Tips for getting deliveries to hotels whilst travelling

[SeatBackForward]

On my next trip in only staying at any given hotel for one night, but will be returning to the first one (as the last night of the trip also).

I'm going to try ordering something off Amazon and have it delivered to that hotel. Any tips on the following:

A) what address to use for the delivery, obviously the hotel address but should I include details such as "guest on dd-mmm-yy" as the address address or delivery note?

B) should I inform the hotel about an expected delivery?

C) how far in advance would be considered acceptable to have the item delivered? Obviously while ordering delivery times are estimates, so I would err on having delivery before my night of stay.

D) would the hotel forward on said item if I missed it?

 

[get me outta here]

I had a long discussion on skype with Marriott a few months ago re getting something delivered from the Marriott itself on line sales area for bedding. The housekeeping manager said I could address it to her, but there's no way she was guaranteeing it and I didn't go ahead. I have had success though in general terms for cheaper smallish items. I fill in the first line as, "GUEST (name) arriving Sept 9 or whatever. I wouldn't risk it more than a week out. If I'm in a htl for a while, whilst I am still residence has worked well.

I notice some hotel websites say that they do not accept parcels under any circumstances.

On my next trip in only staying at any given hotel for one night, but will be returning to the first one (as the last night of the trip also).

I'm going to try ordering something off Amazon and have it delivered to that hotel. Any tips on the following:

A) what address to use for the delivery, obviously the hotel address but should I include details such as "guest on dd-mmm-yy" as the address address or delivery note?

B) should I inform the hotel about an expected delivery?

C) how far in advance would be considered acceptable to have the item delivered? Obviously while ordering delivery times are estimates, so I would err on having delivery before my night of stay.

D) would the hotel forward on said item if I missed it?

 

[Pushka]

I had a stack load of goods delivered by Amazon to my Hotel in Boston. I contacted the concierge to determine the best address and made sure I had my arrival date and Guest name as part of the address listed for Amazon delivery. Worked very well.

 

[Glider_]

I just did this on a US trip, signed up to Amazon Prime (free trial) and got free 2-day shipping on some things Amazon won't ship to Aus.

It was with a Sofitel, I rang them first and they said they'd receive packages no problems or special instructions or taking my name or anything. So I addressed the package to myself as a guest, eg: "Miss Glider (Guest) c/o- Sofitel xx_ address".
Package arrived before I did, hotel accepted it on my behalf and when I checked in they had a message for me that they were holding my packages.

 

[Mick1969]

One thing to be cautious of is fees the hotel may charge. You may or may not be able to find out on the hotel website, but an email is better.

Marriott LAX had a charge of $5 per package per day held when I stayed there in 2011. Fortunately I had emailed Marriott prior to having deliveries made and their reply stated it was no problem and free of charge which I was able to present on checkout (I'd had about six parcels delivered in the few days prior to arrival and the fee was over $100).

 

[marki]

I had a stack load of goods delivered by Amazon to my Hotel in Boston. I contacted the concierge to determine the best address and made sure I had my arrival date and Guest name as part of the address listed for Amazon delivery. Worked very well.

Thats what's worked well in the past for me sometimes a five dollar bill makes it easier.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Have had small packages delivered to hotels in London a few times without issue, I just put:
ComeFlyWithMe (Guest 03/10)
Hotel address

 

[Deleted member]

Have you considered "Poste Restante"?

 

[SeatBackForward]

Have you considered "Poste Restante"?

There's no guarantee it'll come through the postal network, I'd have thought?

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Have you considered "Poste Restante"?

There are some countries where I wouldn't trust the local postal service with a postcard, let alone a package...

 

[Himeno]

It depends on the hotel, how long you're going to be there for, when the package ships and how long delivery takes.
Some hotels refuse packages for guests, others charge.
Best to check with the hotel first.

I've had packages arrive just fine, others get held by the hotel until I paid a fee and others end up chasing me around the US.
If there is a large FedEx store near where you are staying, they might have a "hold for collection" option. I did that for a package sent to me last time I was in LA. Worked out with the person shipping that they'd send it to a FedEx near my hotel and I could collect it when I arrived. They left a note on the package that I was flying in and would be there on x date.

 

[cjd600]

Definitely contact the hotel first!
I've never had any issue (or cost) with online purchase deliveries to a hotel, including a pram (don't ask), prior to arrival.
Have always given them a 'heads up' prior.

 

[Glider_]

... including a pram...

Haha - mine was a robot vacuum cleaner!

 

[hammertym]

Haha - mine was a robot vacuum cleaner!

I hope you don't have any pets, I've seen some horror videos with those things doing bad work when you precious pet takes a #2 and the robot decides to paint the floor with it

 

[SeatBackForward]

Well I found a solution that works for me better than the hotel (I've tried contacting them via email a few times and have not received any response, next option was to ring but wont need to now).

At Paddington Station is an outlet of Doddle. Amazon have them listed as a destination that can be delivered to. Doddle will hold onto the parcel for five working days before returning it. This works well for me, and provides surety that I wont have problems and wont cost me any extra either (I think?), can collect it after arriving off the HEX next week.

 

[Dr Ralph]

A) what address to use for the delivery, obviously the hotel address but should I include details such as "guest on dd-mmm-yy" as the address address or delivery note?

Use the hotel address. When you type it into Amazon or other similar online sales points it will come up as a known stored delivery address.

DO NOT WRITE YOU ARE A GUEST BETWEEN CERTAIN DATES.

Make sure your hotel booking name and the delivery address name match precisely.

B) should I inform the hotel about an expected delivery?

I've done this sometimes but not always. I would recommend you do it though.

C) how far in advance would be considered acceptable to have the item delivered? Obviously while ordering delivery times are estimates, so I would err on having delivery before my night of stay.

It's always difficult to know. Some online stores quote delivery times of 3 to 10 working days so they open up a huge window of potential times when delivery could be made.

I usually begin to order 14 working days from when I'll be at the hotel.

The longest I've had something siting at a hotel was 2 weeks.

D) would the hotel forward on said item if I missed it?

This will vary. But you should not expect it to occur. They'd probably return it to sender, rather than forward it on.

Order early to avoid missing your hotel stay window.


PS: I've had at least 100 packages delivered to hotels across the US over the last 5 years. From a very small USB drive to a brand new surf board and a bicycle. Never had any hint of a charge for this service. A couple of times the packages are 'lost' inside the hotel. But they do eventually turn up (sometimes several days later).

I would NOT recommend having any parcels delivered if you were only staying for less than 24 hrs. There's just too much risk of something not going right and then having the drama of having to deal with it after you have left the hotel.

 

[seanpodge]

In the US, some products ordered on Amazon can be sent to a locker at a public location (e.g. shopping malls, 7-11s, et al) where you can then pick it up. I used it to pick up shoes I ordered. A code is sent to your phone via app and you enter it on a screen at the bank of lockers. It seems that you have to pick up the package within 3 days otherwise it gets returned. Info here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200689010