Mail Forwarding While On The Road

[Roy W.]

We'll be traveling soon and going out west for about 5-6 months, and I'm working on the mail thing.I'm familiar with the different companies that offer mail forwarding service (Good Sam, Passport America, etc), but if you are traveling and only spending a short time (less than a week) in any one location, how do you select an address for your mail to be forwarded to?? Can you have it forwarded in care of General Delivery to a post office in a town that you know you'll be visiting in a week or so?? I've even been thinking of just giving my neighbor a stack of $3.85 Priority Mail envelopes and let him forward our mail a couple of times a month. Any tips or hints appreciated.

[Roy W.]

We'll be traveling soon and going out west for about 5-6 months, and I'm working on the mail thing.I'm familiar with the different companies that offer mail forwarding service (Good Sam, Passport America, etc), but if you are traveling and only spending a short time (less than a week) in any one location, how do you select an address for your mail to be forwarded to?? Can you have it forwarded in care of General Delivery to a post office in a town that you know you'll be visiting in a week or so?? I've even been thinking of just giving my neighbor a stack of $3.85 Priority Mail envelopes and let him forward our mail a couple of times a month. Any tips or hints appreciated.

[travelin_man]

We have mail forwarded from two of the major RV related services (FMCA & Escapees) and find that it usually takes three to four days to get the mail, with the occasional five day wait.
You should always use a town with a single zip code so that you know for sure where the mail will wind up. Finally, if for some reason you must leave before your mail arrives, you can leave a forwarding card.
To make bill paying easier, you can authorize all you bills to be paid automatically from your charge card or checking account. When the bills finally catch up with you, check that they are correct and you never have to worry about a missed payment and/or late charge.
Enjoy yor travels.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Yes, you can have mail forwarded to Generl Delivery. In larger cities, often only one post office will accept G.D> mail, so make sure you have the right zip code (the Post Office has a directory that tells which P.O. does what). Better yet, use small town post offices, where there is less chance of your package being lost in the traffic.

Be aware that individual Postmasters determine how long they will hold General Delivery mail waiting for pick-up. 14-30 days is typical, but not universal. Some may be as few as a day or two if it is a name they do not recognise. Rvers have occasionally been surprised to find their mail arrived at the P.O. and was returned to sender in just a few days. If you will not arrive at the P.O. for several days after the expected delivery date, it may be wise to call and advise them you are enroute.