FedEx or UPS Dropbox options
If you are shipping an item to a location in the United States, FedEx, UPS, and the US Postal Service have options to ship it to a non-residential pick up location. As the other commenters have posted, shipping it to a specific hotel, hostel, or home where you have a reservation is always an option. Most hotels where I have ever stayed have specific procedures/protocols for this. When traveling for conferences, business presenters will typically forward their display materials ahead to where they are staying. You can do the same with golf clubs, bicycles, or other cumbersome luggage. There are also privately owned companies, stores, and other locations that will hold any mail or packages for you to pick up upon your arrival.
The one option that I did not see that would probably be more convenient and secure would be a FedEx or UPS drop box. Here, in the states, there are plenty of locations specifically operated and administered by FedEx and UPS themselves. In my metropolitan area, there are plenty of FedEx and UPS central depots/hubs to choose from when requesting them to hold your package there. Most people choose to instead have their package delivered to a local dropbox. These drop boxes are nearly everywhere. And, they can be accessed nearly any time of day. That way, you can choose one a very short (even walking) distance from where you will be staying. And, pick it up at any time. Here is a short list of drop boxes just in my neighborhood:
- outside of FedEx Office (formerly Kinkos Copy Shop)
- The UPS Store
- Whole Foods Grocery Store
- 7-Eleven Gas Station
- Wal-Mart
- Tom Thumb grocery store
- Walgreens Pharmacy
- CVS Pharmacy
- City Municipal Center
- OfficeMax office supply store
- random high rise office building
- random bank
- random credit union
- random grocery store
That is just to name a few on a random Tuesday.