How to receive packages while travelling and constantly changing addresses
When you are a frequent traveller or always on the road for your job, you may wonder how to receive packages when travelling. There are several ways to receive packages and even get Amazon or eBay deliveries when travelling. Book the right service to ship a package to a digital nomad on the road or send a souvenir to someone back at home.
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Accepting letters while backpacking or full-time travelling abroad
If you are receiving packages from an eCommerce store that ships to nomads or someone wants to send you a letter while travelling, then do not worry as now you can now enjoy your trip and accept letters while backpacking in the designated post office of your choice. Address the mail, or respectively the package, with your First and Last name, then write General Delivery (or also known as “Poste restante” in Europe), and the address of the post office you wish to pick up your items from.
Note: Please make sure you check up with desired the Post office if there are any additional fees when receiving packages while being on the road, or if they do accept this type of delivery. You can also set up a parcel locker at a post office of your choice if you think of occasionally going back.
If you need to book a parcel delivery in the shortest time possible, order an express shipping service with Eurosender.
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A convenient way to receive packages from an eCommerce store that ships to nomads
Many eCommerce stores, such as Amazon or eBay, ship packages to nomads and travellers. Receiving packages on the road, for example, from Amazon is easy since they offer their own lockers in bigger cities. If you are wondering how to receive Amazon packages while travelling, here are a few steps to take:
- Shop at Amazon as usual.
- When writing the destination address of your package, select the nearest desired locker.
- The courier will deliver your package and place it into the locker where it will be held for three calendar days (in case of Amazon lockers). If you were unable to collect the order during this period, the package will be returned to the store and you will be eligible for a refund.
- Enter the unique barcode to open the locker and collect your items.
An important note is that this service does not imply additional costs.
A drawback using Amazon’s Locker is that this is a relatively new service and it is limited to only bigger cities. Another bigger drawback is that you can only receive packages ordered on Amazon. However, there are other ways of receiving packages when travelling!
Courier companies that ship to nomads
UPS, FedEx, GLS or DPD are examples of courier companies that ship to digital nomads. The only difference is that you would have to look for the courier’s hub (their distribution centre), pickup store or parcel locker.
You may wonder as well if there is a virtual mailbox where you can receive letters?
Some companies like BPM Virtual Mailbox, Mailboxde, or Travelling Mailbox offer a type of Virtual Mailbox that accepts and scans your mail for you. While you are backpacking this service will scan the outside of the letter and let you decide whether you will have them open and scan it, shred I or, throw it away.
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How to ship with Eurosender while on the road?
Do you need to book a delivery while travelling? Eurosender offers multiple options for sending and receiving packages while backpacking depending on the dimensions and the time-frame for the delivery. Below you see the possibilities Eurosender provides.
Situations when people change addresses frequently
Living in a mobile home
When you are a modern-day nomad, living in a van, camper or mobile home, you are also able to receive mail while travelling or to receive a package while backpacking.
Living with hosts
When you use lodging services, such as Airbnb or Couchsurfing, then be sure to check out our page on shipping to a host’s home, to get detailed info on how to receive packages while travelling.
Living in accommodation for seasonal workers
Now it is also possible to send packages to seasonal workers and to receive mail while travelling.
Living in co-living spaces
With Eurosender you can receive packages when in temporary housing and move from one location to another without having a permanent address.
How to write the address for receiving a package on the road
When shipping to a temporary address or the address for receiving a package on the road, it is crucial that you enter the correct address details when shipping. Here are a few things you should pay close attention to.
- Country
Choose the country of pick-up/delivery.
Ex.: United-Kingdom - Name & Surname
Add the full name of the consignee.
Ex.: John Ferris - Address
Fill out the street name in full and the number.
Ex.: Lake street 135 - Additional info – Optional
Here you can add additional information.
Keep in mind that the courier doesn’t always take this info into consideration. - Zip code
Add the zip code, please double check if it’s the right one.
Ex.: 783 39 - Town/city
Add the full name of the town or city.
Ex.: London - Phone number
Add the phone number, change the area code if needed.
Ex.: +44 1234 1234 12
In case you are not able to provide an address with the details mentioned above, here are some other alternatives for receiving a package when you are often on the road.
- Contact the nearest store in the area to see if it is possible to receive shipments there.
- Get in touch with the local hotel reception and discuss if it is possible to receive a shipment over there. Make sure they contact you when the package arrives.
- Ship to friends, family, or colleagues that live in the area. You can also ship to a nearby store if the owner agrees to that.