I hope that someone gets my, I hope that someone gets my, message in a...
April 25, 2011 7:59 AM   Subscribe

When my girlfriend checks into her hotel in Europe a couple months from now, I'd like her to have a letter from me waiting on her, is this possible to arrange?

So she's going away for a couple weeks with 2 friends to Europe, and a part of this trip involves a couple night stay at a hotel in Turkey. Assuming I get the hotel info from one of her friends, is it possible for me to send a letter addressed to her that would arrive before she gets there, and have the hotel keep it for her?

Not an important letter, just a "Surprise! Hello, hope you're enjoying your trip!" kinda letter.

Second question: is this a bad idea? I thought she'd find it sweet. We've been together for about 5-6 months now, and by then it'll be 8. We're pretty serious. How would you feel if your SO did this for you?
posted by anonymous to Travel & Transportation (11 answers total)
 
Yep, should be pretty easy. I did something similar for my parents, and had no trouble at all.
posted by nitsuj at 8:01 AM on April 25, 2011


I think it'd be adorable.

However, I think it may be safer to fax it rather than mailing it; that way you know it would get there in time.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:01 AM on April 25, 2011


How would you feel if your SO did this for you?

Happy and glow-y. I think it's a great idea, though I can't give you advice on how to make it happen.
posted by frobozz at 8:02 AM on April 25, 2011


Yeah this is no problem. Pretty much every hotel of reasonable quality will handle mail and faxes for guests. Just send the letter closer to the date she'll arrive, timed so it will get there a little ways before she gets there. Address it to your girlfriend c/o the hotel, and they should hold on to it and deliver it to her. It wouldn't be a bad idea to call (via Skype) and let them know it's coming and to ask that they deliver it on checkin. Or just fax it as EmpressCallipygos says.

As long as the letter isn't written with a creepy stalkerish tone, and I have no reason to believe you would do such a thing, I can't imagine it being a bad idea. A "Surprise! Hello, hope you're enjoying your trip!" kind of letter sounds like a neat little surprise.
posted by zachlipton at 8:10 AM on April 25, 2011


Another thought: you might address the letter to your girlfriend care of the hotel, and then put that sealed envelope inside a larger mailer envelope which is addressed to the general manager (who speaks English if the hotel is of any reasonable size). Enclose a note that says,

"Dear Mr. MANAGERNAME,

Please find enclosed a letter for GIRLFRIEND NAME, who will be a guest at your hotel the week of DATE RANGE. She is traveling with the FRIEND NAME party*. Thank you very much for your assistance.

Best regards,
Althanis"

* in case your GF isn't on the actual reservation and therefore her name isn't in the hotel's system.

Because, there is a chance someone at the hotel throws away a letter addressed to a guest. There is slim chance someone throws away a letter addressed to the GM. I'm sure you could get the hotel name from GF's friend, then suss out the GM's name via an email to the hotel.

I think this sounds wonderfully romantic and thoughtful, by the way.
posted by pineapple at 8:19 AM on April 25, 2011


I think it's a great idea, but having worked in hospitality, it is wise to let her friends in on it to guarantee success. If the letter arrives before your girlfriend, it is quite possible that it will be set aside for her and forgotten about, or that the person who set it aside won't be working when your girlfriend is there. If her friends know about it, they can nudge the staff to find the letter and give it to your girlfriend if they forget about it.
posted by scrute at 9:37 AM on April 25, 2011


I think your intention is very sweet but personally, I would not want this (especially as it's only a two-week trip. If I were going to be gone for a month or two, maybe.)

Part of the joy and wonder of far-away adventures is the ability to step out of one's daily life and see oneself in a totally different context and without the bonds that tie us to our everyday lives. No matter how much I love my life and all the people in it, travel gives me the chance to see myself with new eyes (apologies to Proust). I'm also a person who likes solo-travel as much as traveling with friends so your GF's MMV!
posted by hapax_legomenon at 10:12 AM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]


I don't think you're being creepy or anything, but I wouldn't want someone to do this. I would appreciate the thought behind the gesture, but I would be a tiny bit annoyed that you'd tracked down my hotel information (that I apparently haven't given you?) just to say something sweet but completely non-essential. It would almost feel like a subtle reminder to "remember me while you're having all that fun without me," especially because it's only a two week trip. If I'm off on a grand adventure, I usually give people my itinerary, in case of emergencies ONLY, then really enjoy getting into the mindset of traveling and exploring and being "free" from my normal life. Even if being "free" means missing people and wishing they were with me. Realizing all the things you miss (and all of the things you don't) from your normal life is part of the experience.

Exceptions to this: If someone is spending a birthday, anniversary, or other significant experience abroad. I would be *thrilled* to get a birthday present delivered while on vacation.
posted by wending my way at 11:00 AM on April 25, 2011 [2 favorites]


I sent my girlfriend (now wife) a note when she went for a friend's wedding in Cuba when we first started dating, and it was well received (and not a problem for the hotel to arrange). I guess only you can know if your girlfriend is into that kind of thing, but definitely don't think it's creepy or anything like that.
posted by reformedjerk at 11:42 AM on April 25, 2011


I'm really torn about this question. On one hand it seems like a really sweet and thoughtful gesture. BUT on the other hand it seems kind of stalkerish and clingy.

So... I guess I completely agree with wending my way!
posted by Sweetmag at 7:27 PM on April 25, 2011


I did this last summer for a girl I had a crush on. I didn't really know her schedule but I knew where she was staying (she'd told me, if she hadn't maybe it'd have been stalkerish...) so I sent a postcard to each of the hostels she was staying in.

The postcard was addressed to the desk staff telling them about this girl in a humorous tone and asking them to pretty please deliver the postcard to her, with silly remarks like "may you be blessed with quiet children" blablaba. The point was that the staff had a laugh and the girl felt I was thinking about her.

She thought it was awesome, so do it.
posted by valdesm at 4:16 AM on April 29, 2011


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