Sending a package to yourself at hotel
 

Do people send packages to themselves prior to arriving at a hotel? In particular, internationally, sending liquids beyond 3 oz that you can't carry-on planes due to FAA restrictions? If so, what do you do? Do you just send it to the hotel with a C/O line in the address with your name info or do you address it some other way so that the hotel knows to hold it for you.

I appreciate any feedback and previous experiences...

I have had items shipped to the hotel. I make sure the attention line or address includes my name and arrival date. You might check with the property to see if they have any special requirements. Some will have their business center (if staffed) handle all packages and there may be a charge for them receiving and then delivering items. Best to be informed than surprised. It might be cheaper to buy upon arrival.

Thanks Roger.

I e-mailed the hotel and the only response I got so far was that the person who responded said to send "to the below address" (and his signature contained the hotel's address)...so his response was very uninformative from that perspective.

I have done it several times.

In the address line I usually put:

Mr. cblaisd
Guest at the Hotel arriving 01/02/13
Hotel address/city/state/zip

And then off to the side I also write in prominent black marker: "HOLD FOR GUEST ARRIVAL - CHECKING IN ON 0/02/03"

Thanks cblaisd!

As another poster said make sure your name and arrival date is on the shpping label somewhere. Call the hotel ahead of time and make sure they are aware a package is coming and see if there is another address they want used besides the mailing address of the hotel (sometimes they will have a different address for the receiving loading dock they will want used).

There have been a few times where I needed a box of books and/or a projector and didn't want to risk it not arriving with me and also didn't want to drag it from the airport to the hotel and have shipped them. I have never been charged a fee to receive them at a Hilton property but have been charged a fee at Hyatt's by their business centers before (I am a diamond at Hilton and was only gold or Platinum at Hyatt when receiving packages so not sure if status had anything to do with it or not).

Even as a diamond, the business centers have charged me a fee to ship the packages back to my house or office on top of the already inflated shipping prices. If you are shipping the stuff back home, I would see if there is a UPS store or other mailing facility near the hotel, it is cheaper to use them than the hotels business center.

I hate lugging stuff and my assistant overnights stuff all the time. It's particularly useful on a trip to two different climates. Any reputable hotel will accept a package which should be addressed to the hotel at its property address and marked to your attention as "Guest Arriving [DATE]."

Remember, that intl. packages may be delayed in Customs and that you've got to check local Customs rules if you're shipping odd stuff.

Yes, many properties have outsourced their business services and levy a charge for package hold & internal delivery. But, it's both well worth it and reasonable if it means that the property actually holds the packages securely and tracks them.

I do this all the time with Amazon Prime to domestic hotels. I've never bothered to put anything other than my name and "c/o <hotel name>" on the package.

Neil

Send it to the hotel, include your arrivial date, and your name.

Get proof of delivery, so you know if it got there or not.

Also call the hotel, there are many times stuff gets locked up in the manager's office, but he's not on duty when you check in so you can't get your stuff if you arrive too late, so make sure they know when you are coming, confirm it arrived, and will be available when you check in.

Don't have them put it in the room, if they do a room reassignment and don't remember they put your box in there or somebody else does it (say you get upgraded) another guest may think it's for them and open it by mistake.

For my upcoming trip we're travelling to Japan. I tested the Amazon website, to see if it would let me ship a package to Japan (ordering my preferred sunscreen spray) but when I got to the "checkout" part of the transaction, it said I couldn't ship those items to the address I chose.

So I'll probably end up shipping them myself. But I'll need to check customs restrictions to see if the spray cans are not allowed by customs (or even the lotions, though I can't imagine there would be a problem with the lotions).

Thanks all, for the info and suggestions! ^

Yep, did it twice this week as matter of fact...even across countries

Recipient name (guest)
C/o hotel name
Hotel address

Follow the advice of the above posts. I do this all the time when I'm riding on a RJ and don't want to deal with the gate bag check. If you have a UPS or Fedex account it not too expensive (and much more reliable than the airlines).

Try ordering it on the Amazon Japan website itself.

If you have the Amazon product code the Jp website should recognize it and allow it to be shipped, even if they have to bring it in from outside Jp to fill the order. You might have to pay Jpns prices, but you'll save a bucket on the shipping cost as they'll only charge the local rate.

Fedex golf clubs. State name, that you are a guest and arrival date. Helps to check with concierge about any special instructions.