Shipping Container from western US

@eowyncurtin

Hi there,

We r doing the same, but from Texas. We r investigating the issue right now. Shipping from California perhaps  or Galveston TX,  and other places on the east coast. We r moving in the  year of 2026( I hope) as we r retiring at the end of 2025. Will update when we find more information regardingsizes of shipping containersetc... U do the same please- update on the issue...Our initial investigation shows that it will be around $5K to ship everything to Burgas without the car, as we r going to settle south of the city. Where r u going to buy in Bulgaria? R u retiring or returning? How much do u think we will need to live comfortably in BG per month without paying rent 🤔? R u sick from the winters up there? We saw -45C in Canada 🇨🇦 so we know how it is...lol

@eowyncurtin are living England I have got a lot of friends omoto Bulgaria the cheapest way is get a van and dry it on to but they get a big van they put all the stuff in back of it and drive it onto a boat they told me that's the cheapest way to go to Bulgaria I don't know if you can drive but that's the easiest way to do it and the cheapest way

@Merry888 I have got a lot of friends who move from England to Bulgaria I don't know if you know anybody who can drive but I think the cheapest way is driving on a boat affects it across on the boat to Bulgaria that's what my friend's told me to do I am moving to Bulgaria myself and that's what I am doing am I in a van put all my stuffing back at the van and dry it onto the furry I have been told of my friends in Bulgaria that's the cheapest way to go to Bulgaria

@an3895509

I understand, but we have way more furniture to move across the pond to fit in a van will be impossible. We lived in lots of countries and gathered memorabilia etc. I don't know why , we as people do that really...lol ( gather stuff). I guess is to remind us of a place we went..But BG will be our final base, so it will be worth it to bring it all. We r even renting a storage unit full of stuff 🙃 in Mexico right now, as we where working there before coming to USA 🇺🇸. We definitely need a container in order to fit everything.  It's the safest way too, as we done it before from RSA. The problem is with the voltage ⚡️ 🙄 in USA and BG. Should we bring washer and a dryer 🤔 even if it needs a step down transformer? We have already lots of appliances working on 120V only. I saw on the back of the dryer that can work on 220V as well. But just the dryer. So, what to bring and what not is the question 🤔?

Thanks for the info Merry888. I will definitely keep you posted! $5K +/- isn't too bad. Congrats on the retirement. Not yet, but soon for me!

Thanks, an3895509 for the van tip! In the US, we rent big U-Haul trucks---very similar but bigger.

Merry888, do you speak Spanish? I think that is really helpful while learning basic Bulgarian. Many workers in Bulgaria have worked in Spain. I speak 'Spanglish.'

The weather in MT is surprisingly mild. We should be getting below zero pretty soon.

Happy New Year! Feliz año nuevo! Честита Нова Година!

@eowyncurtin

Yes we do speak Spanish as well.

Happy and healthy 2024 y'all

Please keep in touch

    I have got a lot of friends who move from England to Bulgaria I don't know if you know anybody who can drive but I think the cheapest way is driving on a boat affects it across on the boat to Bulgaria that's what my friend's told me to do I am moving to Bulgaria myself and that's what I am doing am I in a van put all my stuffing back at the van and dry it onto the furry I have been told of my friends in Bulgaria that's the cheapest way to go to Bulgaria        -@an3895509

They're taking about moving from the USA, which is a somewhat different situation! Packing a van and driving it when they're on dry land still means the van would need to be in a shopping container for the sea travel part.

@janemulberry

Yes, u r absolutely correct

@Merry888 one of them big wagons and I'll fetch it over in back of the wagon all your furniture all your furniture should fit in one of them back of them big wagons and now fetch it over on the furry and you meet them at the other side is pens what sort of vanuire you can either one of them big trucks

Sell most of your stuff and buy new appliances there- Bulgaria has it all and will be brand new. Do not waste your money on shipping!

Good Luck with your eventual  move and no doubt your gonna enjoy Bulgaria. We did it in 2017 and haven't looked back so ДОБРЕ ДОШЛИ В БЪЛГАРИЯ

Gotta agree with TonyFF, sell your stuff and buy new here or just bring items you could never part with in a much smaller load.

I brought a ton of stuff and found that I couldn't fit the stuff in because of different house and style so ended selling it here and losing on the price. Your electrical goods risk damage on the way over and are cheap enough here and correct voltage for use.

Have you found an area to live in?

You can still find bargains to be had in villages. Like everywhere in the world, dearer on coast and in citys. Prices are on the rise for builders and construction materials.

We settled in Yambol region which has milder winters and about an hour to the Black Sea coast.

Any advice you want PM me

I'm on Faceepest and can point you to some sites than give advice

I agree with TonyFF, Sell all the things you don't need, save cost on shipping containers, the same for cars as well!

Think of things like where to get your spare parts from?

Who would fix it for you, as American vehicles are slightly different from European ones?

You would most likely need to get your lights changed over to meet the requirements of the EU/Bulgaria (indicators are one I can think of, yours are red? And we use orange)

If your electrical appliances break down, where would you get the spare parts?

Most stuff sold in the EU, you can get spare parts online easily.

Your TV & radios may not have the correct frequency, to pick up channels (analogue)

Also, less stuff travelling in freight over sea (can take months to get to you!), the less you will be waiting around for the washing machine or car, and less stress. Stuff can be lost at sea also, remember that.

See this news article a couple of days ago.

https://www.euronews.com/2023/12/27/cle … -north-sea

What ever you choose, Good luck.

@an3895509 They are travelling from another continent they will require everything to go either by sea or air,  I do not know of any ferry service that leaves the USA and arrives in the EU, they will not be able to load a van and transport it that way, the only way to do it would be a shipping container (20ft or 40ft) and load it onto an articulated lorry to transport it to the port of choice, it will then be loaded onto a container ship that will transport it to the EU and then unloaded and put back onto a articulated lorry again, to be delivered at their final destination.

Just one more thing!

If you go the container route, ensure you have a way of getting it off the truck once it arrived at your property (Via a crane hired locally or if the lorry has its own crane), as you will be required to keep the container to unload it or pay for the truck driver to sit there waiting whilst you unload it (from a great height 10ft high?)

@Rose888

Keep planning

Keep saving..as by 2027..the prices could have doubled...unless your buying a wreck..and intend on doing it up.

@Merry888

what shipping company you got a quote from and is it from California?

I am researching now( it was 1/2 price before Covid )

@TonyFF Hi! No quote yet...Looking for company suggestions. We have some time. We may end up mailing boxes and unloading much of our stuff. Good luck in your search for a reasonable quote!

@Frank0144 Thanks so much! We are excited to start this chapter. The region you're in sounds lovely. We also are looking for a county house about 1 -2 hours from Varna or Burgas.  All the best!

@wtruckyboy I know! Crazy spikes in prices on everything! We have carpentry backgrounds and we can fix up a place but I'd also like to chill out and enjoy life. The US has kicked our a@@es and we are ready for some gardening and touring and literally smelling the roses!!!

@CarlS1986 Good points! We moved to North Carolina and had to do acrobatics to get our household items and tools off the truck without a lift gate. It was super scary.We used ramps but still difficult. I really appreciate this. All the best!