[Sidney Lanier]

KathieI, Sidney (yo!) happens to like diamonds and buys them for HB!!!

When we have no choice but to carry overweight from out of the country, we juggle everything we have so only one piece of luggage is overweight, so we pay only for that one. This last happened in January when we were flying from Buenos Aires, and we just managed to use our Argentinian money on that one overweight bag. Most hotels have a scale, often in their fitness centers, so you can check the weights.

Many people don't know about the largest Flat Rate Priority Mail box that is available free at all U.S. post offices (though the smallest ones might not have them in stock). As HB pointed out, we crammed literally 20 pounds into it, the flat rate was actually $12.85, and the postal clerk, laughing, pointed out that if not for the flat rate box, it would have cost nearly $40 in postage! In other words, do not assume that Parcel Post (for which you have to supply your own packaging) is cheaper; invariably it isn't.

Granted you can't fit a suitcase into a flat rate box, but if you pack and mail the smallest and heaviest items in it, it may well save you the $50 for an overweight suitcase.