BootsnAll Travel Community

Anybody have any tips for me to receive care packages while traveling RTW? I'm mostly looking to sent guide books and maybe some minor indulgences in case (when) I am homesick. I am looking to potentially receive things in Egypt and Europe. Any prior experiences or tricks would be most appreciated.

Chris

I just sent my guy who's traveling in Spain a care package, and I received a few when I was studying in Finland. You can pick up mail Poste Restante at city post offices; it works like general delivery does in the States.

Wouldn't really recommend mailing guide books though, as it might end up costing more than the book itself.. most hostels, or people staying at them, will have copies..

Good point about the travel books.. you'll generally pick them up at hostels, or be able to swap with others on the road.

I just had my MP3 sent to me at the post office from Ireland to Australia, no problems! Just make sure you keep in mind that alot of post offices will only hold mail for 30 days when you're planning on where to have things sent to.

I haven't used post restant myself but people do seem to have okay experiences with it.

I would be cautious sending anything you really can't "afford" to lose though just to be safe. It's good the mp3 worked out but I don't think I'd try sending it. A friend sent an old,old laptop to herself in India and customs wanted 500$ or more for it even though it wasn't worth that even - she realized she should have just carried it. Of course this is an extreme case but when you're travelling sometimes it's hard to know how it will go in each particular country.

I can't imagine any problems with food/smaller supplies/books though.

Have a good trip

I had poste restante sent to me while I was in Europe, and I did not receive about half of the mail sent to me (about 5 pieces). They were mostly letters (one of my best friends and I write letters almost obsessively), but two of them were small packages my mom sent me (with stupid things like zip lock bags and notes!) I never got--and she still hasn't received (she sent them in late June and late July). Grrrrr.

Anyway, I had bad luck and a lot of people have told me bad stories. Allow for extra time--like if you are leaving a town by a certain date, have your friends sent items earlier. Check the details in your guidebook for how poste restante should be addressed (in Berlin they want a zip code), and asked your home post office how long items will take to get to your desired location.

Still waiting for three parcels,
Cherie

Thanks for your replies. I wasn't sure if poste restante would work for packages also. I'm not planning to send anything I can't afford to lose. Even if the shipping costs as much as the value of the guidebooks, just the comfort of receiving these things will be worth the extra money.

Some of the guidebooks I will want will be specific walking route guidebooks that I am afraid I won't be able to find elsewhere.

And Clif bars, precious Clif bars.

Would welcome any more warnings or encouragements anyone else has. Thanks again!

Chris

how do you write the address to be poste restante?

I just ask for it to be sent to

Your Name
c/o Post office address

Simple!

In some countries you can get guidebooks in English very easily. Our biggest book store here has as many in English as in German. Some, like the rough guides, are not even translated at all. If you come through Vienna, the map making company freytag&berndt has a huge shop downtown, two floors with nothing but maps, guidebooks, travel videos, gps, hiking guides and maps and on and on.

PS don't believe what the express delivery companies tell you either. I've had Los Angeles to Europe and Los Angeles to Senegal take two weeks.

Has anyone tried mailing packages post restante in South America? I'm thinking about mailing my ski gear (pants and gloves, but certainly not the skis or boots) to myself in Chile, but I'm little worried about whether I'll get it.

I guess I can always insure it, but if anyone's done it successfully, let me know. I'll feel better.

You can always try to arrange receipt of big things to a hotel. Perhaps stay one night at said hotel.

For Rogerio and Eadoin and others interested, addressing should ideally have

quote:

Poste Restante

between your name and GPO.

Holding of letters/parcels is nominally for a month but in Oz at least, they will hold longer if contact is made requesting an onward date.
I've experienced slow slow slow mail from even NZ to Oz and lost stuff going abroad, outside of Poste Restante, so it can be just mail systems and not PR alone, tho I can appreciate how light fingers would be more easily encouraged with PR mail.

If you want other stories encouragement or otherwise Country Poste Restante and you'll see info and blog references.

What about getting things fedex'ed to hostels or even a local fedex facility? I realize that it would cost more but if your sending something expensive it might be worth it.

Don't forget to ask how long a package could be held up at customs. Get the worst case scenario. I was supposed to receive a package in Bangkok in somehwere from 7-10 days and I was still waiting after 20 days. I finally just left the city and figured either I'd be back to get the (relatively inexpensive) stuff or I'd just have to let it go.