Shipping Luggage To Hotel

[piglet33]

Has anyone shipped their luggage from home to their hotel? I just read an article that suggested people do that so their luggage has less of a chance of getting lost. Some family members went on vacation to DW and lost one piece of luggage and didn't get it back until they got home. Also two guys my DH works with travelled last week and also had their luggage lost by the airlines.

We also had an experience last year where someone picked up our bag instead of theirs. Of course that was the one with all my DD's stuff (formula, bottles, etc). I had marked it very well and had all different colored tags on it. The one left behind didn't even look close to what ours did. Anyway, I am thinking of doing this.

Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone has either thought of doing this or have done this?

Reneé

 

[safetymom]

I would allow plenty of time if you are going to do this. UPS and Fed Ex are worse in my experience with shipping than the airlines. I have had many delayed or lost packages with UPS and Fed Ex. Only once was my luggage lost and it got to me several hours later.

Keep an eye on the tracking of the package and you will know if you need to pack clothes, etc. in your carry on.

 

[NotUrsula]

It's not cheap. My company sometimes does it when we need to transport valuable equipment. The avg. domestic price without add'l insurance is slightly under $2 per lb. The services that do this tend to cater mostly to the sporting-equipment shipment crowd, golfers especially. They also will not normally do pickups on Sundays.

Here's a link to a story that gives websites:http://www.yale.edu/ytravel/news/pack heavy.htm
Also try: http://www.golfbagshipping.com/ or http://www.sportsexpress.com

 

[piglet33]

I checked this out and the cost is not too bad considering what I would have to go through if they lost my luggage. Also, you can
get 2 day guaranteed by UPS (I know I have done this before).

I was only wondering if anyone has ever thought of doing this.

 

[CarolA]

Did it once. Never again. (This was not a Disney hotel)

Luggage was Lost by hotel and it took them three days to find it. (It was in their storage area!) They would do nothing to assist me even though UPS was showing that someone at the hotel had signed for the luggage. You really have no recourse if the hotel loses the luggage with the airlines you do have recourse.

I travel every week and I can't recall the last time my luggage was late and it has never competly disappeared.

 

[safetymom]

The guarantee by UPS for delivery means nothing. If it doesn't make it there they just apologize and offer to refund your shipping charges. I have had many 2nd day air not make it to the event on time.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

UPS offers guaranteed arrival dates, even with their ground packages. FedEx ground offers no such guarantee, only on their Air packages, which are a few dollars more than the comparable UPS service. The air packages have a money back guarantee, however, you will not be compensated for financial losses due to the package being delayed.

If you DO decide to ship something to your hotel, make sure to clearly mark your name, and arrival date on the package ... example below. This will help to insure that the hotel doesn't simply discard the package. Most hotels will not hold packages for more than 3 days.

Hotel name
HOLD FOR GUEST (your name), ARRIVING (date)
Hotel Address
City, State ZIP

I've worked at a UPS authorized outlet for 6 years, averaging about 500 packages per week. Of those, there's MAYBE 5 per month that get delayed. Considering how many packages UPS moves, this is a pretty good record of on-time delivery.

Edit to add: Even if you do ship your luggage, I'd still pack a spare change of clothes in your carryon, maybe even 2 (espicially when travelling with children ... you never know when your child will decide to spill his/her lunch all over you or themselves)

 

[CarolA]

Don't get me started on the wonderful UPS gurantee. I will neve depend upon them to get anything where they state it will be. I had a horrid experience a few years ago and while they did refund the shipping fees, they basically said that even though I paid for two day "It was Christmas and that slows things down". I am sure it was a once in lifetime thing, but it was my lifetime so... once burned, twice shy.

 

[safetymom]

CarolA, I must have lived several lifetimes because it has happened to me with UPS several times.

Twice now the tracking has shown that the item was left behind resulting in the equipment not being there for the event I was flying in for.

Other things have happened so that it didn't get there in 2 days.

 

[genealle]

I want one of those HUGE steamer trunks like they had in the old movies. The ones the actors used to get inside and hide.


It would be so nice to fill up the drawers and hangars with everything you need and then have it shipped right to the room.

 

[MamaQuack]

We only travel with a carry on and sometimes DS will have a back pack with is beloved computer in it. I ALWAYS ship 2 boxes ahead to the YC. In them I include two roll up duffles. In 7 years with 2 - 3 visits a year I have never had a box not arrive and never had Disney not deliver within 30 minutes of my arrival. We always ship UPS, get the tracking # but have never needed it.

It makes for easy boarding. Easy retreat out of MCO and on the the parks and then when we return, there is plenty of room for souvenirs!

MamaQuack

 

[manning]

Don't get me started on the wonderful UPS gurantee. I will neve depend upon them to get anything where they state it will be.

Funny, a printer was shipped to me not long ago via UPS. Tracking info said it was out for delivery, so we stayed home waiting (three of us). At the end of the day no delivery. Tracking now shows delivery attempted and no one was home, and a yellow attempt to deliver tag was left to arrange for new delivery.

Having been in transportation for over 30 years I knew what to do and had them take the package off the truck for my pickup (I was only two miles away from their station. I walked in and there were about 10 drivers sitting there (7:30pm friday) I asked when the manager would be in monday as I intend to meet and talk to him, the driver picked on the wrong person. I found out who the driver was. As soon as I said that his head shot up and got a worried look.

Six weeks later I took delivery on a new computer shipped via UPS. It was the same driver and he couldn't have been nicer. I just looked at him and said I was glad he was able to make the scheduled delivery.