Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday of November every year. It is thought to have begun to give thanks for the past year and the blessing of the harvest.
However, it is not just USA that recognises this day. Canada, Grenada, Liberia, and Saint Lucia celebrate Thanksgiving on different dates. This year, in the USA, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, 24th November.
To celebrate, friends and family will typically sit together for a big meal consisting of a large turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, candied yams, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie (we are drooling just thinking about it!) Alongside a large meal, Americans might celebrate the day by watching the parade, enjoying a kickabout, volunteering or playing board games.
If you can’t fly over to see loved ones for Thanksgiving this year, why not send them a gift from overseas to give thanks? With Interparcel, you can deliver a parcel to the USA for as little as £11.80.
Gift ideas to send to friends and family this Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is not typically a holiday to give gifts. However, if you’re unable to celebrate together, we have some gift suggestions suitable for sending abroad:
- Photo album
- Scented candle
- Hand-written recipe book
- Personalised gift
- Board game
Unfortunately, perishable items like a homemade chocolate dessert will have to wait until you can share it in person!
With anything you send, we advise you to check that the destination country will accept the goods. You will be asked to read and agree to our Prohibited & Restricted Items List before completing your booking with us.
Tips for sending a parcel to the USA from the UK
1. Check your item is safe to send
Every country, courier, and service has rules and restrictions about importing goods. Some items may also be subject to regulations, limitations or warnings. You must check with local Customs and our list before shipping to reduce the risk of additional fees or delays.
For shipping to America, we advise you to contact U.S. Customs and Border Protection for advice or further clarification.
2. Safely package your gift
When packaging goods to send to the USA, remember that your parcel will be handled multiple times, stacked on top of other boxes, and loaded on and off transportation. Therefore, it’s crucial you sufficiently package your goods.
We advise you:
- Select a strong and durable cardboard box (preferably double-lined, especially if the parcel’s weight exceeds 10kg)
- Individually wrap loose items to protect from movement/vibrations in protective material
- Fill the space in the box with cushioning materials such as packing peanuts, tissue paper or bubble-wrap
- Use durable packing tape designed to withstand all temperatures
Ensure that address labels are easily visible outside the box, so couriers know where your goods need to go!
For further tips, check out our packaging video.
3. Complete a Customs Invoice
You must complete a customs invoice when shipping a parcel to the US, including gifts. Your customs documents will determine if any tax/duties need to be paid, so it must be filled in correctly.
We incorporate the required customs documents within the booking process to simplify the delivery process. When completing the form, you must:
- Select your Tax Status and Reason for Export. If you were sending a present to a friend, you would select ‘Private Individual’ and ‘Gift’
- Accurately describe the contents of your parcel: for example, ’a pair of ladies’ cotton socks’
- State the value of the item: how much it was bought/sold for
- The material the item is made from
- The country of origin: where you are sending from
After you’ve filled in your customs documents, you’ll need to attach three copies to the outside of your parcel in waterproof plastic wallets - sandwich bags work well too!
4. Compare delivery quotes online
As a booking and comparison website, we offer a vast selection of international courier services from the UK to countries worldwide.
For the fastest delivery to the USA, you may opt for one of our Express delivery services that can deliver parcels in as little as 1-2 working days after collection.
If you are sending your Thanksgiving in advance, international Economy services are one of the cheapest ways to send a package to the USA. If your package doesn’t need to be sent urgently, our Economy services are ideal and one of the cheapest ways to send a parcel to the USA. Transit times vary from 4 – 12 working days, service dependent.
Delivery to the United States starts from £11.80. Service blocks above display the lowest price available for the service, not specifically for shipments to America.
Book a discount parcel delivery to the United States with Interparcel
With over 15 years of industry experience, we know a thing or two about parcel delivery. Our partnerships with globally-recognised couriers mean we can offer some of the best discount prices for shipping domestically and overseas.
All you need to do is pop your parcel details into our Quote Tool and compare prices between our wide range of courier services.
Our parcel experts are only a phone call, email, or message away if you require assistance during the booking process.
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