What to bring when moving from U.S. to Germany

Hello! What things should we take and what should we not take regardless of quality and sentimental? Moving from USA to Germany(Düsseldorf). Wife’s company paying for relocation. DVD player, Stereo, speakers, tiny printer, DVDs, CDs, bicycles, Ikea furniture, lamps, bookshelve, 2 seater couch, 4 seater dining table + 4 chairs – Ikea, baby strollers, baby’s toys, books, clothes or just enough to have and do shop there, work clothes or buy them in Germany for German corporate world. Or in other words - any things you suggest one should bring and not bring from America. Is Ikea cheap? Is there Ikea near Düsseldorf? Thanks a tonne.

Most electronics from the USA, aside from computers and the like, will be 110V and will be useless in Europe (and may start to smoke if you plug them in without a transformer!). Of course, you could use transformers, but I don't think you're supposed to use them long-term. In any case, it would probably be cheaper and/or easier to just buy a new toaster/mixer/hair dryer than to buy a transformer for them. Your TV will likely be NTSC, but you'll need a PAL TV in Germany. If you're a fan of root beer, I'd bring some with you, because there's virtually none to be found in Europe. I personally like flavored coffee creamers, which are also non-existent, so I'd pick up a big package of the individually wrapped ones at Costco (they don't need to be refrigerated). If you could get them over without melting, some chocolate chips would be good, too. Bring a big, fat bottle of Tylenol as well, because the equivalent in Germany is very expensive (like €7.50 for 20 tablets). If you don't have a computer and want to get one, then definitely buy it in the States and bring it over. It'll be much cheaper and will have the proper keyboard.

bring the biggest bottle of ibuprofen (or two) you can buy! also peptobismal is something i really miss from home (the pink stuff) other than that bring all the cooking stuff you can like measuring stuff. baking soda is a must. I would also stock up on reading material. Oh and a couple of really nice IPA's.

Good point. A big box of Arm & Hammer costs virtually nothing, and in Germany you'll pay the same amount for a tiny little paper packet. You also might want to bring over some brown sugar. You can find similar in Asian shops in Germany, but it's not quite the same.

running shoes are way more expensive here, I wish I had brought a couple of pairs with me. Other than that, (and clothing in general) there's nothing I'm especially missing, except for my brew kit...

Seconding the Ibuprofen and the measuring cups/spoons/liquid measure. At least if you cook at all.

I found exactly the same brown sugar that I used in the states at the local asian grocery, but that's iffy.

Chocolate chips.

and a bottle of good vanilla extract.

don't bring ikea furniture! it's everywhere here, cheap (though not cheaper) new and doubly cheap if you buy it second-hand. everybody is trying to unload billy shelves, etc. anyway, i don't think press-board generally fares well on transcontinental trips, and it is likely to arrive here broken. suggest leaving it in the U.S.

bring yer levis and cowboy boots, that is fer sure.

and if you are bringing animals, bring some of their food from home, as it will take them a couple of weeks to adjust to their new german diet. (it will take you a couple of years, but meantime you can fill up on beer.)

Speakers - Bring them. Stereo - it depends. If it is a mass market brand like Sony, Pioneer most likely they are only 110V and are unable to be converted. You could run off a transformer. If the system is a little higher-end you should contact the manufacturer about a voltage conversion. For example, I have a Rotel system. Before I left the states I had the manufacturer switch the components to 220V. The cost was $50 per component (Pre-Amp, Amp) plus shipping. This keeps the warranty intact. The DVD player was already 110-220v and can output NTSC/PAL. Though it cannot play region 2 DVD's.

Computer equipment, most are dual voltage these days. If some of you wequipment uses stepdown transformers, for example - a print server that goes from 110V to 3.5V, then you just need to by a 220V to 3.5V stepdown transformer when you arrive.

Bring drugs & vitamins. Get your Drivers License translated by AAA.

Good luck.

Liquid smoke, french's yellow mustard, at least one gigantic jar of peanut butter, that dried beef stuff for creamed chipped beef, your pain reliever of choice, vitamins.

Basically any item you use on a regular basis from a drugstore you should bring a six month supply. When it runs out you'll havve to discover the joys of German homeopathic teas and potions.

The electric gadgets probably are worthless here.

If you have anything that needs to be assembled/repaired you may want to bring along a US wrench/ratchet set. They#re rare and expensive here.

And feel free to bring me a quart of Blanton's.

just opened the linen closet.

pillows, if you're partial to the american standard-size ones. the european big square ones look nice, but aren't as comfy for sleeping. and pillowcases to fit them. you can buy pillows that approximate those you're used to, but you will pay through the neck for them. they do however have the memory-foam molded orthopedic ones in abundance.

washcloths. they mostly have these mitt things here, which are fine and nice for kids, but the flat ones are more functional.

otherwise, you will find that german linens/bedding are far superior and will want to invest in some good ones here.

toothpaste, your favorite brand. unless it is colgate you will not find it here.

and possibly a bottle of triple sec if you like to make margaritas; i finally found it here and they wanted 12 euros for a tiny bottle, ack!

Wow, this is an amazing forum! It is so cool! Thank you all. Small things that I take for granted here are actually important. Can't believe it. Who would have known. Thanks a million.

One thing to keep in mind though, before packing up everything under the sun is that in your new expat life you will have all of these things that although you can't get them easily or cheaply you might just forget about them at all. You will find new things you like, and substitutes for the things you need.

That said, I always buy peanut butter and grape jelly whenever I go home or a friend does.

On the 110V - 230V transformers:

Buy them in the US if you want to save money. E.g, if you can get to Fry's, buy those cheap, simple, transformers made in China, which have no switches but simply a cable that you put in either end of the transformer. Of course, those are not very safe - the cable has male ends at both ends, meaning that you can get yourself electricuted if you pull the wrong end out and touch it. But they're cheap, especially when it comes to higher wattages. I have a few of them and use them all over my place, e.g. to power a computer monitor that runs on 110V. They can run constantly without a problem. Just make sure you have no children that can access and play with them Get a few of them, ranging from 200-500W.

Transformers you can buy in Germany are all safe but also much much more expensive (probably at least 2 to 3 times more, I guess)

Another thing on toothpaste: the German version of Crest is blend-a-med/dent so you can get "Crest" toothpaste here though they do not have all the same kinds (no cinnamon and no vanilla mint).

Guns & ammo!

On the whole 110 vs. 220 thing... if the product comes with an AC to DC converter which goes between the wall and the unit it is probably cheaper to buy it in the US and then buy a dedicated converter here. Most of my small electronics were bought in the US and are powered by converters bought at Conrad. I've saved at least 1000 Euros doing so.

If the unit itself plugs directly into the wall, just make sure it accepts 110 and 220 input. The majority of products sold in the US support both. I have yet to find a product sold in Europe that accepts 110 (though I'm sure there are).

Transformers are huge wastes of power. Follow the above advice and you won't even need one.

You can buy A&H Baking Soda here in Germany.

You'd be very hard put to find any in the Düsseldorf region!

What a great thread! Thanks for all of the useful information, you guys!

One more question, though. Don't laugh.

Can you buy roll-on deodorant in Germany? The reason I ask is because it's been dwindling here in the US for awhile. Some stores only carry one or two brands with that applicator.
And like Elaine in Seinfeld with her sponges, I will "clean out the whole west side" before I leave if I can't get any over there.

Thanks in advance!

Sure you can, there is a whole variety of them.
I think the reason they are not offered that much anymore in the States is because of the big discussion about aluminum chloride and the risk using it with roll-on deodorants.

I found one without aluminum chloride, the brand CD.

It also depends on how long you will be here before a visit back 'home'. I've been here nearly a year without a trip back and needed to have some items shipped to me because I don't have an army base friend to take me shopping.

Bathroom items were the prevelent things on my list. Shampoos, my favorite moisturizer, body lotion, cleansers and now, a shower curtain with magnets. I cannot find them anywhere here and it's frustrating sopping up water after every shower. I was used to softened water and my hair reacted badly to the hard water here, that's why I wanted my favorite cosmetics.

Wished I had brought my bed pillows. It took several purchases before I found one that didn't give me a neck ache.

Shoes - expensive! If you can find them in your size.

Also, the radiator heat really is dry. You may need to consider a humidifier for the air in the winter. But buy one here because of the electrical requirements. Leave your electrical stuff at home. I brought a curling iron with a converter but don't use it everyday.

I cannot find a cookie sheet, so bring all of your cookware stuff with you.

The other item not mentioned is medication from your doctor. I always got a refill on my prescriptions that lasted a year. Not so here is what I've experienced. You might want to check about getting a 6-12 month supply of your daily medication. Any cold/flu medicine will be cheaper in the states...like Nyquil (can't find), some vitamins, and any herbal stuff you're into.

Yeah, I do that too - stocking up on cold/flu medicines and storing them in my cabinet here. I'm fortunate that I can get to the army base every 6 months or so and stock up. I hate the deodorants here, they cause my skin to burn and I don't know why so I actually stock up on that too from the States. Clothes would be my other suggestion, especially shoes as was stated. I get all that back home when I make my semi-yearly/yearly trip with empty suitcases in hand Pack lots of dry goods if you're doing a household shipment; baking mixes, favorite spices, etc.

I found it most convenient to leave the wife and kids back home

NO!!! Beaware, the ovens here are smaller than US. Just the other day, I was about to put the cookie sheet from US in the oven, only to find that it doesn't fit.

If you are picky about toothpaste, bring them with you: I miss Tom's of Maine Natural toothpaste.
And bottles of hot sauce. Get a case.

Clothes and shoes are on sale in many shops in Germany.

Over-the counter meds, if there are any you ever use. I was really happy I had all of my regular over-the-counter meds with me when I first moved over. My experience was that I got sick my first week living abroadand it was nice to have my familiar meds, as well as a box of my favorite tea, on hand. I'm on my second country (I lived in Germany, now I live in Austria) and I've been an expat for years now and I still stock up on OTC meds for me and my family on visits to the U.S. Without exact figures in hand it seems like I pay less for a jumbo size bottle of Tylenol at Target than for anything even remotely similar in a much smaller quantity at an Apotheke over here.

I tend to stock up on clothes and shoes in the States. Of course they sell them here but the styles/cuts and the prices can be different, depending on what you like. If you like cheap and ultra-trendy (like H and M) or ultra expensive, then you'll be set in Germany, though. My husband likes Levi's jeans and they cost something like a third of the prices for the same Levi's 501s that we've seen in Germany and Austria. Germany does have Lands' End (www.landsend.de) and Eddie Bauer (stores plus www.eddiebauer.de) so those are two sources of more American styles (the German versions don't carry all of the selection of the American counterparts.) Prices are higher than what you'd pay in the U.S. but then again, you won't get any Zoll bills or have to pay 100 dollars to ship or something. I find that casual clothing is significantly more expensive over here, as well as stuff you'd wear for outdoor activities (like a fleece you'd wear for hiking.) I also find undergarments to be significantly more expensive over here so it might be worth it to stock up.

American measuring cups and spoons as well as your favorite cookbooks! And possibly off-topic but I recommend buying the cookbook "Amerika: Streifzuege durch die Kuechen der Welt" (ISBN 3-88472-588-2)-- it's in German but it's all kinds of American recipes. If nothing else, you can use it to figure out the local equivilents of particular ingredients to make your favorite foods from home. A friend gave it to us as a wedding gift and I use it all the time!

Pictures-- of family, friends, etc. I wish I had brought more pictures when I first came.

English books you can buy in shops or order on amazon.de (yes, they have English books) but it might be nice to bring some books with picutres of your local area to show to new friends and acquaintances.

You'll also adapt to things (it will be fun to try some new products, shops, etc.) and find some substitutes-- for example, I used to buy chocolate chips to make cookies when I went to the States-- now I find I like the cookies even better if I cut up Milka chocolate bars into chunks.

I saw someone say they found crest, I also found my favorite aquafresh but it is called something else...odol-med3 in extreme is the same as my aquafresh extreme clean. I had some when I got here and was looking for more toothpaste. I saw the exteme and thought it the same but didn't know for sure till I saw they were made by the same company.

Being a total candy addict, I always bring back tons of Willy Wonka & peanut butter type candy. Nothing better than peanut butter M&M's with a Mass (or more )at the Biegarten.

Cornbread mixes are a must too. There is nothing better than Jalapeno cornbread, homemade chili & some Lynyrd Skynyrd songs to help yourself rid of homesickness.

Wow, you guys are the best! I took TONS of notes based on the info here. Invaluable.
Especially the information related to baking. You guys had no way of knowing this of course, but I love to bake. Every year for Christmas I make at least 6 different varieties of cookies. Good to know that I will need to bring many spices/ingredients and tools with me. (Last year's batch)


No kidding! I took a shower at my friend's place when I was in Nürnberg and I wondered why the stupid curtain kept sticking to me. It didn't occur to me that it was because there were no magnets until you mentioned it just now. Excellent advice!


Covered. Gotta have my hot sauce.


Too funny. I actually have a tube of that! When I was on the road this summer, I ran out of toothpaste so I stopped at a filling station in Mainz. I found a box of dust-covered tubes of Odol-Med3, thankfully.


Well I can bring a case over with me for you if you like.

Thanks again you guys! This is really helpful!

i wish i had brought about 7 pair of jeans. i HATE shopping for jeans here, the sizes are completely inconsistent, it's impossible to find something that fits right AND doesn't look gay. snappy flap pockets on my ass? no thanks!! over-textured, ripped and then sewn back up again look? no thanks!! where are the decent normal good quality jeans!! and whenever i ask the people hot to explain the sizes to me, they tell me they are the same as in america, which they most definitely are not. not to mention new Levis are about 60 euro, compared to 35 bucks in the US. and they usually only have one type of levis, like 501 button fly, which I don't wear... naja, just went shopping today and it SUCKED, total waste of time!!!

You know, I've heard about the jean issue from several people. Seems like opening a Levis store would be an excellent investment!

I just wonder...is the shipping so outrageously expensive that it's not worth it to buy clothes and shoes online from the US?

I think it's more that a lot of companies that you could order from don't ship internationally. Some do but not all. But you can certainly find jeans in Germany. Last time I looked, there weren't a bunch of bare assed people walking around town and Germans do come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You'll have to shell out more, possibly, especially with the dollar being weak against the Euro if you're used to dollar prices. Maybe branch out from Levi's. There are other brands.

Another American item which costs a fortune here compared to US are Converse Chuck sneakers. Dirt cheap across the pond, but with the crazy prices charged for them here in Europe they appear to be almost regarded as delicacies.

^^ no doubt. And when i think of "branching out" from levis, Wranglers are even more expensive!! WTF? Wranglers are the dirt cheap Kmart jeans. Same for Lee, and Lee is even more expensive than Levis or Wrangler. They got it all messed up here, i swear.

The jeans styles here are so lame. uggh!

Hi all, I am new to this blog, but have lived in Berlin for ages.
The best advice I would give ( aside from the other advice already given) would be to get a Sling Box if you ever want to watch US tv. It sounds odd, but if you buy this Sling Box and give it to someone back in the US that has cable, they simply hook it up to the box, send you the code and you are then able to watch US tv on your computer. I thought it was silly at first, but when my husband showed it to me, I was hooked. Basically, whatever channels the person in the US has, you can watch on your computer without interrupting what they watch. The only issue would be watching Jay Leno in the morning, but you get used to it. I swear if I first knoew about this when we originally moved here my time would have been much better without having to watch Home Improvement or Seventh Heaven in German. Just a tip I believe the website is slingmedia.com or just Google "Sling Box"

well after ranting about it I feel obliged to mention that I went into h&m and found my size, and it was actually my size... still not exactly what i wanted, but...

Start here:

Most popular responses: OTC MEDs, proper clothes - if you're petite the search for proper sizes will kill you, if not the exchange rate will finish you off - and a sense of humour.

ANY FOOD PRODUCT THAT YOU HAVE FOUND ESSENTIAL MINE WAS CORN MASA AND TAMALE MIXES, IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU KNOW YOU WILL MISS LIKE FRENCHES MUSTARD BRING IT, THERE IS A INTERNATIONAL STORE IN Düsseldorf http://www.foodfromhome.de THEY HAVE ALOT OF THINGS BUT THEY ARE IN SMALL SIZES.. RANCH SALAD DRESSING, RUBBING ALCOHOL AND PEROXIDE. AND AGAIN ANY MED YOU ARE USED TO BUYING LIKE PEPTO, IMMODIOM, TYLENOYL- THERE ARE IKEAS ALL OVER THERE ARE NO WALMARTS AND SOMETIMES ITS A SPORTING EVENT TO FIND WHERE YOU WILL FIND SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A CROCHETE NEEDLE- GOOD LUCK TO YOU!
HERE ARE SOME MORE LINKS I HAVE FOUND

http://english-books-and-tea.de/ ( FOR THOSE ENGLISH BOOKS AT A FAIR PRICE IN KOELN)

http://www.english-shop.de ( IN KOELN)

I bet peroxide is a forbidden item on an aircraft - including in luggage (no reference, just gut feeling as a frequent traveller).

And there is NO NEED TO SHOUT HERE - WE ARE NOT DEAF.

Hi there

I'm from South Africa but have also made some notes from these posts of what to bring with in the container. We are planning our move for end of January 2008.

Is there some kind of customs control on how much of a consumable item / what consumable items you can bring in with your furniture in the container. We are coming to Germany for 2 years. I' m thinking of bringing over our favourite South African mealie flour, cereals, tinned food, spreads and sauces, wine and other liquor to last me for about year (depending on the expiry date of course) - must we pay import tax if the quantities exceed a certain limit, say for example 2 litres of wine. Wine especially - since we love South African wines and here a good bottle of South African wine cost between 5 and 10 Euros per bottle.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Ems

Not sure about duty tax on food, but forget the wine. You can get south african wine here (and French, Australian, Chilian, Brazilian, Italian and German) and it's not too expensive.

Can you bring exotic leather boots to germany? crocodile, stingray, usw?

Bring a smile and don't lose it

Plenty of roll-on deodorant, but NOT Dry Idea, which is the only deo I use. So, whenever I go back, I bring a healthy supply. If that's your brand, something to consider.

It seems like most of these folks are moving to Germany and then trying to Americanize it. Why not just try and adapt to the new foods and culture. "when in Rome..." I need cornbread, I need hotsauce, I need tortillas, I need, I need, I need... Why not just stay where you are and not go to Germany. I'm moving to Koblenz next month and am taking clothes, laptop, tv and motorbike. I'm only bringing the tv so I can connect it to my laptop and because it's quite new. For one thing to bring everything I enjoy here in the USA would cost $10,000 it seems to ship it all. I'm looking forward to getting away from rampant American consumerism and giant SUV's. I figure if I don't fit in in Germany, then I'll just come back to USA. I hope I never see another McDonalds, Starbucks, Outlet Mall Megaplex. My friends sat to me "they all speak English there right?", why should I expect Germans to speak English. I'm not trying to sound mean, just realistic.

You'll be disappointed. Plenty of McDonalds, BKs, Starbucks and SUVs here. Not mean, just realistic.

Altho, extremely thin on the ground in comparison to the US (Or NZ for that mattr)

bring loads of Ziploc bags. they're right expensive here.

Unless you like showering with one hand on the shower curtain, bring one (long one) WITH MAGNETS (in fact, bring a few because of mold) for the shower/tub. Not found (with magnets) here. damn it