recieving mail on the road

LemonyLeprosy · 11-10-2012, 01:16 PM

I know that there's a simple answer to this, but I went to my local post office and the clerk didn't know the answer: What's the process for having mail sent to you while travelling? (Not your normal house mail, just the occasional letter or package) obviously I'd have to let the sender know what city I plan to hit in the next few days, but what/where do they actually address it to?

Craneguy · 11-10-2012, 01:22 PM

Motel?

Friend?

Mailbox R Us type of thing?

Or you could appeal to a local ADVer. That's what I would do.

Lone Rider · 11-10-2012, 03:55 PM

Unless you are set in a place for a long time, this is probably something you will not do.
App trail people send ahead via general delivery, but they set their own time frame.

Domestic would be much easier than foreign.
This is anchor that you may not want to deal with.

DaveStockwell · 11-10-2012, 04:21 PM

In the US, you can still send mail to you General Delivery to the post office of your choice. They will hold it for you. The timing of this can vary widely. If it's only occasionally, an alternative is to have it Fed-Ex'd to the address where you are staying. Much more reliable. Just more expensive. When you make your reservation at the hotel, just tell them you are having a package sent to your attention and ask them to hold it.

LemonyLeprosy · 11-10-2012, 10:07 PM

Ideally I wouldn't do this- but I'm leaving before my passport arrives so I'll have to have it mailed to me on the road, and I won't be staying at any motels.

Warin · 11-10-2012, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LemonyLeprosy

I'm leaving before my passport arrives so I'll have to have it mailed to me on the road,

What happens if you don't get it?

?

I'd go talk to your local post office .... maybe you can do a 'registered post' to general delivery?

Don't know...

But I did have something sent to me in Athens, Greece. Trouble with that is there are a few post offices in Athens. You are better off picking a small town with ONE post office... I did eventually find it ... about a week later.

Timing
Once you select a place - ring them up and find pout how long they will keep it for. Half that time and add the delivery time to estimate the date you should pick it up. This way it should be there well before you arrive and gives you some time for any delays - on their side or yours.

LemonyLeprosy · 11-11-2012, 01:53 AM

If I don't get it.... Then, I putt around the US. But ideally, I'd like to check out some other countries too.

bones_708 · 11-11-2012, 09:36 AM

Since it's your passport I would pick a hotel that you could be at then FedX it. Simply to risky to mail to general delivery. You can have it sent several days ahead and any decent hotel and even most crappy ones will hold it for you if it takes a day or so longer for you to get there. If you are not staying at hotels then in the us you could look for a mailbox place and have it sent there, just call and let them know. The UPS store is probably the most common but there are plenty of independents. Heck just call FedX and see what they say. Doesn't even seem to be a problem so I'm wondering about the question. This is such an easy thing to take care of so is there something we are missing about this situation making it a big deal?

LemonyLeprosy · 11-11-2012, 11:51 AM

Just me stressing over little things cause I'm leaving tomorrow morning and as excited as I am, I'm f-ing terrified at the same time.

Lone Rider · 11-11-2012, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LemonyLeprosy

Just me stressing over little things cause I'm leaving tomorrow morning and as excited as I am, I'm f-ing terrified at the same time.

bones is right - no biggy.
I thought you were looking for on-going receiving of mail.

I've had things sent/shipped to motels many times. Even tires are no big deal.

FakeName · 11-11-2012, 03:36 PM

Sometimes no problem.

I've ordered expensive camera/photo/lighting gear while on location, and they WILL NOT ship to anywhere but the billing address on the card.

Some will, some won't.

Should not be a problem for the OP, just a tip for the future.

Canuman · 11-11-2012, 03:40 PM

Good info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poste_restante

Something I've been thinking of doing. I know it's commonly used by hikers for food drops. I'm planning some trips where it may be a far more economical method of resupply that attempting to purchase food locally. In one area, there is only a single store within 150 miles, but the postal service works.

catweasel67 · 11-12-2012, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canuman

Good info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poste_restante

Something I've been thinking of doing. I know it's commonly used by hikers for food drops. I'm planning some trips where it may be a far more economical method of resupply that attempting to purchase food locally. In one area, there is only a single store within 150 miles, but the postal service works.

+1 on post restante - I used it last year and my father's been using it for years. Works a treat.

rabbitears · 01-14-2013, 08:40 PM

American Express used to receive mail on behalf of cardholders outside the US - no idea if they still do this.

11-10-2012, 01:16 PM	#1
LemonyLeprosy ^OP Adventurer Joined: Oct 2012 Location: San Luis Obispo, CA Oddometer: 36	recieving mail on the road I know that there's a simple answer to this, but I went to my local post office and the clerk didn't know the answer: What's the process for having mail sent to you while travelling? (Not your normal house mail, just the occasional letter or package) obviously I'd have to let the sender know what city I plan to hit in the next few days, but what/where do they actually address it to?

11-10-2012, 01:22 PM	#2
Craneguy British Hooligan Joined: Apr 2011 Location: Cuernavaca, Mexico Oddometer: 903	Motel? Friend? Mailbox R Us type of thing? Or you could appeal to a local ADVer. That's what I would do. __________________ *“The problem with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and putting things in it.”*

11-10-2012, 04:21 PM	#4
DaveStockwell Rock Fodder Joined: Jul 2011 Location: Betwix the Cascades and Puget Sound Oddometer: 205	In the US, you can still send mail to you General Delivery to the post office of your choice. They will hold it for you. The timing of this can vary widely. If it's only occasionally, an alternative is to have it Fed-Ex'd to the address where you are staying. Much more reliable. Just more expensive. When you make your reservation at the hotel, just tell them you are having a package sent to your attention and ask them to hold it. __________________ "Yes. It looks insubordinate, but it isn't really." - T.E. Lawrence

11-11-2012, 03:36 PM	#11
FakeName Wile E Coyote SuperGenius Joined: Jan 2007 Location: SanDiego Oddometer: 1,155	Sometimes no problem. I've ordered expensive camera/photo/lighting gear while on location, and they WILL NOT ship to anywhere but the billing address on the card. Some will, some won't. Should not be a problem for the OP, just a tip for the future. __________________ ADVdiscount Motorcycle Product Photography 2011 White 990 Adv R 2003 565exc

11-11-2012, 03:40 PM	#12
Canuman Cheese, Gromit? Joined: Jun 2008 Location: The Palace of the People, VT Oddometer: 3,279	Good info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poste_restante Something I've been thinking of doing. I know it's commonly used by hikers for food drops. I'm planning some trips where it may be a far more economical method of resupply that attempting to purchase food locally. In one area, there is only a single store within 150 miles, but the postal service works. __________________ We have no resources. We produce nothing. But...we have plenty of MEAN. Fearless Leader Motorcycle Racks Handmade in the US! Support a fellow Rider! Dual Sport Luggage Racks for: DRZ-S, SM and E, DR 650 and KLR650: http://www.moto-racks.com

11-10-2012, 03:55 PM	#3
Lone Rider Registered User Joined: Jan 2002 Location: out and about Oddometer: 25,005	Unless you are set in a place for a long time, this is probably something you will not do. App trail people send ahead via general delivery, but they set their own time frame. Domestic would be much easier than foreign. This is anchor that you may not want to deal with.

11-10-2012, 10:07 PM	#5
LemonyLeprosy ^OP Adventurer Joined: Oct 2012 Location: San Luis Obispo, CA Oddometer: 36	Ideally I wouldn't do this- but I'm leaving before my passport arrives so I'll have to have it mailed to me on the road, and I won't be staying at any motels.

11-11-2012, 01:53 AM	#7
LemonyLeprosy ^OP Adventurer Joined: Oct 2012 Location: San Luis Obispo, CA Oddometer: 36	If I don't get it.... Then, I putt around the US. But ideally, I'd like to check out some other countries too.

11-11-2012, 09:36 AM	#8
bones_708 Studly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2009 Location: Houston, Tx Oddometer: 560	Since it's your passport I would pick a hotel that you could be at then FedX it. Simply to risky to mail to general delivery. You can have it sent several days ahead and any decent hotel and even most crappy ones will hold it for you if it takes a day or so longer for you to get there. If you are not staying at hotels then in the us you could look for a mailbox place and have it sent there, just call and let them know. The UPS store is probably the most common but there are plenty of independents. Heck just call FedX and see what they say. Doesn't even seem to be a problem so I'm wondering about the question. This is such an easy thing to take care of so is there something we are missing about this situation making it a big deal?

11-11-2012, 11:51 AM	#9
LemonyLeprosy ^OP Adventurer Joined: Oct 2012 Location: San Luis Obispo, CA Oddometer: 36	Just me stressing over little things cause I'm leaving tomorrow morning and as excited as I am, I'm f-ing terrified at the same time.

01-14-2013, 08:40 PM	#14
rabbitears Adventurer Joined: Dec 2012 Oddometer: 26	American Express used to receive mail on behalf of cardholders outside the US - no idea if they still do this.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: .
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode