Can a package be delivered to a hotel?
Posted by Clear_sky000@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 68 comments
Hi! I'm looking to buy some stuff from the nasa website but the shipping to the EU is over 50 euro. My cousin is currently visiting the US and will be there for the next month. Is it possible to get the items sent to her hotel so she can bring it home?
The delivery says a few days but one item is pre order to be shipped 'after the 18th'. what would happen if it arrives after she leaves? is it just lost or can the hotel ship it?
crescentqueen1@reddit
The pre-ship item is the tricky part. Sometimes they ship in a timely manner. And sometimes they don't. You'd be best to find out if the order is split with in stock items shipping separately. Or to find the item elsewhere if possible.
Thereelgerg@reddit
Yes
FlamingBagOfPoop@reddit
If the package arrives after the cousin leaves, many hotels can ship things at the customers expense. While it wasn’t an Amazon package, I had left my AirPods in my hotel room and the hotel shipped them to my home at my expense. They had a website that handled that exact situation. This was a Renaissance by Marriott hotel.
00death@reddit
Honestly shocking that they would send you AirPods. That 100% sounds like the type of thing an employee would find and keep and just pretend they never saw when you called to ask about it.
dontdoxmebro@reddit
AirPods in particular are one of the dumber things to steal because they have native tracking. Also, a lot of people wouldn’t want any used in the ear headphones.
choglin@reddit
There’s literally no way I’m using someone else’s headphones let alone their AirPods. Humans are gross and their ears are especially gross
t-poke@reddit
Tell that to the security worker at Istanbul Airport who stole my AirPods.
I hope my ear wax was extra gross.
OpeningChipmunk1700@reddit
Now do it with an employee at an American hotel.
Prior-Soil@reddit
An employee that steals from rooms doesn't have a job for very long. And most of those hotel jobs are unionized and pay very well. My sister is a cleaning manager for a four-star hotel.
00death@reddit
Stealing something from a room somebody is currently staying in vs keeping something they left behind are very different though. I have had personal experience and know multiple people who have forgotten something in a hotel room and never gotten it back because the hotel said they found nothing in the room.
Prior-Soil@reddit
I've always gotten everything back. But then again I leave generous tips everyday.
FlamingBagOfPoop@reddit
And in my case I was still in the same city as I was at the airport. I wouldn’t have had enough time to get back to the hotel and then back to the airport. I wasn’t officially checked out of the hotel either. If I have an early flight I typically won’t check out until I’m boarding the flight for just in case flight is canceled or I get bumped. Just a couple weeks ago I changed a flight to leave an evening early. Despite my room having a checkout the next morning i waited to check out of the room. No idea if being checked in still help and being a higher Marriott bonvoy status or it was just getting lucky with good customer service.
CycadelicSparkles@reddit
Doubtful any of that affected anything. It's in the employees' and hotel's best interest to not steal your stuff.
AnnieCamOG@reddit
Project much?
Wolfsburg78@reddit
They're not wrong. I could tell the hotel exactly where I left my headphones, but they were not found by housekeeping.
Early_Apple_4142@reddit
Yes. I’ve done it multiple times while traveling for work. Just have them stop by the front desk and let them know a package is coming. Depending on the hotel they may charge for taking possession of the package at delivery but most don’t.
Saltpork545@reddit
This.
Also, the hotel isn't going to take on the cost of shipping it to you in another country. That won't happen.
benkatejackwin@reddit
What? Why would anyone assume it would?
CycadelicSparkles@reddit
Oh trust me, if there is a charge, there will be a patron that will expect the hotel to cover it.
bearsnchairs@reddit
OP asked if the hotel would ship the package if it arrived after their cousin left.
OpeningChipmunk1700@reddit
The hotel will likely be willing to deal with the logistics of shipping it but not the cost.
I regularly leave packages (with labels) at hotels for pickup and delivery.
CycadelicSparkles@reddit
You can.
If the package arrives after the guest leaves, the guest can contact the hotel to have it forwarded. Expect the hotel to require the guest to pay any further shipping charges.
Source: four years at a hotel front desk.
LetterheadClassic306@reddit
i've done this before when family visited. most hotels will hold packages for guests, but you need to call ahead and confirm their policy. put the reservation name on the shipping address. for the pre order item, use a service like Amazon Locker if available near the hotel - they hold packages for 3 days. another option is UPS My Choice which lets you redirect packages to a nearby access point or schedule delivery for a specific day. just check the estimated ship date and have your cousin grab everything before she checks out. worst case the hotel can return to sender but shipping it to you from the US would cost more than the 50 euro you're trying to save.
OpeningChipmunk1700@reddit
I do this all the time; large boxes, too. I typically request that it be brought up to my room before I arrive.
JackieBlue1970@reddit
Yes, it can. Will the seller do it? Maybe. I’ve had so many problems with hotel,delivery that I will not knowingly send to hotels. You cannot guarantee delivery dates very well. Even then, it often gets “lost” in the hotel because they don’t have very good processes for handling mail and packages for temporary residents.
levi070305@reddit
I've gotten stuff delivered to hotels at least 100 times and never had an issue.
JackieBlue1970@reddit
Good for you. I ship 50+ a day. I was giving my perspective. I won’t do it, knowingly. I’ve bitched at too many times when it is lost in the hotel.
levi070305@reddit
I see. Have you noticed a correlation between type of order or type of hotel or anything like that. Like do you feel it's safer to ship to a 4 star than a 3? Just wondering. I've always done
Hotel Name
C/O my name (Guest)
Address
JackieBlue1970@reddit
No correlation that I can tell. I’ve been doing this for 19 years and have found no way the mitigate the risk. The commonalities are generally foreigners, brief stay (<10 days), and generally large cities, mainly NYC. But, that is going to be the case for most shipping to hotels. I tried to ship to John Mellencamps guitar tech when on tour and it was the same thing. Roger Waters’ tech had me send their tour managers office. I sell musical accessories.
ImperfectTapestry@reddit
Call the hotel, they can give you details about how to address the package & what they would do if it arrives after her departure. Some hotels charge a holding fee.
WonderChopstix@reddit
Yes. But the hotel may charge. Its always best to call and ask
I'd it's available on Amazon. Do an Amazon locker where they can pick it up.
igotshadowbaned@reddit
It could be delivered to a hotel. However the logistics of actually getting it at the hotel could be interesting.
If it arrives early, the hotel isn't gonna hold it indefinitely for you, if it arrives late, they're not gonna pay whatever shipping to forward it to you. At best they'll write return to sender on it and drop it off at UPS, at worst they'll junk it or keep it themselves.
If you're there when it arrives you'd probably need to ask the front desk directly if something was dropped off for you.
Playbrush@reddit
It’s best to check with the hotel your cousin is staying at first, but I don’t think it will be an issue. Place the order earlier rather than later.
If the package arrived after your cousin’s departure, the front desk will decline the package, unless you contact the hotel beforehand and declared to cover the costs for shipment to your location.
One-Scallion-9513@reddit
yes
jessek@reddit
Yes, you probably should contact the hotel and let them know that you're sending a package to a guest first though.
GSilky@reddit
Yes. When I was working for a print shop that also provided shipping services, cheapskates would come in and ship their clothes to avoid luggage fees. People also mail weed through USPS instead of taking it through the airport. I recommend you contact the hotel before, but it shouldn't be a problem.
Penguin_Life_Now@reddit
Yes, though it is best to talk with the front desk staff before it arrives. A couple of years ago my wife had a notebook computer charger die while at a conference, and had a new one delivered to the hotel as a same day delivery from Amazon.
AnybodySeeMyKeys@reddit
I've done it. Just make sure you have a reservation at the hotel before hand.
SabresBills69@reddit
yes you can but you need to notify a hotel and make sure it arrives before or when they are there.
ive personally have done this
garster25@reddit
I've done it several times from Amazon.com, but now with the lockers everywhere I do it less now. Just put the guest's name on it.
But yeah if it arrives after she leaves you are kinda screwed. Depends on the hotel's policy and the person dealing with it at the hotel. I would not risk it send only ship when you have known shipping time.
Previous-Space-7056@reddit
Write guest arriving day/month on the shipping label
Hotels receive many pkgs for guests a day. Makes it easier to distinguish their stuff vs guest stuff
mrsc1880@reddit
I doubt the hotel would take on the cost of shipping the item overseas if it arrives after your cousin leaves the hotel.
Clear_sky000@reddit (OP)
oh no i figured this. i dont mind paying for it at all. my guess would be the price would be a lot more reasonable than 70+ dollars for a 5 dollar pin
Prior-Soil@reddit
Oh yes if it's something very small there's a good chance they will send it especially if you give them a padded envelope with the address and postage.
eugenesbluegenes@reddit
If the cousin discusses it with the hotel before leaving and authorizes payment for shipping then I think most would do it.
MakeStupidHurtAgain@reddit
If it’s an Amazon package then have it delivered to a nearby Amazon locker. They’re in places like convenience stores and department stores. She will get a QR code to scan and the locker will pop open.
This avoids any possible hotel surcharges, and if the package isn’t picked up in time it’s simply returned and your card is refunded (unless it’s a final-sale third-party).
i-am-jjm@reddit
Yep. Sometimes there is a fee, usually more for commercial purposes not personal but I always tip anyway.
SilverStory6503@reddit
Depends on the hotel if they will accept it if the person is not currently checked in. You'll have to call the hotel.
You can also mail things to a post office like this:
Joe Smith
c/o General Delivery
City, State, USA Zipcode
honeyrrsted@reddit
When I used to do shipping at an old job, I just addressed the package like this:
Hotel Name, Attn: Guest 'name'
Lifelong_learner1956@reddit
Check with the specific hotel both abut receiving and possible forwarding.
Accepting packages for guests is fairly common.
some hotels will charge a fee,
shoresy99@reddit
Yes. I am Canadian and I used to do this all the time when travelling to the US.
SnooChipmunks2079@reddit
Some hotels, mostly business class ones, will charge to receive packages. I had a hotel in Orlando next to the convention center charge $14 a package.
wisemonkey101@reddit
My husband bike tours all over the USA. I frequently send packages to a hotel or post office where he will be traveling through.
Engine_Sweet@reddit
Amazon also has package drop lockers in a lot of places. You get s code to go pick up the packages
CatoTheElder2024@reddit
Absolutely! I think it’s even a key plot detail to some heist movies.
CatoTheElder2024@reddit
Funny aside… If you ever go to Disney, they will box up each damn gift shop and send it back to your on property hotel or your house back home, if you got the cash… and you best bring a lot of cash.
freebiscuit2002@reddit
After she leaves, it depends on the hotel.
Most likely it'll return to sender. But if she asks the hotel in advance to forward it - and pays too - the hotel might.
punkwalrus@reddit
Yes. As someone who has worked for and run events at a hotel and/or convention space, this is actually very common. It's easier to ship all your stuff to a hotel rather than a second place, and then haul it there yourself.
krebstorm@reddit
If you're not at the hotel, the hotel will typically refuse delivery. They will not forward your package. In the past, scammers used hotels as transfers for illegal and questionable packages, good bought with stolen credit cards, etc. So hotels stopped accepting packages for non in-house guests.
The only exception was accepting a package for a guest before they arrived IF there was an upcoming reservation. Even then, it would be best to contact the hotel to make sure they are aware and willing.
OrangeToTheFourth@reddit
You can also do general delivery to the nearest post office and pick up. That gives you a bit more flexibility.
Remarkable_Table_279@reddit
Depending on the hotel yes. But if she’s checked out it will likely be returned to sender or they hotel will call and say we can forward this but we’ll need to charge your card again. I got addicted to Amazon in 2009 cause I was at a hotel for work for months and I was bored and since I was only supposed to be there a month I didn’t have enough books and DVDs with me. So I got a package every couple days.
tiktoktic@reddit
Yes
Maleficent-Hawk-318@reddit
Typically yes, but have them check with the front desk first. I spent a few years traveling constantly and ran into a couple hotels that would refuse delivery for packages addressed to guests. It isn't super common, but they exist.
AFAIK there are no laws requiring them to accept delivery, so they do have the right to refuse.
carryon4threedays@reddit
I’ve delivered Amazon packages to hotels. The front desk contacted the he room every time.
tcspears@reddit
If they are a guest at the hotel, they should be able to receive packages (just like most countries, the hotel may charge a fee for that). If they aren’t staying at the hotel when the package arrives, you’ll have to work that out with the hotel, and they would most likely pass on the shipping charges and maybe a fee.
Top-Web3806@reddit
Yes I do it all the time. I travel a lot for work.
crazycatlady331@reddit
I was staying at a hotel for work last month. I had an Amazon package shipped to my hotel. I just checked with the front desk first (and they said the Amazon van arrives daily for at least one guest).
emmasdad01@reddit
Yes