You've spent weeks going round in circles over the same thing: you're moving to your new home somewhere in Europe and you don't know what to do with your belongings. You ask international removal companies for quotes and the figures leave you cold: shared containers, lorries with minimum volumes, dates that depend on the route filling up, and four-figure invoices to shift what, in reality, fits into ten or fifteen boxes. Sending removal boxes by courier seems like a privilege reserved for people moving an entire household, and all you want is to take the things that truly matter.
Meanwhile, the clock is ticking. You start thinking about selling furniture for next to nothing, giving away books that took you years to collect, or leaving in a storage unit — paying every month — boxes you might never see again. And all because no one offers you a solution that fits: neither a full lorry you don't need, nor the suitcase on a budget flight where almost nothing fits. There has to be a middle ground. And there is.
Sending removal boxes by courier: the alternative to the international lorry
The solution is simpler than you think: instead of booking a traditional removal, you send your boxes individually through the European GLS network, at industrial parcel rates. Each box travels as a shipment with a fixed price, VAT included, so you control the cost per box and decide how many you send, when, and at what pace. Our mini-move service starts from 53 € and works like this:
- Work out your price online in 30 seconds using the calculator: enter the weight, dimensions and origin-destination, and you get a fixed price with VAT. No surprises, and with a 48-hour price guarantee.
- Book and pay online, no sign-up needed: you receive the label by email, print it and stick it on each box.
- The GLS driver collects from your door, anywhere in Spain. If you prefer, you can also drop the boxes off at a GLS pick-up point or at our branch. You don't lift a thing or travel anywhere.
- Real-time tracking until your boxes arrive at your new home.
And because your destination is within the European Union — Portugal, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium or any other EU country — there's an added relief: there are no customs and no customs paperwork. Thanks to the single market, your boxes travel just like a domestic shipment.
How to pack your boxes so they arrive intact
A well-packed mini-move is half the job done. Take note:
- Use double-wall boxes (reinforced cardboard). Supermarket boxes won't survive an international route.
- Stick to the 30 kg maximum per box. It's the service limit and, besides, your back will thank you for it. Books are best in small boxes.
- Spread the weight: heavy items at the bottom, light ones on top, and fill any gaps with paper or clothing so nothing shifts around inside.
- Protect anything fragile with bubble wrap and label it, but don't rely on the label alone: it's the internal packaging that really saves a dinner set.
- Tape it in an H shape (the central seam and the edges) with quality packing tape, not office sticky tape.
A trick few people use
Take photos of what's inside each box before you close it, and number them. When you reach your destination you'll know what's in each one without opening them all, and you'll have a handy inventory of all your belongings.
Common mistakes that make your move cost more (or take longer)
- Guessing the dimensions "by eye". The price depends on the real weight and dimensions: measure the box closed, with the flaps already taped down.
- Cramming everything into giant boxes. Going over 30 kg per box will force you to repack. Better to use more boxes that are easier to handle.
- Leaving it until the last day. Work out your price in advance: it's guaranteed for 48 hours and you can arrange the collection without the stress.
- Sending everything all at once. The big advantage of shipping box by box is staggering it: first the things you don't use day to day and, last, the essentials.
A real GLS branch in Puerto de Mazarrón, with real people on the phone
Behind every shipment there's a team close by: we're the official GLS branch in Puerto de Mazarrón, at Av. Dr. Meca 107, local 2 (30860). If you'd rather sort it out face to face, or any question comes up during your move, we'll help you in Spanish and English on +34 910 80 62 29, Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 13:30 and 16:30 to 19:00. Starting from scratch in another country is challenge enough: at least let your boxes travel with someone you can trust close to home.
Your new life in Europe doesn't have to start by leaving behind what you love most. Work out now how much it would cost to send your boxes — it takes 30 seconds and you don't need to sign up — and decide with a fixed price in front of you.
