Yes, Amazon delivers to hotels although it’s always a good idea to ask the hotel if this is okay first. Not only is this polite, but it allows the hotel to know to expect your package. The same advice applies to campgrounds.
Getting Amazon deliveries sent to hotels is becoming more and more common. In the past, business travellers and long-term guests would often have deliveries sent to a hotel but it was uncommon for short-term guests to get anything sent there. Now, as more and more people shop online, hotels are getting used to receiving orders from online companies like Amazon – especially hotels in countries with big Amazon stores (e.g. Amazon US and Amazon UK).
As mentioned, it’s always a good idea to ask the hotel if it’s okay to have an Amazon order sent there. Most hotels are happy to receive a package on your behalf, and it’s rare for a hotel to try and charge you for this service. If they do, perhaps you’re staying at the wrong hotel.
The only exception where money might exchange hands is if the hotel delivers the package to your room. In this case, you may be expected to tip for such service. Tips vary depending on the country, but most people usually tip $1-2 per item. Normally, though, the reception will give the order to you when you check in at reception.
Note: Tipping is not common in Japan so, if you order from Amazon to your hotel room in Japan, you aren’t expected to tip. In the UK, tipping isn’t as common as the US but is still appreciated.
Using a hotel as your shipping address
For the shipping address, you want to include your name and C/O the hotel that you’re staying at. (You don’t need to know your hotel room in advance.)
For example:
Adam West,
C/O Caesars Palace,
3570 S Las Vegas Blvd,
Las Vegas,
NV 89109, USA
When to place your order
The ideal scenario for most people is to have their Amazon order arrive at the hotel on the day that they check-in, or a day before. To do this, you should place your order the day before and select next day shipping.
Choosing next day shipping means your order will be there when you arrive, and you’ll be able to tell the hotel exactly which day it’ll arrive. Although express shipping costs more (unless you have Amazon Prime), it’s worth it to know exactly when your order will arrive and not be worrying that you’ll miss it.
Note: Some products aren’t eligible for next day shipping, so it’s worth checking in advance that the product you want is. Products sold by Amazon can usually be sent by next day delivery, but some third party sellers don’t offer this. Always check in advance to avoid disappointment.
Alternatively: Lockers & Pick Up Points
Alternatively, depending on the size of your order, you could get it delivered to an Amazon locker or local pickup point. Amazon lockers are available in a few countries such as the USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Spain, and France. If Amazon lockers aren’t available in your area, it may be possible to get your order sent to a local pickup point (usually a small convenience store or post office).
To find a pickup location near your hotel, first click ‘change’ to select a different delivery address to your default one.
Next, scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a nearby pickup point.
What about guesthouses and Airbnbs?
Generally speaking, it’s much easier to send an Amazon order to a hotel than a guesthouse or other type of accommodation. Most large hotels have staff on reception throughout the day, which means that they can easily sign for a delivery.
Guesthouses, on the other hand, often don’t have a reception. They’re also generally family-run businesses, which means that the owners might not be there for the entirety of the day.
Airbnbs and apartments are different again. It’s usually not possible to send an order to an Airbnb in advance, as the Airbnb will either be empty or have other guests in it. You can usually receive an Amazon order while you’re staying at an Airbnb, but often you won’t be able to place your order until you actually check into your Airbnb.
The reason for this is that it’s a good idea to write C/O the name on the apartment buzzer (e.g. C/O Joe Soap). Airbnb doesn’t give you this information before you check-in, so you’ll either have to ask your Airbnb contact or wait until you get to the apartment.
Note: Since many Airbnbs are managed by external companies or co-hosts, it’s possible that your Airbnb host’s name isn’t the same one that’s on the door. Don’t assume that it is: either wait till you arrive to place your order, or ask your host.
Unless you’re staying at your Airbnb for a long time, it’s a good idea to choose a fast or next day delivery method to ensure you get your delivery while you’re there.
Have you received an Amazon order while travelling? Which country did you do it in, and how did it work out for you? Let us know your experiences by leaving a comment below.