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Sat Jun 24, 2006 11:37 pm

I dropped my westy today with the good people of California Shipping, this is my first experience shipping anywhere, I'll let you guys how my experience goes. My shipping costs are $1,395 and it doesn't include unloading or agent fees in the UK.
I'm shipping it to travel europe with my family this summer and then sale it somewhere along the way before heading back to California.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=285365

Mon Jun 26, 2006 2:34 pm

juanjvaladez wrote: I dropped my westy today with the good people of California Shipping, this is my first experience shipping anywhere, I'll let you guys how my experience goes. My shipping costs are $1,395 and it doesn't include unloading or agent fees in the UK.
I'm shipping it to travel europe with my family this summer and then sale it somewhere along the way before heading back to California.[img]http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=285365[/img]

That's awesome Number Juan!! Seems like no one is interested, but lets get this one going..........................Your gonna start off in the UK. The Van Fest goes on in September over in the UK. There is lots to see and do while out there. What year is your Westy your sending out there. When does your trip start? What are your plans. I been to lots of countries, towns & cities out in Europe, so I can tell you what to see, what not! Where to go, where not...............Just start blasting questions in here and in no time both Yanks and Europeans will start dropping advice in here.

How long you gonna be out there for? And you will NOT have a problem selling your Westy out there, especially if it's a pre 67 bus!!!

Laydo

Mon Jun 26, 2006 3:07 pm

fantastic idea. if your bus docks in the south of the uk there is so much to see and do. devon and cornwall are one of the best place for families in the summer. London is like most capital citys do not drive there park up and get the train in. if you drive down through france into spain you will not forget the The Pyrenees mountains.

keep us informed

Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:54 am

Thanks Barndoor Mafia and Neill, my westy is a 1969, we will be traveling for the whole month of august for sure and maybe part of september. We arrive in London the last week of July. We will take the ferry over to France and from there on to Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, back to France and back to London.
I would like to see some castles in Germany as well as the VW museum.
I have checked some of the camping sites along the way and they look awesome, almost resort like some of them.
I am trying to make at least one of the shows in europe.

What is your experience with personal safety, vehicle insurance, crossing borders, fellow VW owners, traveling at low speeds on the Autobahn?

Does anyone have any tips on where to advertise my westy when I'm ready to sell?
The Samba and ebay are my only ideas so far.

They are going to give me a tracking number so I can check the location of the container as it travels to the UK.

Here is a picture of my bus all packed and ready to be shipped, they let me pack canned food, water, camping gear, tools, anything that I could fit in the storage compartments.

Tue Jun 27, 2006 12:47 pm

If you wish to sell in the UK - the best places to advertise are on here on thesamba - but make sure the location will say england. - but also register on www.volkszone.co.uk and place an ad on there in the vehicles for sale forum - lots of Brit VW people look on there - the bus looks great ! good luck with the sale!

Tue Jun 27, 2006 8:19 pm

Thanks Charlie, I will check the website.

I will also try Ultra VW magazine in the UK , they offer a free ad.

Wed Jun 28, 2006 12:59 am

juanjvaladez wrote: Thanks Charlie, I will check the website.

I will also try Ultra VW magazine in the UK , they offer a free ad.

judging by the photo of your bus - i bet you could pre sell it NO PROBLEM on volkszone! I think that is your best bet

good luck

Wed Jun 28, 2006 2:28 am

Barndoor Mafia wrote:

That's awesome Number Juan!! Seems like no one is interested, but lets get this one going..........................

he already started another thread on this trip a while ago. invition to visit me here in switzerland still stands. :wink:

Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:25 am

Thanks guys, I'll check Volkszone for sure.
Thanks again for the invite Oorwullie, I will try to convince the wife that there are other beautiful places besides Austria. She's been dreaming to spend most of our time in Vienna and Salzburg, but come on Switzerland is just next door. Anyways I'll let you know man, thanks again.

Can somebody tell me what is an MOT?

Also, what years are tax excempt in the UK?

Thu Jun 29, 2006 2:07 am

maybe seeya then,but i'm quite a way from austria in this small country :wink:

mot (ministry of transport test) is the equivelant of state vehicle inspection.

your 69 is road tax exempt in the uk, manufactured before the 1st jan 1973.

this is only for roadtax, you are not exempt from import taxes etc!

Sat Jul 01, 2006 9:20 am

not sure if you need a mot/tax as your just visiting the uk for a trip.you may have to get your head lights pattern changed to stop you blinding on comming traffic you can use stickers that are placed over the glass.make sure you get very good insurance with break down cover not just for your bus most recovery firms (aa/rac) a bit like your aaa will include a hotel if you need some place to stay. as for selling the bus the uk markett is on the side of the seller.it sounds like a trip of a life time and if you get a copy of the new vw ultra there is a artical on a very similar trip taken by two ladys in the sixtys in a 13 window allthough thay brought the bus new from the factory then went travelling around
http://www.chpltd.com/ultra_vw/charming.html

neill

Sat Jul 01, 2006 12:14 pm

Great info Neill, Ultra VW is my favorite magazine, I have to wait a couple of weeks before July's issue is available in the US, but that is a great story. I will definately get insurance , thanks for the tips.
For us, it is the vacation of a lifetime, only because I'm changing jobs I will be able to take more than a month vacation, finally making that trip my wife and I been dreaming about. Can't wait :D

Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:48 pm

sounds like u are ready for you trip.....

I'm from UK, we did a trip last year around California in a bay window we bought in San Fransico, we then shipped the bus back to the Uk at the end of our trip.
I know how hard it was working out the local US paper work paper work (whats a pink slip - i now know!). If you need any help or advise on UK terms or import paper work PM me as I did it recently. Its not hard but easier the 2nd time!

If you get down to Conrwall, UK PM me as I live there, I can show you around...VWs and castles... 8)

Enjoy ya trip :D

Joe

Tue Jul 25, 2006 7:38 am

Hi

If you get chance you should check out Goodwood Revival whilse you are in the South. www.goodwood.co.uk/revival a great historic motorsport event with a bit of English eccentricity thrown in for good measure. I run a hotle on Goodwood Estate and could find a corner for you to sleep in the bus if you wanted.

I also might be interested in buying it from you when you are ready to head home. I've been looking for a noce early bay westi for a while.

Let me know if I can help on either counts and have a great trip!

Andy

Tue Jul 25, 2006 1:32 pm

Hey Joe, do you really live both in Cornwall and in Mexico?
I was born in Mexico , now living in San Diego, CA.
I have an agent to help me get thru customs as a tourist, but if I have a question I will send you an email, thanks.

Andy, thanks for the tip on the event, but I am supposed to be back in the US aug 30th so the event is too late for me, but I will definately let you know when I'm ready to sell, I will post it here on the samba with lots of pictures coming up, thanks.

Wed Aug 09, 2006 9:03 am

hello there ! great idea,great looking camper! if i could suggest the czech republic for castles ie Karlstein which is amazing .also if you are lakes and mountains people may i suggest also slovenia.its small and is scattered with lakes and mountains!!!!!! let me know where you end up selling.if i may advise not vw ultra as i recently heard a guys add appeared 2 months after submitting
peace
danny london

Wed Aug 09, 2006 11:51 pm

hi guys,
hows the trip going ! let me know when you decide to sell as i've been looking for an early bay for ages! thanks danny (london)

Thu Aug 10, 2006 12:47 am

Thanks for the tips, I'll let you know for sure, I'm planning on selling it between august 24 - 28th.
Look up for the add here on The Samba next week.
Thanks.

Wed Aug 16, 2006 2:45 pm

juan hows it going fine i hope you must try vzi(volkszone) if you want to sell. good look dude i hope the weather is treating you well :D