Big move to france

[Vik_tor]

Our family of four is moving to France from the U.S., with a long-term lease in Paris starting September 2, 2025. We're shipping one 20-foot container and choosing between two options:

• Late June shipment: Might arrive too early (needs storage) or too late (requires temporary Airbnb).
• Late August shipment: Will definitely arrive late, meaning we'd need temporary furnished housing and then move again once the container shows up.

If you've recently gone through moving to France, how accurate was the 6–10 week shipping estimate? Was short-term storage easy and affordable? And was living out of suitcases while house-hunting in person worth the hassle?

We'd love tips on keeping costs and stress down while using just one container, your experience would really help

 

[HIMYM]

Wow, I'm excited for you. Well, I know a couple who did a similar jump last year and honestly, their "6–10 week" estimate turned into almost 12. The short-term storage in France was manageable but maybe ship earlier if possible.

 

[sandwichstack]

can't say for sure, but I think it's not destination related, so it's the cargo company. With that said, here are my two scents on this matter. I haven't moved with that much stuff, so I can't comment too much, but if I would, I'd like to have things available when I get there, so I'd go for an earlier shipment. I think that any storage option is cheaper than Airbnb, booking or any thing similar. I get that there's a risk it will get there late, but for me it's a risk I'd be willing to take.

 

[JackSolo]

Wow, I'm excited for you. Well, I know a couple who did a similar jump last year and honestly, their "6–10 week" estimate turned into almost 12. The short-term storage in France was manageable but maybe ship earlier if possible.

Correct.. but delays happen. Short term storage is doable yes but can get pricey depending on the area. To keep costs down, plan for some overlap between arrival and container delivery and consider storage options in advance to avoid last-minute hassles.