FedEx does or did the same thing at one time too. Also if you plan to ship to your hotel call them ahead of time and make arrangements. The physical address may not be their postal address.

quail

In the USA, you have to register at the post office in order to get General Delivery mail there. I only found that out because the guy ahead of me in line the other day wanted to send something to General Delivery and the recipient wasn't registered, so the PO clerk wouldn't put it through.

infmom

This service is invaluable to people doing long backpacking trips like the Appalachian Trail. Great way to keep your pack light but stay safe and stocked up.

Aaron Eaton

We shipped home a bunch of dirty laundry half way through our Hawaii trip. It cost us about $30 to lighten the load and make room for souvenirs. The FedEx truck pulled in our driveway about 5 minutes after we got home. It was excellent.

Mike_

Don't underestimate what you are allowed to check at the airline - when flying with westjet over the holidays I was completely amazed by the amount of luggage my wife, my baby and myself were allowed to take. We max'd out with four large suitcases (nearly 60lbs ea) 2 backpacks each for carry-on, plus no charge for the baby's car seat and no charge for the huge stroller we gate-checked.

That was nearly 300lbs of crap to haul around, but free to check. We actually had one box of gifts that the airline would have charged $75 for, so the folks shipped it cheap with Greyhound.

Fierock

If you can find someone who has a corporate FedEx account, it's even cheaper. It costs ~$15 to ship a 70 lb suitcase from NYC to FL via FedEx... well cheaper than what the airlines will charge you if you're just a couple of lbs over. Additionally, there's a good chance your bags won't get picked apart by the ramp rats.

FLConsumer

Just be very sure that you never send it via DHL If you're going "home" or to a relatives - you an ship most any way there is. The only trouble we ever had was when my husband wanted to ship his whitewater kayak from VA to TX to go on a boat trip to the Grand Canyon (there was a ride waiting for him in Dallas). I can't remember now just how it ended up - but he found a way to ship it. We just never found a way to get it back!

nrwfos

@Fierock: you're obviously not flying on an international airline. I've had to repack bags in line because they were less than one kilo over (four of us travelling, we only had 3 bags to make it easier...but not for them I guess)

The budget airlines are really strict about both size and weight, so I wouldn't always assume you'll get to take things with you on a plane.

karlawithak

i really think flying is over rated.... i think if you going to be going anywhere that you can drive to no matter the distance you should drive and just spend time out on the open road b/c you really dont know how many of those times youll have left

Powerlessgod

@Powerlessgod: That's something I never understood either. I'll see people who fly 300 or 500 miles one way and in the end it takes them as long if not longer than if they drove that distance. (Delayed flights, the mandatory hour check in time, time waiting for luggage, etc.) For a family of three or more it's definitely cheaper to drive. That is until gasoline prices jump again.

quail

I did this on my last round trip back to the states. I must say that taking just a backpack with one change of clothing, computer, and mp3 player it was the best flight I have ever taken and everything was waiting for me when I got to the US. I didn't have to wait my bags, then stand in line to go through customs as I was the first one through. Took me about 10min to get out of the airport. Needless to say, I won't ever be checking any bags again if I can help it.

Will

@karlawithak: yeah good point - check the terms of the airline before making assumptions... I was just expressing how surpirised I was by the amount I was allowed to check.

And after re-reading the article I think the point is not just about the limitations of airlines, but dealing with a crapload of stuff to lug around on vacation (though since this latest vacation I discovered that airports themselves are quite conducive to hauling around 300lbs of crap).

Fierock

@quail:

It's not just about time or money. Some people hate driving. I've driven ten hours and I've certainly taken ten hour airplane trips. It's far less taxing sitting in an airport terminal or sleeping on a plane than gripping a steering wheel.

Deprong Mori

My last two surf trips to Puerto Rico and Barbados were a lot more pleasant because I sent my boards ahead via FedEx. The price was a little higher than checking them in (about 250.00 more for both ways), but it was worth every penny. The hotels I stayed at were both right near authorized service centers, so picking them up and mailing them back home were a snap.

kbporter

I shipped ahead for my temporarily moved from CA to TN a few years back. I used FedEx 3-day to get about 5 moving boxes over to TN. I had them held at the FedEx location for pickup (note: you can't hold for pickup with ground packages). I didn't have to deal with the airline baggage policies, or worry about how I was going to get everything to TN. Best of all, it was the least stressful move I've ever had.

Using my FedEx account, it cost me $50/box (very reasonable IMHO), so about $250 total to make the move.

When I got to the FedEx service center in TN, the counter agent was telling me that all the staff was wondering who was moving from CA to TN and also told me that she did the same thing when she moved.

It's cheaper than hiring movers!

doireallyneedausername

@quail: um, some people don't have a car.

O-RLY

This is a great tip for folks traveling in the US or Europe, but I would not recommend it for those traveling to Third World areas.

First, your box may not arrive before you finish your trip.

Second, even if it does arrive, it may not arrive intact (where are my designer jeans?).

I would pay the extra luggage fee (even though expensive) rather than ship anything of any value to a Third World post office.

ChronosJones

I wish I'd know about this before going to France in high school. My father sent a box of pre-picked U.S. products (popcorn, etc.) as a goodwill gesture, and my French family told me they wouldn't be able to get it because their post office wouldn't deliver it. They were wrong, but knowing I could have gotten it myself helps.

Marce

We've sent things home a bunch both between the US and develping countries (we used FEDEX and DHL for those trips) and to and from Europe.

Now that we have kids we generally arrange to rent what they need (crib, car seats, etc) on arrival. There are great services throughout the US and Europe that will deliver everything you need (down to the diapers) to your destination.

deliciousbaby