help them progress and do well. I obviously trust them a great deal and rely on them to get on with things without being micro-managed. The relationship also means they’ll tell me things straight as they are and not beat around the bush. My only negative is that it’s sometimes hard being the boss during, for example, a personnel issue, or when I have to leave work behind and be a Dad/husband/uncle/ brother at the end of the day.”

6. You’ve moved about a lot yourself, what tips do you have for somebody, or a family, relocating overseas?

“Go on a vacation and have a look at the area before you settle down long-term. I’d also advise you to rent and not buy, and make sure you join Facebook groups and research the area properly.

“We have a lot of advice and guidance on our blog about the moving process, everything we write on there, from the guides to tips and tricks about the moving process, come from our first-hand experience so I’d definitely recommend checking it out for more advice.”

Have a good clear out and don’t ship things you don’t need!

7. Of the places you’ve lived, which has been your favorite and why?

“I loved Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. There was sun, sea, sand and pina coladas…! Just kidding, but I did have a great experience there. I learned a lot and met some great friends.

“To be honest, any destination is only as good as what you make of it. Make sure you become a part of the community, join local expat groups, and make friends! It’s also important to visit local bars and restaurants and try the local food and drink, just make sure you discover all of the different places on offer! When we lived in The Netherlands, we made the most of its location by spending long-weekends in neighboring countries – that was great! I’d also recommend learning a little of the language, although we failed big time with Dutch, I must confess!”

8. What is your favourite European city?

“It’s impossible to pick a great European city… they are all fantastic! I love London as I’m from there, and I love its theatres and the pubs, also in England we obviously have Cornish pasties and sausage rolls – definite weaknesses of mine.

“Depending on what you want, I love Paris for the stores and restaurants, Barcelona for the tapas and Cava, Brussels for chocolate, Rotterdam for watching boats and ships passing by whilst drinking beer.. I think we can all see I have a food and drink theme going on!”

9. UPakWeShip has hugely expanded, with offices in the US, Canada, Mainland Europe, and the UK… do you have any plans to expand further afield?

“Always! We are planning our next venture right now, which might well put us on the move again to start up a new office, but that’s still in the hush-hush stage right now!

“We are also looking into the possibility of an Australian/New Zealand liaison office sometime in the future. We use a great agent there at the moment but strongly believe having our own people at the destination, liaising with our customers and making sure everything goes well with customs clearance, and delivery enables us to maintain our high customer service standards and keeps us getting personal recommendations and customers coming back again for their next move.”

10. Finally, what’s your favorite part of your job?

“I love reading the personal reviews from people, saying what a great job the team did. That just makes it all worthwhile.

“The other aspect is the personal stories behind some of the moves, for example, a few years back we moved a lady in her 80’s fromVirginia to England. She told us she was moving there to be with her fiancée and was planning to get married for the first time!

You just never know what the next phone call or email will bring. Rod Stewart might have said every picture tells a story but every move has one as well.”

The post Meet Mark Nash, the Moving Doctor Behind UPakWeShip appeared first on UPakWeShip.

Take Precautions When Flying

The truth is, there may be no avoiding flying. Planes aren’t particularly fun at the best of times, and at the moment many people are avoiding flying to their destination. But if you have no alternative, don’t spend your time worrying too much about the risks. There are precautions you can take, and flights are taking their own steps to protect passengers too.

As is the case with going to the supermarket, wear a mask and gloves where you can, avoid touching your face, and bring hand sanitiser and anti-bac wipes to wipe down your area of the plane. The best way to avoid spreading any kind of infection or virus is to minimise contact, so you may decide to splash out on an upgrade to give yourself a little more room.

Translate Your Medical Documents

If your home country has a different first-language to the one you’re moving to, make sure your medical documents have been translated. From vaccines to allergies, translating your medical records will save a lot of time when you go to sign up to a new Doctor’s Surgery.

Research the Healthcare and Treatment

If somebody in your family has an ongoing condition, it’s vital to make sure your destination country has matching healthcare and treatment. The go-to medical treatment can vary from country to country, so if you or someone else moving is receiving ongoing care, you’ll want to check that they can continue to receive it when you land – and that you’re aware of any extra costs involved.

Use a Moving Company Who Can Maintain Social Distancing

As previously mentioned, the best way to protect yourself from the spread of germs, is by having minimal contact with others – particularly those you don’t know. The idea of movers coming into your home to pack up your belongings may not seem too appealing right now – so why not pack up yourself and hire a moving company to pick up and deliver your belongings from door-to-door?

UPakWeShip is a curbside moving service, and only requires one person’s signature on pickup and delivery, simply order one of our U-Crates or pallets and you can pack your own belongings. The UPak-way is ideal for maintaining social distancing without compromising expertise and a reliable moving service!

The post How to Combat Health Concerns When Moving Abroad appeared first on UPakWeShip.

You are NEVER too old to move abroad.

And we’re here to basically tell you why that is the case.

Because whatever stage of life you’re in, single or with a family, we strongly believe, that you should never let your age put your off fulfilling that dream of moving to another country.

However, there are also some things to consider. Because although we actively encourage people to take the leap (we’d be out of business if we didn’t), we also know there are some limitations depending on your age and the stage of life you’re in.

There are different visas for different ages

The biggest international restriction of moving abroad for any reason is the required visa. Those countries which offer a working holiday visa, for example, have an expiry age of 31.

However, there are ways to get around this if you’re over the hill that is 31 – an age which in reality, is not very old – so don’t worry just yet.

One of the easiest ways to get a visa for those who are beyond the WHV age is to have a specialist skill which is highly desired in your destination country. In America and Australia for example, it is possible to migrate, but you need to prove what you are bringing to the country to make it a better place. And that usually requires a specialist skill, or, evidence that you are in the top percentile of what you do (an academic, a professor, or someone at the top of their field).

An alternative to this is if you have immediate family who are already in the country. Your children, siblings, grandchildren, and parents are all viable options for a visa.

And finally, there is the golden ticket of all long-term, free travel. Being an EU member. If you hold an EU passport, you are able to live and work in any country of your choice within the EU, without a visa, and with very little limitations to those which you’d have back home. Those with dual-citizenship are also entitled to this right, however, if that dual-citizenship happens to be British, we definitely recommend starting the process ASAP, because, with Brexit, the option may not be on the table for too much longer.

If you’re American, find out more about how Brexit could impact you.

So, why should you consider moving abroad?

There are hundreds of reasons to move abroad, but we’re going to restrict them to ones which are not obligational, AKA, jobs or family members.

One of the most obvious reasons to move abroad when you’re older is to retire. Many older people choose to retire in warmer destinations, which is completely understandable. If you’re lucky enough to have family somewhere around the world, you could end up somewhere outside of Europe. We hear all the time about people who have learnt new languages, met new friends and had a whole new lease of life after moving abroad to retire. Frankly, if you do it right, you’ll feel younger than ever!

If you’re a couple interested in moving abroad, then it could be the most rewarding thing you do to your relationship. Moving is admittedly, a stressful process, and whilst we endeavour to make it as smooth as possible, moving abroad can put a strain on relationships. However, if you and your partner successfully move to another country, find new jobs in a strange place, make friends with locals and create a whole new life for yourselves, it’s going to make or break you – and we like to think it will be the former!

For younger people, with no ties and nothing concrete keeping you at home, why move to the big city of your home country… when you could do it in Australia? Or America? Or New Zealand? When you can experience a whole new environment, meet new people, and have the time time of your life. Every country has a different work/life balance, and living abroad for a period of time is a fantastic employability trait if/when you decide to return home!

The truth is, there’s no ‘perfect’ time to move abroad. With hundreds of different reasons and plenty of different opportunities, you may find the timing isn’t as you planned. But it’s a risk which may turn into the best decision of your life. And honestly? If you truly, absolutely hate it, there’s always your home country awaiting your return.

If you’re thinking of moving abroad, we have offices in America, Europe, the UK and Canada, to help you ship your belongings affordably and securely. UPakWeShip is a self-packing international moving company, offering over 30 years of advice and experience, and a no-hidden-fees price.

The post What Is The Best Age To Move Abroad? appeared first on UPakWeShip.

Whether you’re moving across the world or to the country next door, being out of your comfort zone is the biggest trigger for nerves. 

Once the initial madness of planning and moving had slowly ebbed away, you’ll be left with the task of settling in and finding your new routine in a foreign place. The good news is, culture shock is extremely common, and once you feel more at home, you’re likely to get over it fairly quickly.

But what can you do to ease the transition?

Before you move



Get to know your destination prior to your arrival. Ideally by visiting your new hometown – or at least country. You’ll be able to figure out what you do and don’t like and what you’ll need to get used to in your new home. This provides you with some control when you first land, as you won’t be caught completely off guard and will have some familiarity with the place already.


Researching your new home is a great alternative for those who can’t visit it. However, it’s also recommended even if you have had the opportunity to check it out. Reading blogs, watching youtube and learning from those who have gone through the same as you will help with the knowledge you’re not alone.

Meet other expats and locals before you move. That way, you already have a network when you arrive. Knowing you have someone to meet for coffee or a glass of wine with will make a huge difference to the first few weeks when it can all seem overwhelming. The best way to discover others in your area is via Facebook groups and the MeetUp app.

Pack some home comforts to ensure you feel connected to where you used to live. Nobody knows the sentimental value in your belongings like you do. By using a self-packing moving company, you can prioritise what goes where and what to take with you, and you’ll be saving money! Having familiarity in your new home will make a huge difference, and with 30 years in the moving business plus an owner who has moved countless times internationally himself, UPakWeShip knows the value better than anyone.

After you’ve moved

Don’t compare your new home to your old one. This is a whole different adventure, so keep an open mind. Staying positive about the changes and the new culture will lessen the impact if you see the differences as a good thing.

Use your hobbies to meet other people through groups. By meeting people at groups in something you’re passionate about, you’re more likely to meet genuine friends who have things in common with you. You’ll feel more ingrained in the community rather than as the odd one out, and it’s a great way to meet locals. The other huge benefit to this is familiarity. If you took salsa classes at home, going to a new salsa group will show your brain that your life still has some continuity.

Make an effort to learn the language. This may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised (or maybe you wouldn’t) by how many people rely on English being the universal language. The truth is if you ever really want to become a part of the community you’ll need to have some willingness to learn the language. Even the basics will allow you to have more of a grasp of what’s going on around you and make you feel less alien. On top of this, attending a local language school will help you make friends.

Start small by finding little bits of everyday life which you enjoy. From discovering a new coffee shop to talking to your local grocer. Take small steps rather than giant leaps to ease you into your new home.

Moving abroad? UPakWeShip is a reliable international mover with upfront prices, and with offices around the world, you can rest assured your belongings are in safe hands from pickup to delivery.

The post How to Reduce Culture Shock When Moving Abroad appeared first on UPakWeShip.