Here’s announcing the lucky winner of the Independence Day competition… drum roll please… Deana Dmonte! Congratulations. The hamper full of scrumptious American goodies is all yours!

Thank you to everyone for all the wonderful entries. We received a variety of great responses – quirky, hilarious, creative, insightful, heartfelt… you name it, we read it!

While we can’t award every entry with a hamper, we certainly can feature some of the amazing answers to the question ‘what do you love about America?’ right here!

We had a jolly good time reading them… here’s your turn:

Winning entry: The size and scale of everything, the pioneering spirit of the people and Baby Ruth bars!

• Its sheer size, from east to west and north. A bewildering mix of cultures, dialects, food and land

• America is a beautiful big country with amazing scenery – you can visit mountains, canyons, beaches, deserts, forests, cities – as a holiday destination, it always delivers

• Picnics, parties, 4th of July celebrations; the way they turn any event into a social occasion

• The fact that there is a sense of encouragement that anyone can achieve anything, and the food!

• The variety of everything, people, sweets, pies, the changing terrain from coast to coast, the random sights – ‘world’s largest hairball, Garden City, Kansas’ to the breath taking ‘Yosemite National Park, Mariposa, California’. I love it and would love to explore all of it!

• Pizza at 4a.m. in NYC

• I love its diversity – there are so many different sides to America – it’s amazing!

• Big steaks

• I love how different each of the states are from each other and how diverse the landscape is

• Their love of all things internal combustion, from the rumble of a Harley Davidson to the roar of a huuuge engined custom made car. I also love their ‘generous’ portion sizes – which are enormous!

• The misunderstandings, which result from both Americans and Brits being native English speakers.

• Wide open spaces, as well as bustling cities, the colour of the trees in Michigan in the fall and having two beautiful American grandchildren.

• Big cars and wide open roads with cheap gas

• The amazing sights – the wonderful Golden Gate Bridge, the Statue of Liberty and the Grand Canyon

DHL Service Point makes it easy to send gifts, parcels and more. With over 1,300 Service Points nationwide, we’re sure to be on a high street near you. So just take your parcel to your local Service Point and we’ll send it on its way!

Did you know that Mother’s Day is celebrated in May in many places around the world? If your mum lives abroad, let her know you’re thinking of her…

Mother’s Day is celebrated on different days all around the world, with the majority of international celebrations taking place in May, many on the second Sunday of the month, May 12^th. And as an international delivery company, we want to help take care of mums, wherever they are in the world.

So, if your mum lives overseas, let us help you make her Mother’s Day by arranging for her special present to be delivered safely with DHL Service Point. With over 1,300 DHL Service Points nationwide, including at selected Ryman, Staples, WHSmith, Safestore and Homebase stores, you’re bound to find us near you. Once you’ve found that perfect gift for mum, drop in to one of our locations, pick up a free envelope or box, pay at the till and we’ll make sure it gets on its way. And with free tracking, you can keep an eye on your gift’s progress and be safe in the knowledge that it arrived safely.

So, whether she’s in Canada or Croatia, Switzerland or Singapore, DHL Service Point will help you make her Mother’s Day, wherever she is in the world.

Don’t miss our new competition!

We’re giving one lucky person the chance to show your mum how much she means to you by winning her a Pamper Hamper; imagine her smiling face when a DHL box full of indulgent goodies lands on her doorstep!

Just enter your details on this page and tell us why she deserves to win. Good luck!

Get a massive 10% off your first shipment when you send with DHL Service Point from any Staples store in the UK. Perfect for sending that dirty washing home!

Times are tough for uni students. Fees are on the rise. Rents are on the up. And the price of a pint of beer is through the roof.

But that doesn’t mean it’s time to scrimp, save and live the life of a Dickensian miser. It’s just about being smart with your student loan come September/October time. The good news is there are loads of offers out there to help you get through the next year without resorting to begging or bank robbery.

We’ve got a great one for you right now: a massive 10% off your first shipment when you ship with DHL Service Point from any Staples store in the UK.

It’s a perfect opportunity to have a clear-out, send your washing home, or sell stuff on eBay. But best of all, it’s a good excuse to pop into your local Staples and stock up on supplies for the new uni year.

The world’s largest office products supplier, Staples is your one-stop-shop for all things stationery – as well as offering free parking, late opening hours and a DHL Service Point in every store! Plus, a host of hot deals to help your student loan go that little bit further.

Click here to find your nearest Staples store

Here at DHL Service Point, we like to give helpful tips and advice to students. And as our parcels travel around the world every day, we thought it would be a great idea to give some useful tips to those of you who are thinking of doing the same!

We asked top online hostel booking site, Hostelbookers, if they’d like to share some top tips for saving money before and whilst travelling, and luckily for you – they said yes! So here they are: 10 top tips for saving money before and during your travels.

Save Before

Before you hit the road, you need to make sure you’ll be able to support yourself throughout your travels. By doing a bit of research and making a few changes to your lifestyle before you set off on your big adventure, the pennies will soon add up.

1. Budget. Do your research and make sure you can afford to visit the countries you want to. The cost of living varies from place to place. For example, a bed for the night in Thailand will cost much less than it will in Australia, so make sure you know the price of accommodation, food and sights before you set off. Many countries also require you to get a visa before entry – you can send visas and important documents around the world using DHL Service Point.

2. Before leaving, you must check with your bank to find out what charges they have for overseas withdrawals – the fees will soon add up. Traveller’s cheques or specialist travel spending cards give you much better exchange rates and are worth looking into. It’s also advisable to clear any debts you may have. If you have credit cards, complete payments where possible or move debts to one account to make it easier to keep track of your money.

3. Don’t buy everything in the shops. Chances are, unless you’re climbing Machu Picchu, you won’t need hiking boots or sleeping bags. They’re expensive, bulky, and difficult to carry around and you’ll probably end up throwing them away when you realise how much space in your bag they take up! If you really feel like you should have bought something, get your ‘rents to buy it and post it to you via their local Service Point – it’s that easy!

4. Although you’ll spend a lot of time waiting for trains, buses and planes, there’s no need to stock up on piles of books before you go. Most hostels have a book exchange service and many travellers swap books and country guides with each other after they’ve used them.

5. Take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves. Instead of spending a few pounds on a sandwich from the local supermarket, make your lunch at home. Stop going out for dinner and buy a cheap cookbook down the local charity shop and get experimental in the kitchen – you’ll save loads and have fun. Cancel any luxuries you may have, like Sky television – you won’t have a chance to keep up with any programmes whilst you’re away, so we’re sorry to say that now is the time to finally give up watching Hollyoaks!

Save During

It’s imperative that you have enough money to keep you going throughout your travels. Think how upset you’d be if you ran out of money half way through your trip and had to come home. But don’t worry; there are easy ways to save money whilst on the road.

6. Now of course, we’re a little biased, but hostels are a cheap way to bed-hop around the world and a great way of meeting friends!  Whether you’re travelling alone, as a couple or a group of friends, staying in dormitory rooms is the cheapest way of grabbing a bed for the night. If you wish to have a bit more privacy, most hostels offer private rooms at a reasonable price. In some hostels, you can also work for your accommodation. It’s not glamorous, but it’s a free bed at the end of the day! Check out our range of hostels here.

7. Travel like a local. After all, you’ve gone abroad to experience life in other countries, so why fly or take tourist buses or trains, which are often overpriced? Transport is very good in many countries. For example in South America, the bus services are fantastic, even in second class. You will get reclining seats, films to watch and sometimes even a hot meal, for a fraction of the price of a first class ticket.

8. Eat like a local. Many people shy away from trying the local cuisine or street food, and opt for the tourist restaurants. Big mistake. Street food is often freshly caught or prepared that day, and as you can see them making it in front of you, you know what’s going into it, unlike in a restaurant. Of course, common sense comes in to play here and you should always choose the busiest stalls – if the locals are eating there, it’s sure to be good. Another alternative to eating in restaurants is using the kitchen facilities that many hostels have nowadays.

9. Haggle. It may seem like a strange concept after coming from a country where everything is a fixed-price, but it is often expected in many markets and cultures around the world. Lose your inhibitions and give it a go – you never know what bargains you might pick up.

10. Finally, if you are a student, make sure you get an International Student Card, which is valid in 120 countries and can save you money at many attractions, stores and restaurants around the world.

Now you’ve got your money in check, there’s only one thing left to do – go out there and have some fun!

Remember to visit www.hostelbookers.com, a cheap and easy way to book accommodation around the world.

DHL Service Point is available in many locations around the UK. It’s ideal for sending important documents, including visas and passports, at a reasonable price.

This week Felicity West from UK Work Study takes us through some of her top tips for international students coming to study in the UK…

1. Plan your arrival in the UK

So your flight is booked and you know what time you’re due to land.  But have you planned your travel between the airport and your university? Many universities offer help and subsidised or discounted transfer arrangements for their international students.  Contact the International Office at your chosen university for details.

2. Bring local money with you

Make sure you have some British money (pound sterling – £) or a prepaid cash card topped up before you travel.  Bear in mind that most shops in the UK will not accept £50 notes, and buses usually will not accept anything larger than a £5 note.  A good option is to get a MasterCard® prepaid card, which you can top up in any currency from anywhere in the world.

UK Work Study’s Study Pack includes applications and help for getting a MasterCard prepaid card.

3. Pack for all weathers

The weather in the UK changes all the time and it is talked about daily.  A greeting between people often includes a comment about the weather: “It’s a bit nippy today isn’t it!” (It’s cold!), “It’s pouring out there!” (It’s raining really hard!), “Turned out nice again!” (What a surprise, it’s sunny!).

Check this website for common weather expressions to join in the conversation.

4. Go to your university’s freshers’ week

At universities in the UK, a freshers’ week is usually held before teaching officially starts. The week consists of many events specifically for new starters to get to know the university, city and each other.

The main part of freshers’ week is the freshers’ fair, which is held on campus and showcases the university clubs you can join. Joining a club is a great way to make friends.

The NUS (National Union of Students) will also be there.  For just £11 you can get an NUS Extra card which entitles you to 40,000 discounts in 120 countries as well as cheap entry into locally run university events.

5. Get a UK phone number

Make sure you have a UK sim card (and phone number) with you from day one.  It will cost you less to keep in touch with your new friends at university, as well as when calling your friends and family back home to tell them what a great time you’re having!

There are many available to buy in the UK, but The UK Work Study’s Study Pack includes a UK sim card with credit on that is sent to you in your home country BEFORE you come to the UK.

6. Bring an alarm clock

The whole of the UK is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).  Don’t rely on your natural body clock or the noise of your flat mates to wake you – bring a small battery powered alarm clock to make sure you are up and ready to go!

7. Register with a UK doctor

Most universities provide an on-campus GP (general practitioner) who can act as your doctor for minor ailments and complaints whilst you are away from home.  Ask your international student officer for advice and information about the services available at your university.

Remember, in a serious medical emergency you can call 999 for an ambulance. This is also the same number if you need to speak to the police or fire brigade.

NHS Direct also have a website with a symptoms checker and other medical information and advice.

8. Get the resources needed for your studies in advance

You will need a supply of pens, paper and folders for your studies.  Most universities have bookshops on campus where you can purchase these.

You may also have been sent a reading list for your first term, or will receive it on your registration.  Order these from the bookshop as soon as possible as many people will be wanting the same books as you and stocks may run out fast!

One piece of equipment you may want to consider is an audio note-taker. It can be hard to make notes and remember everything that was said during a lecture, even if English is your first language!

The UK Work Study’s Study Pack includes a discount voucher for the purchase of a Sonocent Audio Note Taker.

9. Make the most of the language services at your university

If you are reading this and coming to study in the UK for university, you can probably understand English quite well.  But how confident are you at having a conversation in English?  Every former international student we spoke to for this article said they wished they had used their English more from day one.

The university experience is new for everyone, no matter where they come from. Remember, it’s not just the education you are coming to the UK for, it’s for new experiences and culture.  Don’t be afraid to use English, it will only get better the more you speak it and will make you very employable in your future career.

10. Learn how to make a cup of tea

This is the most important tip.  Almost everyone in the UK drinks tea. A lot!  There are many coffee shops on every high street in Britain – there’s probably one on your university campus – but when the British get home they ‘put the kettle on’ (make a cup of tea).

Learn how to make the perfect cuppa here.

Finally, don’t forget to have fun.  Now go and put the kettle on!

Find out more about the work of UK Work Study via their website, email or twitter.

The winner of our latest competition is announced…

It’s been another busy week on the @dhlservicepoint Twitter stream and you’ve certainly kept us on our toes with your brilliant entries.

This week we asked you what the weirdest package you’ve ever sent or received is, and with 113 entries you didn’t disappoint!

All week you’ve been tweeting us with your mad entries that have made us laugh, cringe, gasp – or all three! And we were particularly surprised to see a high number of entries about guinea pigs, teeth and various food types, including chocolate-covered ants!

Due to the high number of great entries, we decided to share our favourite top 10:

@finleypoppet: Emailed hotel to say we’d left son’s glasses. No problem we have them. Got a hearing aid instead. Must have got lost in translation! – How ironic!

@bev_metallica: A small box of guinea pig poo! No, really! (Sent to a pig on antibiotics who needed the healthy bacteria from it!) – Well you learn something new every day!

@WISHGIRL123: I’ve sent fertile chicken eggs and had live maggots sent to me for my chickens – What did the postie think of that?

@Saspidistra: This life-size cardboard dalek arrived in the post recently! – Thanks for the great photo.

@_sal1978_: I once had to send our garden scarecrow by courier to my sister when she was at uni to decorate a room for a party – What was the theme to that party?

@thunderbirdsGO: I received a Nappy Cake congratulating me on my 1^st child. I was 13, NOT pregnant & my parents totally freaked out! – We’re not surprised they did!

@trainsniffer: When my puppy lost her baby teeth my mother insisted I post them to her so she could put them in a scrap book – What else went in there?

@mumsiekelzof4: Some edible lollies with dead bugs inside from my sister in law. There was an ant, scorpion and maggot – What did they taste like?

@_Rachel_S: My Nan sent me a book on caring for tropical fish. I don’t own any tropical fish – Your Nan sounds great!

@Sarah_Ly1: I had my old teeth mould sent through to me recently, which I took when I had my brace when I was 13. Ewww – Gross!

And the winner is…

Although there were many fantastic entries, there was one clear winner that shocked us, scared us and made us laugh:

@For_Kate: Last year I received a packet of dried shrimp & a spanner with a note saying: “Thank you sweetheart” * scared face *

Congratulations Katie, you’ve bagged yourself £100 in High Street vouchers.

Thank you to everyone who entered. Keep an eye out for more great competitions coming your way soon.

Follow us on Twitter @dhlservicepoint

So the weather is slowly (ok, maybe that should be ‘very slowly’) starting to warm up, and it’ll soon be time to change out of the baggy jumpers into something a bit more summery.

The shops are ready, stocking up on their spring/summer collections. The question is: are you?

We know that shopping can be an expensive habit but we’d like to give you the chance to get your hands on £100 in High Street vouchers to make it a little bit more manageable – just ‘cos we’re nice like that!

Here at DHL Servicepoint we deliver all sorts of items to people all over the world – from phones to passports, from cameras to clothes.

But what we really want to know is: what’s the weirdest package you’ve ever sent or received?

Wondering how to enter?

We’re a technical bunch so we want to see your entries via Twitter.

Firstly you must be following us on Twitter, at @dhlservicepoint and then tweet us with your wackiest answers! But remember: rude or offensive entries won’t be accepted.

Make sure you use the hashtag #dhlcomp so we definitely see your entry and you’re in with a chance of winning the fab prize.

Terms and conditions:

1. The Prize: £100 in High Street vouchers.
2. The draw is open to all @dhlservicepoint Twitter followers and DHL Servicepoint blog users.
3. All entrants must be over 16 years of age.
4. Only one entry per person is allowed.
5. Only one winner will be picked.
6. The competition is open to UK residents only.
7. No cash or other alternative is available.
8. No purchase necessary.
9. The competition will be closed at noon on Tuesday 13^th March. The winner will be notified by email or by Twitter by Wednesday 14^th March.
10. Prizes are non-transferable and no cash alternative will be given.
11. Rude or offensive entries will not be accepted.
12. The judges’ decision is final.
13. DHL employees are not eligible to enter the competition.
14. Prizes will be dispatched by the 10^th working day of the date of the draw.
15. Details of the winner can be requested by writing to the promoter at: Marketing Department, DHL International (UK) Limited, 178-188 Great South-West Road, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW4 6JS

Here are our five essential tips to make sure you’re well organised before you kick off your travels abroad.

So you’re having a great time studying in the UK, learning new cultures and making new friends. But it’s coming to that time where you’re probably be thinking about what to do next.

Many students opt to go travelling after their studies to expand their horizons and to escape from home and work for as long as possible! You may see yourself as a bit of a free spirit but we urge you to make sure you’re well prepared before you travel.

Where in the world?

Firstly, you need to get a good idea of where you’d like to go. Be practical about the cost of transport, accommodation and living.

There are lots of useful companies that can help you figure out where to visit, such as STA Travel and Travelbag. Websites like Hostelworld and HostelBookers can help you book cheap accommodation.

Something else to look into is an International Student Card, which gives you lots of discounts around the world, including at Hostelworld.

Law and border

Many places require you to have a visa before travel into their country. Visas can be easily obtained at many embassies around London. Getting hold of them can take time, so plan ahead. You can find a full list of embassies in the UK and their location here.

You must also make sure that your passport is up to date. In the UK, a British passport must remain valid for at least six months after your scheduled return to the UK. For more info on passport regulations, click here.

Insure and go

Before you travel, make sure you have travel insurance in place in case of any accidents along the way.

A common pitfall is to buy the insurance that is offered through your travel operator. This could mean you’re paying over the odds.

There is a range of policies available, so it’s worth shopping around for the best deal. Websites such as MoneySupermarket, SquareMouth and Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert are very useful for this.

Safety first

It’s also advisable to get vaccinations sorted before entering many countries. You can get advice about travel vaccinations from your GP, the practice nurse at your doctors’ surgery or at a travel clinic.

Whether you need any vaccines will depend on the country you’ll be travelling to, whether you have any medical conditions and whether you’re taking any medication. Find more info here.

Money makes the world go round

Another thing to think about is how you will get hold of local currency in different countries.

Never change money at the airport, as they tend to give the worst exchange rates. There are many options available to you and you can save £s by using specialist travel spending cards that give you great exchange rates.

Find loads of useful info on cheap travel money at MSE.

All aboard

Now the essentials are covered you can concentrate on the fun bit – planning your journey.

And remember, DHL Servicepoint is available in many locations around the UK. It’s ideal for sending important documents, including visas and passports, at a reasonable price.

Coming Soon! Keep an eye out for our great competition, where there’s £100 of High Street vouchers up for grabs.

A host of strange and surprising customs regulations limit the fashion items you can send overseas…

So you think you’re a dedicated follower of fashion? Know your prêt-a-porter from your haute couture? Want to share your cutting-edge eye for fashion with friends and relatives overseas?

Things could be trickier than you might first expect. Customs regulations can be complicated at the best of times, but when it comes to fashion there are a host of unexpected and frankly weird rules that you need to bear in mind.

As the world’s leading international delivery company, we’ve been compiling a list of some of the strangest. These include:

• You aren’t allowed to ship plastic and leather footwear into Nigeria. Handbags, belts, wallets, purses and suitcases made out of leather or plastic are also prohibited.
• Only odd pairs of shoes can be imported into Gambia. What’s more, fabric and fabric samples have to be under the value of 25 USD
• Shoes sent to India should be singles, mutilated or odd pairs if you want to avoid high duty charges. Similar rules apply for Mexico.
• Algerian customs regulations mean you can’t send more than ten samples of synthetic wool and cloth.
• Also, bear in mind that leather garments to Pakistan have no sales tax!

On a serious note, these regulations are particularly important for international fashion businesses. Small and growing businesses face an uphill struggle unless they keep such restrictions in mind when moving their products around the world.

As Phil Couchman, Chief Executive Officer at DHL Express points out “new fashion brands should thoroughly research regulations in the countries they are looking to work with. Not knowing these details could mean the difference between success or failure”.

For more information on DHL Servicepoint:www.dhlservicepoint.co.uk

With social media changing the way companies do customer service, we want to hear your tips, feedback and experiences

Everywhere you look these days people are endlessly banging on about how social media has changed everything. From finding a job to finding love, the general consensus is THINGS ARE VERY DIFFERENT NOW.

Exaggeration? Difficult to tell. Some relationships function best in 140 character grunts – always have, always will do. But some change is undeniable. If nothing else, social media has opened up the conversation: where else would you be able to chat with your mates, your mum and Stephen Fry at the same time? The people you can interact with – from minor TV celebrities to the Prime Minister – and the things you can talk about have shifted. That’s not to say barriers have been torn down completely. It’s just getting easier to peek over the fence.

This extends to companies too. Social media has become a powerful tool for consumers determined to get their problems dealt with (and dealt with now!). With companies worried about being publically lambasted, they’re having to really up their efforts to keep customers happy. This mean a host of benefits for the customer as companies strive to deal fairly, efficiently and effectively with issues and complaints voiced online.

But who cares what we think? The real question is: has social media made any difference to you as a customer? We’re really interested in hearing what you have to say.

Do you use social media to communicate with companies? How effective is it? Do you feel any more valued when a company responds using social media? Do you have any examples of really great social media-based customer service? As a customer, do you have any tips for using social media to voice your queries, problems and complaints?

Let us know your experiences by leaving a reply below. We’ll compile all the best comments into a blog entry of top tips for getting the most out of social media!