On 4^th July 1776, the United States declared its independence from Great Britain and the date has remained as a big day of celebration for Americans…

If you have family or friends in the States, more than likely they’ll be celebrating 4th July with backyard BBQs and explosive fireworks. DHL helps families and friends celebrate special events, like Independence Day, regardless of the distance between them.

We make it easy to send gifts to your friends this Independence Day. With over 1,300 Service Points nationwide, we’re sure to be on a high street near you. So, once you’ve found the perfect present, just take it to your local Service Point and we’ll send it on its way!

Why not impress them with some of our favourite 4^th July facts?

• On 4^th July 1776, America declared its independence from Britain. It was the separation of 13 colonies from Great Britain.
• Each year on 4^th July, Americans celebrate that freedom and independence with barbecues, picnics and family gatherings.
• The estimated population on 4^th July 2013 is 316.2 million
• Three of America’s first five presidents died on 4^th July.
• 150 million hotdogs are consumed on 4^th July every year
• 700 million lbs of chicken is purchased in the week leading up to 4^th July
• 190 million lbs of red meat/pork is purchased in the week leading up to 4^th July
• 25 million lbs of fireworks is sold to cities for public celebrations
• 11: number of places in the US with “Independence” in their name

Sources: (CNN, The Herald Tribune, US Census Bureau as of 7.3.2012)

Whilst we can’t deliver sizzling BBQs or explosive fireworks, we can help you join your American buddies in spirit by celebrating Independence Day with a hamper full of American goodies. Click here to find out more about our new competition. But hurry, it closes tomorrow!

What are your plans for this summer? David from Foreign Students takes us through his top tips for international students’ summer holiday options…

If you’re an international student in the UK right now, chances are you’re in the middle of exams and feeling pretty stressed. However, before you know it, exams will be over and you’ll be faced with a three month summer holiday.

If you haven’t already made plans for the summer, then you have a few different options. Here we go through what choices you have and give you some top tips on how to make the most of your summer.

Go Home

The most obvious choice is to go home for the summer. You’ve probably missed your family and friends during your stay in the UK, and they’ll certainly have missed you. You can spend the summer reacquainting yourself with freshly cooked dinners, free laundry and no rent.

At home you can either get a summer job and save up some extra spending money for when you return to study, or else simply relax, recharge and get a head start on next year’s work.

Positives: See the people and things you have missed, save money

Negatives: May get bored a week after getting there

Stay in the UK

Even though you won’t have any lectures to attend, you may still want to stay in the UK over the summer. If you are settled and you are paying for your accommodation over the summer anyway, then it may be the best option.

The summer is a great chance to get some work experience that can improve your CV. Working full time or part time can help you save up that extra bit of cash to help you out during term time, and doing it in a job relevant to your degree can be really useful (you can search & apply for jobs here).

However, the best way to give your career prospects a boost is by trying to get an internship. Doing a one-three month internship in an industry you’re interested in will help you make contacts and will look brilliant on your CV. The only downside is that many internships are unpaid, so you will need to have some savings to help you through.

Alternatively, just relax and enjoy exploring parts Britain you haven’t had a chance to yet. You can travel around the UK really cheaply if you’ve got the time to take a bus. Plus, who knows, you may even get to see the mythical English sun!

Positives: Could get good work experience

Negatives: Accommodation expensive, may miss your family (?!)

Go Travelling

University summers are pretty much the one chance in your life that you have long periods of time with zero responsibilities. Therefore, it is the perfect time to travel the world.

If you are from outside of Europe, using the UK as a base and exploring the many wonderful cities of the continent would certainly be memorable. Travelling by train can be great value and very sociable, whilst staying in hostels means you can do it all on a budget (read this guide for top tips).

Another alternative is to volunteer. There are loads of programmes open to volunteers who want to travel and live in an unusual part of the world, whilst also helping others.

Positives: Unique experience

Negatives: Expensive

Now that you’ve seen some of your options, maybe you’ll think twice about simply going home and sitting in front of the TV for the whole summer. For three months you have total control over your time – make the most of it!

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!

Will you be apart from your mum this Mother’s Day? Whether she’s in London or Lagos, Kent or Kano, DHL Service Point will help you make her day.

Forget the flowers and chocolates, she deserves something special! For your chance to win a Pamper Hamper packed full of indulgent goodies for your mum to relax with, just follow us on Twitter @dhlservicepoint, find our special Mother’s Day message and retweet it – it’s that simple!

Good luck!

Terms & conditions

1. The draw is open to all @dhlservicepoint Twitter followers that retweet our Mother’s Day message.
2. The prize is a pamper hamper. This is non transferrable and cannot be exchanged for cash or any other prize of equivalent value.
3. The closing date for all entries is 23.59 on Sunday 10th March 2013
4. The winner will be drawn at random from all eligible entries received.
5. The winner will be notified by 12th March 2013 by Twitter. Failure to respond within seven days of notification will result in the prize being withdrawn and a replacement winner drawn.
6. The Draw is open to UK residents aged 18 and over only. Entry is free and no purchase is necessary.
7. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
8. DHL employees and agencies working on behalf of DHL and their immediate families are not eligible to enter the Draw.
9. The winner agrees that DHL International (UK) Ltd their subsidiaries, affiliates, related companies and employees, and any other sponsors and Prize providers shall have no liability in connection with acceptance or use of any of the Prizes awarded in the Draw. We reserve the right to disqualify any entrant and/or winner at our absolute discretion.
10. Winners may be required to participate in publicity.
11. The details of the winner can be requested by writing enclosing a stamped addressed envelope to the promoter at: Marketing Department, DHL International (UK) Limited, 178-188 Great South West Road, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW4 6JS.
12. English law applies and the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts shall prevail.

The Promoter:

DHL International (UK) Ltd, 178-188 Great South West Road, Hounslow, Middlesex TW4 6JS.

Have you got your dad a Father’s Day present yet? (It’s this Sunday by the way!) And no, novelty socks or golf balls don’t count – we mean a proper present!

This year, let him choose something he really wants, with £100 in High Street vouchers courtesy of DHL Service Point.

And just because we’re feeling extra generous, we’re also giving away £20 in cinema vouchers to our second-favourite entry.

To be in with a chance of winning, tweet us at @dhlservicepoint telling us why your dad’s the best. Remember to include the hashtag #dhldads so we can track your entries.

Go on, treat your dad to something special this Father’s Day.

Terms and conditions

1. The Prize: £100 in High Street vouchers for the winner and £20 in cinema vouchers for the runner-up
2. The draw is open to all @dhlservicepoint Twitter followers and DHL Service Point blog users
3. You must use the hashtag #dhldads in your tweet
4. All entrants must be over 16 years of age
5. Only one entry per person is allowed
6. Only one winner will be picked for each prize
7. The competition is open to UK residents only
8. No purchase necessary
9. The competition will close at noon on Friday 15^th June
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. 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 at DHL Servicepoint HQ, we’re egg-cited to announce the launch of our latest Twitter competition.

This is one not to miss as, in celebration of Easter, we’re giving away two eggs-tra special prizes.

Ok, that’s enough of the egg puns now (we’re eggs-hausted!) All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is tell us your best egg joke.

We’ll help kick things off:

Q: What do chickens call a school test?

A: An eggs-amination.

How to enter:

Now we’re sure you can do much better than us in coming up with some cracking jokes. Just tweet us your entries at @dhlservicepoint by Tuesday 10^th April for your chance to win.

We’ll be shelling out £100 in high street vouchers to the winner, and the runner-up will get their hands on £20 worth of cinema vouchers.

Our panel of egg-sperts will announce the winner on Twitter on Wednesday 11^th April.

Good luck!

We’re open for business during Easter!

You can drop your parcels off at DHL Servicepoints across the UK, as outlets will be trading with bank holiday hours on Good Friday 6^th April, Easter Sunday 8^th April and Easter Monday 9^th April.

Terms and conditions

1. The Prize: £100 in High Street vouchers for the winner and £20 in cinema vouchers for the runner-up.
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 10^th April. The winner will be notified by email or by Twitter by Wednesday 11^th April.
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.

If there’s one thing I hate about summer holidays, it’s that they eventually come to an end.

It’s a feeling not helped by the fact that in my rush to escape, I usually leave the house looking like a scene from late nineties BBC series Life of Grime. The thought of returning to my unswimmable swamp of books, clothes and random stuff I lack both the space and inclination to clear away, only exacerbates those end-of-fun-back-to-work blues.

I’d argue that it’s not entirely my fault. Whilst laziness goes some way to explaining my predicament, like many people, my house is overflowing. The sheer quantity of stuff makes it impossible to manage. Which is why my strategy – shared, I suspect, by a significant portion of the British population – has always been run away and bury my head for 2 weeks a year in the sands of sunnier climes.

That is, until now. After much incessant pestering by my partner, I’ve finally caved and have been on a mission to finally get rid. I had my reservations at first – you never know when you might really need an inflatable tree – but I’ve come to realize it’s the best decision I’ve ever been forced to make. Having a tidy house really lifts the spirits. It even makes coming back from holiday seem vaguely tolerable.

Letting go is much easier than you’d think. And more profitable too. There’s money to be made by selling some of your clutter on ebay and you can guarantee you’ll get a great deal on postage with DHL Servicepoint. While you’re at it, why not put some of those unwatched DVDs on Amazon Marketplace? You can pop into your local Safestore and put valuable items in storage while you have a big clear out. What’s more, there’s a DHL Servicepoint in every Safestore, giving you the perfect opportunity to securely ship the stuff you’ve sold online!

With DHL Servicepoint, having a pre-holiday clear out couldn’t be easier!

Find your local DHL Servicepoint here – now in high street branches of Safestore, Whsmith, Staples and Rymans.

We are currently in the midst of the August summer holiday period more commonly known as the ‘silly season’ largely due to the absence of a large number of people from the workplace.  From teachers and parents to MPs all enjoying their lengthy six weeks plus summer recess!

For those holidaying at home the need for a passport doesn’t apply.  However, for those considering a late summer break abroad or perhaps a few days overseas in the autumn or at Christmas, now is the time to check your current passport is still valid as the renewal process can take several weeks particularly during peak times.

And remember to make sure you send any important documentation via safe and secure means for a prompt and guaranteed delivery.

At DHL Servicepoint we handle each and every item from when it leaves you to when it arrives safely at its destination; wherever in the world that might be.  And once the parcel’s journey begins you can access a free online tracking service with regular updates alongside the assurance that it will be signed for on delivery.

Our simple three step process couldn’t be easier: pick your nearest DHL Servicepoint, pack your parcel for free when you get there, pay and then leave the rest to us: https://dhlservicepoint.co.uk/howto.htm

So why not sort that passport renewal now and then sit back and look forward to your well earned break abroad.