How to Send a Surprise Gift When You Don't Know Someone's Address
Want to send someone a Christmas present, birthday gift or thoughtful surprise, but don't know their address? Perhaps they've moved house, you're organising something for a friend you haven't seen in years, or you simply don't want to give the game away by asking where they live.
There is a way to arrange it. At The Book Resort, you can order a gift hamper without having the recipient's delivery address to hand. If you have their name and a phone number or email address, we'll contact them discreetly to arrange delivery — without revealing what's inside their gift.
Can you send a gift to someone if you don't know their address?
Yes, although we do need to confirm an address with the recipient before we can ship anything. Rather than asking them directly yourself, you can place the order with us and we'll take care of that conversation.
The recipient may realise that a delivery is being arranged, but the actual present can still be a surprise.
How to order a surprise gift without the recipient's address
- Choose their gift. Browse our gift hampers, select a Christmas gift, or create your own gift box.
- Enter our address as the delivery address at checkout. Use: The Book Resort, Unit 1, Whitfield North, Butlerstown, Co Waterford, Ireland, X91 D3K1. This is a temporary address for arranging the order, not where we'll send the finished gift.
- Include the recipient's details in the order notes. Add their name and either a contact phone number or an email address so we know whom to contact.
- Add your gift message in the cart. We'll handwrite it on the card that accompanies the hamper. You can sign your name or leave it out if you'd rather send the gift anonymously.
- Leave the address arrangements to us. We'll contact the recipient discreetly, confirm where they'd like the gift delivered, and ship it once their address has been confirmed.
You don't need to invent a delivery address or have the gift sent to yourself first. We simply need the recipient's contact details so we can arrange the final delivery correctly.
Will they know what's inside the gift?
No. When we contact the recipient to confirm an address, we won't reveal what the gift is. That means the contents are still a surprise when the box arrives.
We also don't put receipts, invoices or prices inside our gift hampers. The message you add in your cart will be handwritten on a card and included with their present.
A few ideas you might like
It's worth being clear about one thing: because we need to contact the recipient, we can't promise they'll have no idea that a parcel is coming. What we can keep under wraps is the gift itself.
Sending a surprise Christmas gift without knowing their address
Christmas is when this option can be especially useful. Maybe you're sending a hamper to a grown-up child who has recently moved, an old friend, a family member in another county, or somebody you won't see over the holidays.
You can choose one of our Christmas gift hampers and let us arrange the recipient's delivery address. If you want the gift shipped closer to Christmas, you can select a preferred shipping date in your cart.
Please order early. We can't ship until the recipient has confirmed their address, so this extra step can add time. The shipping date you choose isn't a guaranteed delivery date. You'll also need to allow for the normal delivery journey after shipping — typically 1–2 working days in the Republic of Ireland and 5–7 working days in Northern Ireland.
For this year's recommended dates, see our Christmas 2026 shipping calendar. If the occasion is close, contact us before ordering so we can discuss the timing.
What kind of surprise gift should you send?
If you know what they like, build something personal. A book and chocolate for an enthusiastic reader, perhaps, or candles and skincare for someone who would appreciate a quiet evening to themselves. Our Create Your Own Gift Box option lets you choose the contents.
If you're less certain, a ready-made gift hamper can take the guesswork out of it. For Christmas, our Christmas collection brings together festive treats, books and gifts from Irish brands.
Can you arrange this if you live outside Ireland?
Yes. You can order from abroad and have a gift sent to someone in Ireland. Your billing address can be outside Ireland and doesn't need to match the delivery address. Simply follow the steps above and include a way for us to contact the person receiving the gift.
We pack our hampers in Waterford and send them with tracked delivery. When the recipient's address has been confirmed and the gift is shipped, we'll provide tracking information.
A surprise is still possible — even without their address
Not knowing someone's address doesn't have to stop you sending a thoughtful present. Choose the gift, leave their contact details with us, and we'll discreetly arrange where it should go.
Start with our Christmas gifts or browse all gift hampers. For anything unusual, you're welcome to get in touch before ordering.
