Grocery shopping and delivery grocery shopping…everyone has their opinions.
You can save money, coupon, maybe it’s relaxing, or you just do it yourself. But hear me out. We just checked in to our hotel for the week and our groceries are all put away. I added things to my “cart” before we got here and chose an hour after check-in time. We got waters, juices, meal stuff, snacks, fresh fruit, mascara {I forgot mine}, ice, sunscreen, pool noodles and beer! Shopping is done and I didn’t leave the hotel. I planned meals and drinks to avoid the pricey vending machines and poolside service {I know, rough life}. Usually, I haul waters and beer, ice or wait two days into vacation to go and all the while spend money I didn’t intend to spend. Or worse, I have to leave the sunshine! We actually didn’t even rent a car this year! (There’s saving real cash $$)
I actually use the service at home too. I’ve been on weight watchers for almost a month and boy is it helpful. I love grocery shopping, actually, but it’s bad for my intentional healthy eating. I can put things in my cart {which, yes cost more sometimes} but I’m avoiding all the temptations of snacks and unhealthy options.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind if you want to give grocery delivery a whirl:
Do your research!
If you’re on vacation, know what type of space you have in your hotel – mini fridge, full size, or a cooler! Know your cooking space too. On our honeymoon I brought back a frozen pizza to cook in what I thought was an oven in the picture, but it was a dishwasher. Whoops. Not sure why there was a dishwasher and no stove but it definitely didn’t cook a pizza! Don’t just rely on pictures. Call the hotel. Find out what “mini kitchenette” means.
Find out what kind of coffee pot is in the room. Do they supply the coffee? You might need to find out what pods fit.
Subscriptions
Some delivery companies do require a subscription, but not all. Some require a minimum. Shipt is a $35 minimum order, or pay a delivery fee. I had no problem getting to the $35. Before I found Shipt, I used a local delivery service for Disney, Dizzy Dolphin. They were great to work with. No subscription fees!
I got my Shipt subscription for 1/2 off {so $40 for a year} and use it at home and on most trips. You can watch for sales on the subscription. Just plug in the address of the hotel and see if they have one in that area. If not, get Googling. Most likely, there’s a delivery service or at least a pickup. Then an Uber, Lyft or Taxi can do round trip and you aren’t stuck waiting for a return ride. If not, there’s always Amazon Prime, Amazon Pantry, Amazon Now. We used Amazon Now for Disney, too. This was available with my regular Amazon membership for fresh, cold and personal items. No rental car, no Uber, no traffic.
Share a subscription. There might be fine lines and policies you should read but my mom always said sharing is caring. She didn’t say that but it’s a good rule in general, don’t ya think? If you are going on vacation with a friend, split the subscription cost or borrow someones for the one-time trip. It’s super easy to change the payment info and addresses in the app.
Tipping!
This is disputable. My local grocery store offers the shopping curbside as a “service” and won’t allow their shoppers to accept tips. Shipt, however, encourages you to tip. You can do it right in the app so you don’t have to exchange cash. I always say, “I’ll tip you in the app.” I usually tip 10-20% based on the items I needed. If I had them lug two cases of water or choosing specific organic items, I will tip more. If it is a holiday and they saved me a major headache of getting my last minute Easter dinner supplies, the tip goes up!
Ask me!
Please ask if you have questions. I’m not a paid sponsor and will give you my honest opinion. I’m not technically a pro but when I use something I learn the ins and outs and am happy to share. And for this busy momma on vacation? Convenience for the win! I’ve used it a LOT at home now too.
What tips and tricks do you have for grocery shopping on vacations or busy seasons of life?
