Walking sticks & Travel

I have shipped to a hotel in the UK using Amazon.co.uk and I have purchased from Amazon.it and had items shipped to our home in Rome when we lived there. So while I have not had exactly your experience, I am confident in saying it’s a solution. Tell the hotel you have a package coming from Amazon and be certain to order from the Italian site. Your US credentials will work on the Amazon.it site.

I had no idea you could not take hiking sticks in carryon luggage! I the last 17 months I've been successful taking them overseas 3 times getting them to and from my destination, as well as a recent domestic trip. So, 8 times going through TSA without a problem. I only read on this forum that they are not allowed.

If it helps, you can take retractable poles in your checked bags, and I know of people who have taken the folding ones in their carry-on bags although I'm not sure how consistent that is across carriers. You may also be able to rent or buy them inexpensively at your destination, especially if you are in a popular hiking area.

"I'm not sure how consistent that is across carriers."

Actually, the airline doesn't make a difference it's TSA. Here's the link from the TSA website.

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/hiking-poles

Many hiking poles have a carbide tip that is underneath a rubber tip. This can be considered a weapon.

I have poles that I put in a checked bag. It works fine.

I don’t want to try to carry it on and risk loosing them, just wondering how easy it is or successful to ship directly from Amazon to hotel and anyone has experience in doing so. I have significant bad luck with lost luggage so don’t want to check them.

this is from 2019, but might be useful:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/purchasing-hiking-poles-in-italy

I've ordered from numerous Amazon sites around the world and had things delivered to my hotel. No problem.

Thanks Frank.

Since you’re asking a specific question and not getting a specific answer, why not call Amazon and ask if this can be done and what the normal time line for shipping is. It would be a shame to get there and not have the poles arrive until you’ve left. (Some of my stuff from Amazon comes timely others get delayed.) It would also help to check with the hotel just to make sure they would agree to accepting and holding your items. Just curious, if you’re on the RS southern Italy tour, which we’ve been on, where are you hiking where you would need poles?

Doesn't Amazon have lockers or other services in Rome [think UPS stores] where you can have your package delivered to? I believe we checked into this, but then the apartment host agreed to purchase them for my traveling companions. I had retractable ones that easily fit in my 22" case, which I checked.

Just curious, if you’re on the RS southern Italy tour, which we’ve been on, where are you hiking where you would need poles?

Some people need them for stability, not just on strenuous hikes, but on anything other than a smooth level paved path.

We hope to hike the “path of Gods”, I broke each of my ankles in separate instances in the last few years, and I don’t like to take chances especially on downhill walks. I have it all figured out now, logged into Amazon Italy to check delivery time, confirmed with hotel that I can ship there. All Good.

Beautiful hike! I’m glad to hear you’re all set…have a wonderful time!

And Nancy, I realize that, I was not being snarky. Since they said they were hiking, I just asked where they were hiking, I forgot about the beautiful Path of the Gods. We only had time to do the path of the lemons which is mainly a lot of steps.

I've been able to purchase hiking poles once I arrive. As long as you start in a fairly large town, they are readily available for about $20 each. Of course, that was a couple years ago, but it's so much easier than trying to take them in checked luggage and risk loosing a nice pair. The $20 were good quality.

I looked into that, we arrive in Rome, but we would have to take a taxi to the store, and I hate shopping, and I really hate shopping while on vacation. So the amazon solution is much more attractive. I also don’t like to check bags, I have had my luggage lost on 3 occasions, and while always eventually recovered, I had to buy stuff and shop while at my destination, again hate shopping which cuts into my time.