Packing up
Things to Bring Before your Shipment Arrives
We suggest that you bring a large suitcase with basic kitchen and bath supplies. Use sheets and towels to pack household goods. Check weight restrictions and baggage allowances with your airline.
Things to Bring with you
Even if you rent a furnished apartment, here is a list of things you will need to bring while waiting for your shipment to arrive. It includes a list of things you may want to ship. Also, check our International food page to find out about buying your favorite foods when you get here.
Things to Not Bring or Ship
We suggest that you bring a large suitcase with basic kitchen and bath supplies. Use sheets and towels to pack household goods. Check weight restrictions and baggage allowances with your airline.
- Buy insurance for goods in transit – it’s worth it.
- Make a list of all items you bring. Why? To avoid duty tax. Your shipment will go through customs so you will need proof of what left your country.
- When packing remember to leave prescription medication in their containers for Customs inspection.
Things to Bring with you
Even if you rent a furnished apartment, here is a list of things you will need to bring while waiting for your shipment to arrive. It includes a list of things you may want to ship. Also, check our International food page to find out about buying your favorite foods when you get here.
Things to Not Bring or Ship
- TVs, stereos and similar electronics
- Large appliances
- Zone 1 Blu-ray DVDs will only play on computers - European electronics read Zone 2 Blu-ray DVDs only.
- You can get multizone DVD (not Blu-ray) players in Switzerland only. There is a "Netflix" type service but it's really slow. You can rent some DVDs - the selection in France is tiny - Switzerland is better.
- Socket adapters – buy them here when you know if you will live in France or Switzerland (see the Electronic section below). They are very inexpensive.
Moving Companies
Here are some international moving companies who speak English. Ask for a price quote.for general advice and information see Easy Expat and Expatica.
Relocation Service: Chronologica SA
Specializes in private administration support for ex-pats who have relocated to Switzerland and need help with Swiss and French bureaucracy. Tel: +41 (0) 43 521 31 30. Located at: Rue de Rive 64, 1260 Nyon – Switzerland.
Here are some international moving companies who speak English. Ask for a price quote.for general advice and information see Easy Expat and Expatica.
Relocation Service: Chronologica SA
Specializes in private administration support for ex-pats who have relocated to Switzerland and need help with Swiss and French bureaucracy. Tel: +41 (0) 43 521 31 30. Located at: Rue de Rive 64, 1260 Nyon – Switzerland.
Electronics
The French plug and wall socket are shown on the left. The ground pin in the wall socket, as in most of Europe. The Swiss wall socket looks like the adapter on the right. It is different than much of the rest of Europe: the two pins are narrower and spaced slightly further apart, and wall sockets and most adapters are recessed so that the full plug has to fit, not just the pins. You can buy adapters at grocery stores in Switzerland that are not recessed, and you can buy a Swiss adapter (shown on the right) to use Swiss appliances in a French home, and vice versa. |
A converter/transformer converts 110v current (North and Central America) into 220v current (elsewhere).
An adapter let's you plug an electrical device into a foreign socket. It does not convert voltage or electricity.
An adapter let's you plug an electrical device into a foreign socket. It does not convert voltage or electricity.
Large and small kitchen appliances
We do not recommend bringing large appliances with you because you would need to buy a converter for each one. Converters cost about 40 Swiss francs each, and heat up while they are working, and can eventually burn out.
If you decide you to bring them with you, you can buy converters here at electronics shops and at airport shops.
Instead, buy second-hand appliances here once you know if you'll be living in France or Switzerland. Find out where to buy new appliances on our Products page, and used appliances on our Second-Hand Shops pages.
Hair dryers & shavers
It's easiest to buy new ones here - they are not expensive.
It's also possible to buy dual-voltage hair dryers & shavers (at Amazon, Brookstone & Walmart) and bring them with you. They can be used with both 110v and 220v systems with an (inexpensive) adapter.
Adapters are available at grocery stores, electronics shops and at airport shops. Buy them here once you know if you will live in France or Switzerland.
Laptop computers and cell phone chargers
These have an integrated converter, so all you will need is an (inexpensive) adapter.
Adapters are available at grocery stores, electronics shops and at airport shops. Buy them here once you know if you will live in France or Switzerland.
Here is a website to answer specific questions you may have about electronics.
We do not recommend bringing large appliances with you because you would need to buy a converter for each one. Converters cost about 40 Swiss francs each, and heat up while they are working, and can eventually burn out.
If you decide you to bring them with you, you can buy converters here at electronics shops and at airport shops.
Instead, buy second-hand appliances here once you know if you'll be living in France or Switzerland. Find out where to buy new appliances on our Products page, and used appliances on our Second-Hand Shops pages.
Hair dryers & shavers
It's easiest to buy new ones here - they are not expensive.
It's also possible to buy dual-voltage hair dryers & shavers (at Amazon, Brookstone & Walmart) and bring them with you. They can be used with both 110v and 220v systems with an (inexpensive) adapter.
Adapters are available at grocery stores, electronics shops and at airport shops. Buy them here once you know if you will live in France or Switzerland.
Laptop computers and cell phone chargers
These have an integrated converter, so all you will need is an (inexpensive) adapter.
Adapters are available at grocery stores, electronics shops and at airport shops. Buy them here once you know if you will live in France or Switzerland.
Here is a website to answer specific questions you may have about electronics.
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