These days, there’s a lot to think about when packing for travel, from what you can and can’t put in your carry-on to how many pairs of underwear you should pack. The luggage worries don’t end once you’ve packed everything, though, because there’s a lot more to think about when you get to your hotel, including where to safely store your luggage so it stays clean, dry, and free of bugs—like those nasty, horrible bed bugs. While you probably already know not to put your luggage directly on the bed when you check into a new room, you might also want to think twice before putting it on the floor.
“Personally, I always use the luggage rack to unpack my luggage and then store it in the closet,” said LaDell Carter, founder and chief travel advisor at Royal Expression Travels, Travel + Leisure“For professional reasons, I advise against leaving luggage on the floor because there is a risk of unwanted animals being there. For example, when I was traveling in Jamaica, I once left my luggage on the floor for a short time. When I got home, I realized that I had accidentally brought small lizards with me that had crawled into my suitcase.”
For these reasons, you should avoid leaving your luggage on the floor of your hotel room
And Carter is far from alone in this practice.
“Having traveled to 45 countries and lived on 4 continents, I’ve seen it all – the good, the bad, and the downright unsanitary,” added wellness travel expert Kelli Tolliday, who is also the founder of Rising Nature Retreats. “Bed bugs are notorious travelers and can easily crawl into your luggage, clothing, and personal belongings, making their way into your home. Once they’ve taken hold, bed bugs can be incredibly difficult and costly to eradicate, causing travelers a significant headache.”
While bed bugs are Tolliday’s main reason for not leaving her luggage on the floor, they are not her only reason.
“Despite regular cleaning, hotel room floors can still accumulate dirt, bacteria, and other unspeakable things – especially in carpeted hotel rooms. Floors are exposed to previous guests’ shoes, spills, and cleaning chemicals,” Tolliday said. Aside from the gross-out factor, Tolliday also pointed out that leaving your luggage on the floor can be an organizational nightmare, echoing Carter’s suggestion to keep your clothes in the closet – or at least place your luggage on a hard surface to reduce the risk of catching potential bed bugs.
Tolliday added that traveling “should be a time of fun and discovery, free from worries about bugs, dirt and damage to your belongings. By simply not leaving your luggage on the floor of your hotel room, you can enhance your travel experience and ensure your belongings remain safe, clean and tidy.”
Of course, you can also leave your luggage in the bathtub, a popular luggage location for experts who know about bed bug repellents.
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This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com
(Image credit: Jupiterimages/Getty Images)
Related: Tips for preventing bed bugs before, during and after your trip
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Written by
Stacey Leasca
