Sorry if this is an odd question (or is covered elsewhere - I could not find a thread on this) but we are leaving for Paris on saturday and are renting an apartment there - I need to have a courier package delivered to me while I am there - however sending to the apartment is not an option. Is there somewhere (eg post office) where one can have a package sent for pick up - someone had mentioned to me that an American Express office might be an option but I have no idea how one might go about doing so, if indeed it is possible.

Many thanks in advance for any advice (as well as all of the other advice on Paris that I've gleaned from the people on this board!)

Whiskey

I'd contact American Express.

I read that the Paris post offices (Poste Restante) won't accept courier or anything that needs a signature.

Maybe you could ask a nearby hotel/concierge if they would accept the package, and follow up with a nice tip.

I think Travelnut is right about Poste Restante -- it's just like a PO box for pickup.

I guess the apt. building doesn't have a concierge? well, a lot of them don't nowadays, so that is no surprise. Are you sure the courier service doesn't have a pickup place? I thought they had to -- all of the ones I deal with have a facility where you can pick up packages if you are not home when they attempted delivery (UPS, Fedex, etc.) I don't know how Amex would work, but I believe you have to be a customer of theirs. They mainly do currency exchange and financial services nowadays in many of their offices, so you'd have to check with the specific offices in Paris on that point. They won't accept packages according to their policy, but maybe if your package is just one of those Fedex envelope type things they would:

<<Mail/letters (no packages) can be sent to a participating American Express locations for pickup by an American Express customer. The mail must be picked up within 30 days and there is no charge for this service. Not available at all locations. It is highly advised to call the office directly to verify policies and availability.>

I gather you aren't an Amex customer, so I think that is out at this late date. I would also just find a neighboring hotel or tabac, cafe or something and try to get a friendly neighborhood merchant to do it for a good tip. If it is valuable, not sure I'd go that route.

If you do ask the apartment building's concierge to accept the package, make sure that the sender doesn't declare a value on it--otherwise the recipient must pay VAT. For example, a friend once sent me a fancy Mont Blanc pen (which I didn't really want or need). He declared and insured it for a certain amount and based on that amount, I had to shell out 40 euros when the package was delivered (that was above and beyond the cost of shipping, which my friend paid for--he was very embarrassed that I had to pay to receive a gift).

I second the suggestion re UPS and/or FEDEX. I'd contact one or the other and see if a package can be picked up at their facility in Paris.

Thanks for your responses - I can indeed have the package sent Fed ex and pick up the package at their location at Boulevard Haussmann.

Now off to pack - 2 more sleeps Thanks so much

Whiskey.

Good luck with FedEx in Europe. My husband sent us an architecture book we'd left behind, directly to our hotel in Rome. They delivered it in about 4 days, much later than promised, at a very high cost. Caveat emptor . . . hope it is not a time-sensitive item, like tickets.

UPS did a very good job for us when I left a medic-alert bracelet behind. Our house-sitter got it down to the local shipping office and the package arrived at our hotel in Rouen a day later, before we got there.