What's the best way to ship to Alaska or Hawaii, or to Puerto Rico or other US territories?

What's the best way to ship to Alaska or Hawaii, or to Puerto Rico or other US territories?

For Alaska and Hawaii, USPS-based shipping is usually the most cost effective option and is not much different than mailing a package to the West Coast (since Shipvine is based in Virginia). For USPS First Class Package Service and USPS Priority Mail, the delivery time frame is typically within 3 transit days. Using FedEx or UPS ground services is expensive, but air services aren't so bad. (For air services, take note that the three-day options of FedEx Express Saver and UPS Three Day Select aren't available to Alaska or Hawaii; you'd have to upgrade to two-day service.)

Territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and so on, while part of the United States, are not subsidized by FedEx or UPS and are treated like international destinations by those companies for pricing purposes. They require international paperwork and everything, and it's all a little strange. So it's virtually always better to use a USPS option like USPS Priority Mail to these destinations if you can, and it typically takes 3-4 transit days; via USPS, these destinations are not really any different than shipping to Alaska or Hawaii.

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