A tip that a frequent traveller mentioned to me a few years ago is if you're travelling with another person, always split your clothes up between the bags rather than each person having a bag just for themselves. That way if one of the bags goes missing, both people will have at least some clothes for the trip and will minimize having to buy replacement items.
I do that when I’m travelling alone by checking in two bags, each with complete sets of clothes and one of them with a duplication of toiletry essentials. That way, if one goes missing, I’m not without. However, I don’t bother when I’m returning home as I have or can easily buy extras of everything at or near my place.
My son and d-in-law learned that one the hard way. Upon landing, she had everything for their holiday, but for 10 days, he had nothing except what he stood up in!
@@ronashman8463 Happened to me when we went to Hawaii, my son and husband got their suitcases but I didn't. That was before talking to my friend about it, lol!Luckily they found it and it was delivered to our hotel room next day, phew!
Once lost a bag in Canada. It disappeared and the airline did not know where it went. Ten days later I received a letter from the "Airport Manager, Rio de Janeiro Airport" telling me they had my bag. They had used my information as you suggested we do. Told the airline and I got the bag two days later. People should pay attention to your ideas. They work.
@@PortableProfessional The "rest of the story" is the bag was empty. Contents had been pilfered. However the airlines did give me compensation USD $1,200. I was flying from Toronto back home and the airline says it was probably pilfered there and the bag shipped to Rio to break the trail. Oh well luck of the draw.
I stayed at a 5-star hotel in Dallas years ago. When I woke the first morning, I saw bed bugs on the other bed next to me where I had set my suitcase. When I got home, I undressed outside and put all my clothes in a hot wash. I threw out my bag since the handle had broken on the way home. I put my backpack and all items inside in the freezer outside for a week just to make sure any bugs/eggs were killed. Now, I pull up the sheets and look around the mattress when I check in to a hotel.
@@robertashagam1599 The bugs where quite easy to see on the white sheet. They were right on the bed where I had put my suitcase. The hotel manager was almost in a panic when I told her. They comped my room and gave me a limo ride to the airport for my flight home. They also did something with my bag to kill the bugs, but I still took no chances.
Put a large picture of your face in the suitcase. If you get security to stop someone taking off with your bag, and there's a dispute as to whose it is, when the bag is opened and your face is right there...
@@kathleenmathews6096 I recently shopped a suitcase in Miami and then I went into another store with the suitcase with some items I purchased. I left my son with the suitcase just about 12 feet or less I was checking an item. My son stepped away from the suitcase and in no time a young woman placed her hand on the handle as if it is her own suitcase. I looked at her and she was not moving her hand from the handle. I then went and took the suitcase handle without mentioning a word to her. I was waiting for her to claim it and then she would have had to produce the bill for the items in it. Also, I had taken pics of the suitcase and myself earlier. It is hard to trust people anywhere these days.
One tip I learned several years ago is that bedbugs can’t tolerate heat and dry conditions. If you don’t need your suitcase contents right away when you return home put your whole closed suitcase into a black plastic trash bag. Leave the bagged suitcase out in the hot sun for at least several days. The heat and the dry conditions will kill any bedbug hitchhikers that traveled home. Wash everything when you decide to open your bag and bring it inside.
I put my cases in my hot attic in summer (over 120f) or out on the patio in dead of winter when temps are consistently below freezing....both kill the bed bugs
Put the suitcase out in the hot sun when you get home... I'm typically traveling in the middle of winter to get away from the cold! If there was a hot sun I wouldn't be fleeing to the Caribbean.
@@cmartin_ok A shower enclosure is just as effective. I also bring some white plastic garbage bags with me and put my suitcase in one, tie it tight, and then put it in the shower enclosure/tub. If bed bugs land on it, you can see them on the white plastic. A tub or shower won't smell like a blood meal the same way that a bed does, and it won't have O2 from breath lingering over it, so safer than near the bed or on a rack in the room.
Great tips & hacks! Thanks! I’d like to add 2: -Remove tags and those little stickers from previous flights to avoid confusing baggage handlers. -Take photos of your bag and its contents to use in any claims.
Also, do NOT throw away your boarding pass and luggage tags with bar codes because anything with a QR or bar code can be read and there is a VAST amount of information that the airlines have put into those ID pieces. SHRED boarding passes and luggage tags BEFORE throwing them away.
Just want to say "Kudos!" for offering an Apple AND Android option for smart tags. So many of these videos assume everyone is an Apple user and just recommend their products when those are completely unusable unless you have an Apple phone or computer.
i have recently commented on this channel regarding this, as she did only mention apple apps. .. as you mentioned, not everyone wants an apple product.
This isn’t about luggage, but it’s an important safety reminder: DON’T post your location on Facebook, especially at the start of an extended trip. One wrong “share” and a burglar will know you’re not home.
@@Nor1961 That is true. It is easy to manage and smart if you have a lot of friends which you don't know very well. But I myself know everyone of my relatively few Facebook friends, and I know they wouldn't break in and steal when I am not home 🙂
About 5 years ago, I accidentally forgot my laptop on a domestic Delta flight in the overhead bin. I immediately notified the airline and asked them to see if they could find it and filled out the appropriate forms. No such luck even though my name, address, and telephone number were on the case and taped on the laptop itself. I heard back nothing so I bought another laptop ($2,500). About 3 months later, I got a telephone call from an old man in Atlanta wondering why my name, address, and telephone number were taped to the laptop. I explained and for the low low price of $35, they sent it back to me.
I always say, "give honest people a chance to get your stuff back to you." I have my number and email on anything of value that I leave my house with. Phones, keys, tech items, etc
Same. iPad lost/left on United. Had name on a sticker on it. One year later, got the call. $25/ship, ended up with iPad back. The battery still worked, aw it still worked! Thank you United.
Bed bug tips: Invest in a hot box to treat luggage. When you get home, pop the entire, unopened suitcase in the hot box and let it heat for 8 hours. It should get up to 140°F/60°C/. Examples of these are ThermalStrike Ranger, and Zappbug Heater/Oven. Also, pack some white plastic garbage bags in your luggage. Put your suitcase in a bag and then into the tub. Tie it tight. It'll keep bed bugs out (which can walk across ceilings and drop onto their targets) and if one lands, you can see it on the white plastic.
Also, do NOT throw away your boarding pass and luggage tags with bar codes because anything with a QR or bar code can be read and there is a VAST amount of information that the airlines have put into those ID pieces. SHRED boarding passes and luggage tags BEFORE throwing them away.
BesidesI putting contact info inside all my bags, I put my HOTEL DESTINATION on the luggage tag along with the info Megan suggests here. When black luggage was the only option, we were the victims of careless travelers several times, who picked up our bags from the turnstiles instead of their own, and of feckless shuttle drivers in Vegas who let riders grab their own luggage out of the transport instead of checking their claim tickets. Nothing starts a vacation off with a bang more than standing in the street yelling “ you’ve got the wrong bag!” and waving your arms! No one mistakes my obnoxiously decorated luggage for their own these days…imagine that!💕
We were told that you couldn't put any trackers in our baggage. We did anyway. We found a suitcase that had been donated to a charity shop. It contained a passport, special visa and medication in there. The organisation donating them hadn't checked the pockets.
Another great video Megan. Years ago, baggage handlers at a New York airport were stealing bags with tags listing high income addresses. Also, do not use designer luggage.
I use the luggage tags that have a message in 8 languages to look inside the tag, where I have my Itinerary. If the luggage is lost, instead of being sent back home or worse, the luggage can be sent on to my next destination. This has worked for me. I actually received my lost luggage at my next hotel because of these tags.
wow, just when I thought I had considered everything when traveling , the “don’t put your suitcase on a bed” was a tip I had not thought of😳. Fortunately, I have not run into bedbugs while staying in any hotels before, but one of my sons has had an infestation in his place so I know it can be a nightmare. The exposed address risk another tip not considered before. The other tips are also good and I have used most of them. Some that have saved or helped me internationally are keeping my luggage ID receipt in my passport, no-zipper locking hard shell luggage, itinerary copies inside luggage, bright straps or covers that stand out and other tips shown on your channel. The sling bag tip has been a great help keeping critical items safe & handy while providing bonus carry-on storage. Thanks for keeping the travel ideas coming, John
Luggage ID receipt? I've never gotten a receipt for my luggage ID; the agent slaps the ID around the handle and sends it off. How do you get a receipt/copy?
when you check in your bags in where they are weighed and tagged, they always hand me a small part of that luggage tag; from the same sticker. Its slightly larger than a postage stamp and has peel off backing so u can stick it to something. I just put it in my passport book so I don’t loose it. My luggage got lost in Taipei last year and the Cebu PI airport staff scanned this receipt and the missing bag was quickly found and delivered on a later flight. Very important to keep it handy.
@@sherbear2016 A less risky idea is to modify a recreational or sport vest to have more zippered pockets and put that stuff in those. Wear it while boarding. Amazon sells travel vests with lots of pockets but you might need to add Velcro or zippers to some of them.
Most hotels (at least in Europe) don’t have bathtubs any more. They all have showers so you need to take your suitcase out daily. I always use the luggage racks hotels mostly provide.
The tip of cleaning your suitcase wheels should extend to the shoes you’ve been wearing. After all, they come into contact with the same floors and streets. I stopped putting my address on luggage tags years ago. My husband and I always carry two to three days of each other’s clothes on the outward trip
Yes I just told some friend about NOT putting their address on their luggage. They wondered why? I explained that people would know their house was empty. They were stunned as they never thought of that, lol. I put a phone number and email address on mine. And for heavens sake, NEVER put electronics, cameras, jewelry or cash inside a checked bag. I’ve had even costume jewelry stolen from inside a checked, locked bag.
I'm a frequent flyer and every year, I get those luggage tags from the airline that advertise my frequent flyer status to the world. I shred them like used credit cards immediately since I feel that they are telling thieves to "Steal me. The owner has money".
Here's a tip I do when traveling: I "air out" my opened luggage before packing at home to make sure nothing smells or any uninvited guests are inside while storing luggage at home. I also do this when I return home, and after unpacking, I spray the inside with Lysol disinfectant all throughout.
I’m seeing lots of comments about actions to prevent bed bugs from entering one’s luggage. Good advice to protect your bag but my thought is there is another priority to act on. There are bed bugs in the beds! You cannot sleep there! Any presence is not good, but If bed bugs are getting into your bag there is quite an infestation. 😳
The airline lost my checked bag on a trio to London. The hotel didn't bother to tell me that the airline had delivered it; I found out by inquiring at the desk three days later. Lucky for me, I've always packed several days worth of casual clothes in my carryon.
When we had the privilige to fly to Spain, we had a suitcase or two and then each had a carry-on. In the carry-ons we had a change of clothes for each of us, as well as our important documents & meds. I had seen that tip maybe a week or two before we left. Great advice! (All of the tips were, to be honest.)
Good tips 👍👍 Tip 1: ✅ I only have my name, contact phone number and email address on my highly coloured tag 😀 Tip 2: ✅ I always have a paper copy of my total details, flight, insurance etc in the front internal pocket in my suitcase Tip 3: ✅ always have an Apple airtag in my suitcase, helps finding it if the overhead lockers are used and I have to store it further down the aircraft Tip 4: I don’t carry extra clothing as carry on, but I always carry enough spare money to buy something cheap to cover a couple of days until I’m reunited in the unfortunate situation of lost luggage I have a luggage strap with my name sewn along the entire length so whichever way the suitcase is on the carousel I can spot it, also I like to buy country flag patches which I put on my suitcase, also helps me identify my luggage
Good video. Taxi-drivers doing airport-runs are also very well-placed to recce properties that will be empty for a week or two. That light blue dress really suits you.
When I fly for a ski vacation, typically to Western Canada, I wear my ski Jacket and pack my helmet, ski pants, gloves and other layers in my carry on bag. If my checked bag is lost I can rent skis and boots at my ski destination and enjoy skiing while waiting for my bag to be delivered.
I've seen lots of recommendations on reddit to carry on your boots as well, since those are far more personal than skis, especially if you have weird feet.
I’ve had my bag rifled through at Orlando Airport. I had dropped it off 2 hours before the flight. I guess they had plenty of time to mess it up the way they did. I bought 2 body scrubs that I wrapped in bubble wrap, in a large baggie. Everything was unwrapped and totally messed up. Also coming home from London Heathrow everything was unwrapped and a few tins were damaged. I don’t believe TSA did any of this but they need cameras wherever they are storing them before the flight. And Orlando MCO also changed the combination on my lock so when I got to my son’s house I did have my IPad and searched RUclips on how to open the lock. Took 20 minutes. I will not buy a suitcase that has a built in lock for that reason. Almost all my souvenirs go in my carryon.
I used to travel a lot for work. We always put our work address or business card as the luggage tag. I will laminate it, keeping it dry during bad weather. I also have wheel covers and a luggage cover for my carry on. The extra time I invest before my trip always benefits me when something goes wrong.
Add two trackers to your bag. One in plain sight (doesn’t even have to work) and one well hidden. If the bag is stolen the theif might stop looking after finding the one that’s easier to find. 😊
Yes however I would think in most cases, they would just open the bag somehow and take the stuff out and leave the bag. So it only helps if they take the entire bag with them. Most experienced thieves will probably just abandon the bag after they get the items out of it.
I recently found out that you can purchase suitcases wheel covers. Which I plan on doing for my next trip. That way, they will help protect the wheels but I can also easily rem them and clean them when I get home or to my hotel.
When I book a taxi to take me to the airport I always give the neighbors’ address then make sure I’m waiting outside before taxi shows up. No need for taxi or Uber guy to know my house is going to be empty.
I think a better idea might be to have someone standing outside with you when the taxi arrives. Then you can say goodbye as you get into the cab and wave as you pull away from the curb.
I read to bring dryer sheets to put at the top and bottom of your sheets when you travel. I also wipe then all over the zipper area of my suitcase before I leave and throw a couple in the bag. Save some in a plastic bag too for the next hotel, plane ride. The bugs don’t like them.
Always check my bag, do not want to carry it onboard, but I don’t pack anything valuable or that matters in my checked bag. If it gets stolen, not desirable, but no great loss!
The bar code stickers which get put on your bag when checking? Make sure at least one is placed at the bottom near the wheels. Less likely to be move during transit as it’s protected by the wheels. My son works in security and baggage and this was a great tip for our recent 11 week overseas trip. The bags get ‘punched’ by machines as they get sorted on the conveyor belts, so don’t use a soft bag and nothing breakable packed either.
My Mom’s bag was ‘lost’ during a flight from the U.K. to Spain thankfully she packed her medication and some clothing in her hand luggage. The airline ( easy jet) we’re so incompetent that we had to call several times and go to the airport twice before they admitted her case was left at Manchester Airport . People use they cheap airlines but they are often incompetent people running the services. I prefer to pay more for a decent service and travel less frequently
I really enjoy your videos and have learned from them as well. I have not flown much in a very long time, and I'm just getting back to being able to travel. Having up to date info is much appreciated. ❤
I always take a photo of my luggage, outside and inside, after my luggage was left behind in NYC when I arrived at LAX. I was asked what it looked like, brand, colour etc. If it was opened , what would you see? Now I always take photos.
So right about the addresses on tags! It’s like advertising! We have our address part of the label turned to the inside of the tag. The only way anyone can see that info is by removing the tag and pulling out the label. We just put our last name on the visible part.
I put my information on the card in the luggage tag then put it back in so no information is showing. On the side that now shos I put in small printing that information is on the reverse side.
I have never lost my bags and was a frequent flyer. But have luggage delivered later than my arrival. I keep at least one change of clothes and if it is for an interview, my interview attire in my personal item bag as you can’t find a suit last minute no matter how much money you have 😮 good tip about address on the tag. I have a dedicated towel that I lay on bed before putting my suitcase on the bed.
I am a 43 year Airline employee. I saw two errors in this video. I saw that you put a camera and an ipod in your suitcase. DON'T EVER PUT ELECTRIC S IN YOUR CHECKED BAGS. AIRLINES DO NOT COVER MEDICACIÓN, CAMERAS, OR ELECTRICS IN YOU CHECKED BAGGAGE. Last, never put cash in your check bag.
That’s not her putting a camera in a suitcase. That’s generic, non-copyright video that can be used to illustrate a basic point. She does add in another point in the video that you should put valuables in your carry-on. As the point about money, I didn’t see any video with cash going into check luggage.
Upon arriving at our hotel, we leave the bags in the entryway and immediately check the room and bed for any bugs. In our many travels, domestically and abroad, we have yet to find any. We almost always stick with Marriott or Hilton.
The hotel chain doesn't matter. The Bellagio and Venetian in Las Vegas are very high end hotels. Last year an pd earlier this year they had beg bug outbreaks.
Thank you Megan for another useful info filled travel video.your points and hacks are always useful.. i would like to share one point here.when ever i return from a journey i use a garment steamer to steam around my luggage especially the wheels and then wipe the luggage with sanitiser wipes. i hope the steam kills most of the bugs or germs..keep up the good work with best wishes.❤💚
Hatched bedbugs are killed when sprayed with 91% rubbing alcohol. Also, having a large garbage bag near your door is a good way to keep traveling clothes away from the house prior to washing.
I just want to add that you can pack one pair of vinyl gloves which you can buy a four pack or a six pack of or get a box of 100 off of Amazon, pack a set of those in a small Zip loc type bag which folds almost flat and put those on before you touch the Clorox wipes. That Clorox is a toxic chemical and penetrates through your fingers quickly. I always carry at least three little Ziploc‘s each with one set of those gloves cause then when you’re done with the gloves, you pull them off from the wrist down so that they’re inside out when you touch them, put them back in the Ziploc and throw them out. You can also keep that Ziploc for something else like mints or candy or to keep your eyeglasses or lip balm in - as the bag is still clean when you first take the gloves out so if you don’t wanna waste the bag you can do that too. I absolutely love your channel, I’m getting ready to travel overseas, and you have helped me so much. I’m binge watching several of the videos so that I’ve got it straight. Lol. Thank you so much! ❤
Also put your frequent flier membership number on the tag. I also print the information on a letter-size page within a clear plastic holder and put that inside the bag. Air tags are a great idea.
Great tips. Keep it up. I flew for 40 years for AC and it's amazing all the stuff you're saying is so truth. Even at the beginning of my career I started doing tow important things. 1 sanitize the TV remote control, or cover it, 2 bring your own plastic glass. Love your dog........
After entering hotel room, we drop suitcase in tub, then search out bedbugs under bed sheets (easier to see evidence)...if not evidence then bags can enter main living space
First thing to do when you get to a hotel room is to check for bedbugs. Also, you can leave your suitcase in your garage when you get home, then throw everything in the wash immediately.
Regarding your 1st point about having your home address on your bag being a tip for potential burglars that your home is empty … that applies in spades for social media posts about your travels and vacations. If you really want to post that stuff wait until you get home. The news will wait.
Each year I average 50 flights for work, zero issues. I love these videos for reducing lines at security by encouraging people to drive rather than fly and risk bedbugs and their house getting robbed.
Megan, thanks for mentioning the luggage locator tags! I knew Apple had them but I am not an Apple person so I always just ignored them. But they have them now for Samsung Galaxy people! That will be joining my luggage for my upcoming (2 weeks) trip to England.
I'm watching the video, enjoying the information as usual...then you got to tip 5...and now I'm looking for creepy crawlies all around my home office.... Thanks Megan! LOL
More recently (in recent years) I've started bringing a larger backpack (which basically is my "carry on" if I'm already checking a bag) with about 3 days worth of clothes (usually 1 pair of pants, and days worth of shirts and other clothes, which fits within a backpack since I can re-wear pants multiple days). This has proven helpful in one trip where my flight got in late, and was the last flight out of Chicago, but my bag did show up the next day (so I'd say pack at least one day and maybe 2 days of clothes in your carry-on). This saved me from having to go to the store when I got to my destination (which was about 10pm at night). The whole bedbug thing does have me a bit concerned, now that I've been going to Europe more often. Generally in the US, I've found a few chains of hotels I can stay at that I know dion't have this ssue, but in other countries, it has me wondering how regulated safety and sanitation is when it comes to verifying that hotels and more importantly B&B's and hostels don't have this issue. I mean I mostly book based on reviews so I generally will only books hotels that have a lot of positive reviews over many popular booking sites to see the trend and then decide from there if I'm not sure about the hotel chain. Unfortunately, my concern is that other countries may not be as strict. In the US, if an infestation or report is made and the local Health Inspector finds out, that hotel is generally shut down until the problem is resolved. But regarding the bed bug thing, are hardshelled cases maybe better in this regard (being able to resist bedbugs hiding in them, because they are hardshelled and cannot nest in the fabrics as easily as they might with a soft-sided bag?)
@@ohlone67 That's the only way I'm aware of (checking around the bed, mattress and box spring). That's the most common place you'll find them, although some people say they can also hide in cracks in walls, etc. I would just follow the tips for avoiding bed bugs and keep your suitcase in the bathroom (I've also thought about just putting all my clothes into plastic bags too until I need them to act as a secondary layer.
@@PortableProfessional Thanks. Unfortunately some of the lessons come from things learned the hard way. Interestingly the two incidents involving a delayed bag was the same airline to the same destination (Las Vegas on Southwest) but on different trips, years apart though. But there's nothing more annoying than looking for a WalMart at 10pm after a 4 hour flight to try to find something to wear for the next day until your bag arrives....
Sounds like I have been very lucky I have never come across bed bugs in all the 40 years I’ve been travelling in Europe, UK, Canada, America, Africa, Egypt, India, China, Asia, Australia. I always stay in 3 to 4 stars rated places. Obviously you should be aware but don't worry too much.
A helpful vid. Pay attention to the luggage material as well. Do a little research. Over the decades we have seen leather, nylon, canvass, ABS, polypropylene, polycarbonate, and aluminium. There are advantages and disadvantages to each type. I love the flexibility, strength, and low weight and price of polypropylene (PP). Also look for zippers that resist being opened by a nail or pen. And broken wheels can be bought online for replacement. No need to chuck the luggage.
I actually will leave my suitcase in my garage for about 4 days after a trip, and it is thoroughly sprayed with Lysol... before I even think of bringing it into my home. The contents I will remove and straight into the washer it goes ( not necessarily the same day). I love the idea of the air tags. I could've used it on my recent trip as I arrived at my final destination minus my luggage. Thankfully, after about two days, I was reunited with my suitcase, and it was intact. Thank you for the video! 👍😁
@danamontroy8178 For sure! I also take extra steps whenever I stay at a hotel by NEVER placing my suitcase on the bed or up against a wall. My clothes stay in my suitcase or I may hang them up but never placed on or over any furniture .... lol My husband and friends think I am strange, but that's ME! Thank you for your advice.
My wife and I were coming back to the US from a river boat cruise… leaving Prague… my wife’s suitcase ended up in Poland…? We had AirTags in our bags (was our 1st time using them too) and could track them. We found out every tag on her bag had been ripped off… including the original airline tag. The only thing that saved us was the braided wire luggage tag (Amazon) that will never break off. I use them on every bag we have including backpacks.
I placed an AirTag in my luggage and it was removed along with several outfits in compression bags. I didn’t get my luggage at my location until two days after I arrived . I wrote and spoke with Delta after not receiving it. I did the same regarding the missing items upon receiving my luggage and was unapologetically informed that missing items had to be reported within 24 hours.
And often missing luggage before leaving the airport. One should always get a form indicating that they reported their luggage missing. Don't just let them tell you that they can "see" it and when it will arrive/be delivered.
In hotel carry on bag sits on the hard bag surface. When home everything goes in wash, carry on bag sits out on a hard surface and then is bagged. Also check the corners of the bed under the sheets to see how many surprises you may have.
My outside luggage tag says address is inside. My luggage can’t be opened with a pen since I don’t have a zipper. When I did use zippered luggage I had a cover that made it difficult to gain entry. TSA security keys can easily be bought online and there are only 7 of them. I use my on luggage locks and they are made from boron so extremely difficult to cut. If TSA needs to see inside they will see me at the luggage pickup. AirTags are very useful
I have Tile trackers on all of our bags. The last time hubby flew, the suitcase made it just fine, but somehow the Tile is still somewhere in the Atlanta airport.
Always put the tracker inside the luggage, preferably behind the suitcase lining. I put AirTags in adhesive silicone covers that are adhered to the inside of the luggage, under the lining. Easily pop them out of the silicone case and remove the battery after the trip.
I have never had issues with bed bugs and I travelled to Paris last year and Italy this year. I think the story about bed bugs has been highly exaggerated because I know many colleagues, friends and family who travel to European cities. I don’t tend to put my suitcase on the bed or the floor of a hotel and wipe surfaces if I feel the need
Think positively about it, it's a free insurance policy that helps ensure a great vacation and mitigates worries and fear. Don't be scared, be prepared 😂🎉. Blessings from Ontario Canada 🇨🇦🎇🕊️
I used wheel covers to protect the wheels and then when I get home, I wash the wheel covers. Unfortunately, some of the wheel covers have fallen off during handling. Where once I had enough for 2 suitcases, only one has them now. LOL Must buy some more. It was so much easier to wash the covers than the yucky wheels.
I have been using an old shower curtain to put over the bed while packing/unpacking. I try to use the hotel/cruise rubber “suitcase” bed cover when available, otherwise I try to use a wooden surface to unpack.
they climb wood furniture, bedbugs can be in walls, behind frames on walls, inside drawers, you'd go crazy if you read infestation/pest companies blogs 😭😭😭
Questions: What does security (TSA, Customs, port law enforcement) do to suitcase sleeves when the luggage has been separated from you? Will the officer be kind enough and non-destructively remove the sleeve or cut it off?
The sleeves simply unzip or have velcro closures. I wouldn't think that undoing the sleeve would be too cumbersome for them. Of course, there will always be that *one* person that couldn't be bothered...
@@marceld6061 she mentioned above that they will cut it off if the bag needs to be inspected. Of course, some may unzip it but one should be prepared that it may be cut off.
Also be aware of the local wildlife of the location in which you are staying. Bed bugs are one thing, but no one wants to bring home a scorpion either.
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A tip that a frequent traveller mentioned to me a few years ago is if you're travelling with another person, always split your clothes up between the bags rather than each person having a bag just for themselves. That way if one of the bags goes missing, both people will have at least some clothes for the trip and will minimize having to buy replacement items.
I do that when I’m travelling alone by checking in two bags, each with complete sets of clothes and one of them with a duplication of toiletry essentials. That way, if one goes missing, I’m not without. However, I don’t bother when I’m returning home as I have or can easily buy extras of everything at or near my place.
My son and d-in-law learned that one the hard way. Upon landing, she had everything for their holiday, but for 10 days, he had nothing except what he stood up in!
@@ronashman8463 Happened to me when we went to Hawaii, my son and husband got their suitcases but I didn't. That was before talking to my friend about it, lol!Luckily they found it and it was delivered to our hotel room next day, phew!
Wow! Great idea!
Been doing that with hubby for decades!
Once lost a bag in Canada. It disappeared and the airline did not know where it went. Ten days later I received a letter from the "Airport Manager, Rio de Janeiro Airport" telling me they had my bag. They had used my information as you suggested we do. Told the airline and I got the bag two days later. People should pay attention to your ideas. They work.
Great to hear that they were able to get your luggage back to you!
@@PortableProfessional The "rest of the story" is the bag was empty. Contents had been pilfered. However the airlines did give me compensation USD $1,200. I was flying from Toronto back home and the airline says it was probably pilfered there and the bag shipped to Rio to break the trail. Oh well luck of the draw.
Oh my!
@@kiyoshitakeda452 now I write USA near my tel number.
I stayed at a 5-star hotel in Dallas years ago. When I woke the first morning, I saw bed bugs on the other bed next to me where I had set my suitcase. When I got home, I undressed outside and put all my clothes in a hot wash. I threw out my bag since the handle had broken on the way home. I put my backpack and all items inside in the freezer outside for a week just to make sure any bugs/eggs were killed. Now, I pull up the sheets and look around the mattress when I check in to a hotel.
@@chrishebert5672 many exterminators have told me that the eggs are so small and beginning -stage bugs as well.
@@robertashagam1599 The bugs where quite easy to see on the white sheet. They were right on the bed where I had put my suitcase. The hotel manager was almost in a panic when I told her. They comped my room and gave me a limo ride to the airport for my flight home. They also did something with my bag to kill the bugs, but I still took no chances.
Never put the suitcase on the bed ! Just general hygene consideration.
Put a large picture of your face in the suitcase. If you get security to stop someone taking off with your bag, and there's a dispute as to whose it is, when the bag is opened and your face is right there...
If you forget to do this, you could also take a photo of you with the bag open showing what’s inside. Or even just the contents of the bag.
@@kathleenmathews6096 Yes! Good idea. Or a witten list of the bag's contents.
@@kathleenmathews6096 I recently shopped a suitcase in Miami and then I went into another store with the suitcase with some items I purchased. I left my son with the suitcase just about 12 feet or less I was checking an item. My son stepped away from the suitcase and in no time a young woman placed her hand on the handle as if it is her own suitcase. I looked at her and she was not moving her hand from the handle. I then went and took the suitcase handle without mentioning a word to her. I was waiting for her to claim it and then she would have had to produce the bill for the items in it. Also, I had taken pics of the suitcase and myself earlier. It is hard to trust people anywhere these days.
That's funny but true.
And the thief removes your picture haha!
One tip I learned several years ago is that bedbugs can’t tolerate heat and dry conditions. If you don’t need your suitcase contents right away when you return home put your whole closed suitcase into a black plastic trash bag. Leave the bagged suitcase out in the hot sun for at least several days. The heat and the dry conditions will kill any bedbug hitchhikers that traveled home. Wash everything when you decide to open your bag and bring it inside.
I spray alcohol on bags, especially on zippers and seams
I put my cases in my hot attic in summer (over 120f) or out on the patio in dead of winter when temps are consistently below freezing....both kill the bed bugs
Put the suitcase out in the hot sun when you get home...
I'm typically traveling in the middle of winter to get away from the cold! If there was a hot sun I wouldn't be fleeing to the Caribbean.
What's a "hotel bathtub"? All the hotels I've stayed in over the past few years only have a shower enclosure
@@cmartin_ok A shower enclosure is just as effective. I also bring some white plastic garbage bags with me and put my suitcase in one, tie it tight, and then put it in the shower enclosure/tub. If bed bugs land on it, you can see them on the white plastic.
A tub or shower won't smell like a blood meal the same way that a bed does, and it won't have O2 from breath lingering over it, so safer than near the bed or on a rack in the room.
Great tips & hacks! Thanks! I’d like to add 2:
-Remove tags and those little stickers from previous flights to avoid confusing baggage handlers.
-Take photos of your bag and its contents to use in any claims.
Also, do NOT throw away your boarding pass and luggage tags with bar codes because anything with a QR or bar code can be read and there is a VAST amount of information that the airlines have put into those ID pieces. SHRED boarding passes and luggage tags BEFORE throwing them away.
It does not confuse well trained baggage handlers! They would know the flight numbers, destination they fly to. More likely to confuse the scanners
Just want to say "Kudos!" for offering an Apple AND Android option for smart tags. So many of these videos assume everyone is an Apple user and just recommend their products when those are completely unusable unless you have an Apple phone or computer.
i have recently commented on this channel regarding this, as she did only mention apple apps. .. as you mentioned, not everyone wants an apple product.
I never thought about Android-compatible smart tags because all I see are Apple air tags, and I find apple products to be abhorrent!
@@Steve_in_NJ I am old enough that the phrase Apple is evil comes into my head all the time!
Tiles are a cross platform option.
I use a Tile tag.
This isn’t about luggage, but it’s an important safety reminder: DON’T post your location on Facebook, especially at the start of an extended trip. One wrong “share” and a burglar will know you’re not home.
That's great advice, and my dad has persuaded me not to post my location on Facebook. I can post pictures when I get back.
Thank you. I was wondering why people do that.
Or just keep your Facebook profile private, so only your trusted friends can see where you are 😏
@@TravellingTorunn You can also limit your audience to close friends/family and not every single person you know on Facebook.
@@Nor1961 That is true. It is easy to manage and smart if you have a lot of friends which you don't know very well. But I myself know everyone of my relatively few Facebook friends, and I know they wouldn't break in and steal when I am not home 🙂
About 5 years ago, I accidentally forgot my laptop on a domestic Delta flight in the overhead bin. I immediately notified the airline and asked them to see if they could find it and filled out the appropriate forms. No such luck even though my name, address, and telephone number were on the case and taped on the laptop itself. I heard back nothing so I bought another laptop ($2,500). About 3 months later, I got a telephone call from an old man in Atlanta wondering why my name, address, and telephone number were taped to the laptop. I explained and for the low low price of $35, they sent it back to me.
I always say, "give honest people a chance to get your stuff back to you." I have my number and email on anything of value that I leave my house with. Phones, keys, tech items, etc
Same. iPad lost/left on United. Had name on a sticker on it. One year later, got the call. $25/ship, ended up with iPad back. The battery still worked, aw it still worked! Thank you United.
Bed bug tips: Invest in a hot box to treat luggage. When you get home, pop the entire, unopened suitcase in the hot box and let it heat for 8 hours. It should get up to 140°F/60°C/. Examples of these are ThermalStrike Ranger, and Zappbug Heater/Oven.
Also, pack some white plastic garbage bags in your luggage. Put your suitcase in a bag and then into the tub. Tie it tight. It'll keep bed bugs out (which can walk across ceilings and drop onto their targets) and if one lands, you can see it on the white plastic.
Also, do NOT throw away your boarding pass and luggage tags with bar codes because anything with a QR or bar code can be read and there is a VAST amount of information that the airlines have put into those ID pieces. SHRED boarding passes and luggage tags BEFORE throwing them away.
BesidesI putting contact info inside all my bags, I put my HOTEL DESTINATION on the luggage tag along with the info Megan suggests here. When black luggage was the only option, we were the victims of careless travelers several times, who picked up our bags from the turnstiles instead of their own, and of feckless shuttle drivers in Vegas who let riders grab their own luggage out of the transport instead of checking their claim tickets. Nothing starts a vacation off with a bang more than standing in the street yelling “ you’ve got the wrong bag!” and waving your arms! No one mistakes my obnoxiously decorated luggage for their own these days…imagine that!💕
We were told that you couldn't put any trackers in our baggage. We did anyway. We found a suitcase that had been donated to a charity shop. It contained a passport, special visa and medication in there. The organisation donating them hadn't checked the pockets.
Who told you this? It's incorrect.
What did you do? Did you return the passport to an embassy or something?
Another great video Megan. Years ago, baggage handlers at a New York airport were stealing bags with tags listing high income addresses. Also, do not use designer luggage.
some of the lunguage suggestions are not cheap... but choosen for durability..
I use the luggage tags that have a message in 8 languages to look inside the tag, where I have my Itinerary. If the luggage is lost, instead of being sent back home or worse, the luggage can be sent on to my next destination. This has worked for me. I actually received my lost luggage at my next hotel because of these tags.
wow, just when I thought I had considered everything when traveling , the “don’t put your suitcase on a bed” was a tip I had not thought of😳. Fortunately, I have not run into bedbugs while staying in any hotels before, but one of my sons has had an infestation in his place so I know it can be a nightmare. The exposed address risk another tip not considered before. The other tips are also good and I have used most of them.
Some that have saved or helped me internationally are keeping my luggage ID receipt in my passport, no-zipper locking hard shell luggage, itinerary copies inside luggage, bright straps or covers that stand out and other tips shown on your channel. The sling bag tip has been a great help keeping critical items safe & handy while providing bonus carry-on storage.
Thanks for keeping the travel ideas coming, John
Luggage ID receipt? I've never gotten a receipt for my luggage ID; the agent slaps the ID around the handle and sends it off. How do you get a receipt/copy?
when you check in your bags in where they are weighed and tagged, they always hand me a small part of that luggage tag; from the same sticker. Its slightly larger than a postage stamp and has peel off backing so u can stick it to something. I just put it in my passport book so I don’t loose it.
My luggage got lost in Taipei last year and the Cebu PI airport staff scanned this receipt and the missing bag was quickly found and delivered on a later flight. Very important to keep it handy.
@@johnclark1469Hi,
What is the “sling bag” trick?
@@sherbear2016 A less risky idea is to modify a recreational or sport vest to have more zippered pockets and put that stuff in those. Wear it while boarding. Amazon sells travel vests with lots of pockets but you might need to add Velcro or zippers to some of them.
Most hotels (at least in Europe) don’t have bathtubs any more. They all have showers so you need to take your suitcase out daily. I always use the luggage racks hotels mostly provide.
I would never had thought about putting my suitcase in the bathtub-i will do so from now on
The tip of cleaning your suitcase wheels should extend to the shoes you’ve been wearing. After all, they come into contact with the same floors and streets.
I stopped putting my address on luggage tags years ago. My husband and I always carry two to three days of each other’s clothes on the outward trip
So true about the shoes! Thanks for watching!
Alternatively, you could just not worry about the wheels. That’s what I do.
Yes I just told some friend about NOT putting their address on their luggage. They wondered why? I explained that people would know their house was empty. They were stunned as they never thought of that, lol. I put a phone number and email address on mine. And for heavens sake, NEVER put electronics, cameras, jewelry or cash inside a checked bag. I’ve had even costume jewelry stolen from inside a checked, locked bag.
I'm a frequent flyer and every year, I get those luggage tags from the airline that advertise my frequent flyer status to the world. I shred them like used credit cards immediately since I feel that they are telling thieves to "Steal me. The owner has money".
Here's a tip I do when traveling: I "air out" my opened luggage before packing at home to make sure nothing smells or any uninvited guests are inside while storing luggage at home. I also do this when I return home, and after unpacking, I spray the inside with Lysol disinfectant all throughout.
I’m seeing lots of comments about actions to prevent bed bugs from entering one’s luggage. Good advice to protect your bag but my thought is there is another priority to act on. There are bed bugs in the beds! You cannot sleep there! Any presence is not good, but If bed bugs are getting into your bag there is quite an infestation. 😳
there are bed bugs IN the planes too.
The airline lost my checked bag on a trio to London. The hotel didn't bother to tell me that the airline had delivered it; I found out by inquiring at the desk three days later. Lucky for me, I've always packed several days worth of casual clothes in my carryon.
I've traveled to Asia and the Middle East several times in the past. After watching your video, I think I'll stay home.
😂 I agree!
😂😂😂😂😂😂
When we had the privilige to fly to Spain, we had a suitcase or two and then each had a carry-on. In the carry-ons we had a change of clothes for each of us, as well as our important documents & meds. I had seen that tip maybe a week or two before we left. Great advice! (All of the tips were, to be honest.)
Good tips 👍👍
Tip 1: ✅ I only have my name, contact phone number and email address on my highly coloured tag 😀
Tip 2: ✅ I always have a paper copy of my total details, flight, insurance etc in the front internal pocket in my suitcase
Tip 3: ✅ always have an Apple airtag in my suitcase, helps finding it if the overhead lockers are used and I have to store it further down the aircraft
Tip 4: I don’t carry extra clothing as carry on, but I always carry enough spare money to buy something cheap to cover a couple of days until I’m reunited in the unfortunate situation of lost luggage
I have a luggage strap with my name sewn along the entire length so whichever way the suitcase is on the carousel I can spot it, also I like to buy country flag patches which I put on my suitcase, also helps me identify my luggage
Where do you get the luggage straps with your name sewn on?
@@arlenekrause7115 👋🏻 Hi, I live in UK 🇬🇧, I got mine off eBay, about £15
@@arlenekrause7115👋🏻 Hi, I got mine from eBay, I live in the UK 🇬🇧, cost about £15.oo
Some airlines are now prohibiting any exterior additional bag straps as they cause issues with conveyor belts etc
@@sgrant9814 I guess you could always paint it on, or use nail polish or a permanent marker to do that same.
Good video.
Taxi-drivers doing airport-runs are also very well-placed to recce properties that will be empty for a week or two.
That light blue dress really suits you.
Good point! Thank you!
When I fly for a ski vacation, typically to Western Canada, I wear my ski Jacket and pack my helmet, ski pants, gloves and other layers in my carry on bag. If my checked bag is lost I can rent skis and boots at my ski destination and enjoy skiing while waiting for my bag to be delivered.
I've seen lots of recommendations on reddit to carry on your boots as well, since those are far more personal than skis, especially if you have weird feet.
I’ve had my bag rifled through at Orlando Airport. I had dropped it off 2 hours before the flight. I guess they had plenty of time to mess it up the way they did. I bought 2 body scrubs that I wrapped in bubble wrap, in a large baggie. Everything was unwrapped and totally messed up. Also coming home from London Heathrow everything was unwrapped and a few tins were damaged. I don’t believe TSA did any of this but they need cameras wherever they are storing them before the flight. And Orlando MCO also changed the combination on my lock so when I got to my son’s house I did have my IPad and searched RUclips on how to open the lock. Took 20 minutes. I will not buy a suitcase that has a built in lock for that reason. Almost all my souvenirs go in my carryon.
I used to travel a lot for work. We always put our work address or business card as the luggage tag. I will laminate it, keeping it dry during bad weather. I also have wheel covers and a luggage cover for my carry on. The extra time I invest before my trip always benefits me when something goes wrong.
Add two trackers to your bag. One in plain sight (doesn’t even have to work) and one well hidden. If the bag is stolen the theif might stop looking after finding the one that’s easier to find. 😊
I was thinking the same thing.
Yes however I would think in most cases, they would just open the bag somehow and take the stuff out and leave the bag. So it only helps if they take the entire bag with them. Most experienced thieves will probably just abandon the bag after they get the items out of it.
@@ununuh so easy and brilliant idea
or put the tag inside the pocket of a pair of pants inside the suitcase. If they steal the contents of your bag, you could still track the thief.
How do air tags work? Do they go off wifi and you have to be in certain range from the tag or can you track it wherever the tag/item is?
I recently found out that you can purchase suitcases wheel covers. Which I plan on doing for my next trip. That way, they will help protect the wheels but I can also easily rem them and clean them when I get home or to my hotel.
I bought some and they came off the first time I used them
@@sandiarms4719 😟
Can you tell us the brand name, or perhaps a specific description, so we know what to avoid?
@@r.1599 I don’t remember the brand but I got them off Amazon
When I book a taxi to take me to the airport I always give the neighbors’ address then make sure I’m waiting outside before taxi shows up. No need for taxi or Uber guy to know my house is going to be empty.
So…they might target your neighbor instead?
We did that wheeling our suitcases 2 doors up to the inlaws. The neighbour thought we had robbed our own house and called the police 😂
@@Maker.of.Mischief Assuming that the neighbor is not also traveling, they should have movement activity that should scare off a would-be intruder.
I think a better idea might be to have someone standing outside with you when the taxi arrives. Then you can say goodbye as you get into the cab and wave as you pull away from the curb.
@@alizahalonthat's an excellent idea
I read to bring dryer sheets to put at the top and bottom of your sheets when you travel. I also wipe then all over the zipper area of my suitcase before I leave and throw a couple in the bag. Save some in a plastic bag too for the next hotel, plane ride. The bugs don’t like them.
My house isn’t empty. We have one family member that is usually there. It’s traveling with rv that we aren’t there. Thank goodness for great neighbors
But a potential thief doesn't know that.
@@Nor1961I guarantee that a burglar isn't going to be happy when confronted by my husband holding his Desert Eagle.
Always check my bag, do not want to carry it onboard, but I don’t pack anything valuable or that matters in my checked bag. If it gets stolen, not desirable, but no great loss!
The bar code stickers which get put on your bag when checking? Make sure at least one is placed at the bottom near the wheels. Less likely to be move during transit as it’s protected by the wheels. My son works in security and baggage and this was a great tip for our recent 11 week overseas trip. The bags get ‘punched’ by machines as they get sorted on the conveyor belts, so don’t use a soft bag and nothing breakable packed either.
My Mom’s bag was ‘lost’ during a flight from the U.K. to Spain thankfully she packed her medication and some clothing in her hand luggage. The airline ( easy jet) we’re so incompetent that we had to call several times and go to the airport twice before they admitted her case was left at Manchester Airport . People use they cheap airlines but they are often incompetent people running the services. I prefer to pay more for a decent service and travel less frequently
The best air travel site. I see others copying but never as good. Learnt tonnes again. Thanks
I really enjoy your videos and have learned from them as well. I have not flown much in a very long time, and I'm just getting back to being able to travel. Having up to date info is much appreciated. ❤
I always take a photo of my luggage, outside and inside, after my luggage was left behind in NYC when I arrived at LAX. I was asked what it looked like, brand, colour etc. If it was opened , what would you see? Now I always take photos.
Smart idea! Thanks for the tip!
I read that before going on a cruise. There were so many lost bags and they had problems describing it. I was glad I had taken pictures
So right about the addresses on tags! It’s like advertising! We have our address part of the label turned to the inside of the tag. The only way anyone can see that info is by removing the tag and pulling out the label. We just put our last name on the visible part.
I put my information on the card in the luggage tag then put it back in so no information is showing. On the side that now shos I put in small printing that information is on the reverse side.
I have never lost my bags and was a frequent flyer. But have luggage delivered later than my arrival. I keep at least one change of clothes and if it is for an interview, my interview attire in my personal item bag as you can’t find a suit last minute no matter how much money you have 😮 good tip about address on the tag. I have a dedicated towel that I lay on bed before putting my suitcase on the bed.
This was a particularly helpful video to which I paid extra attention. You're doing a wonderful job!
Awesome! Thank you, Patricia!
Great video. In addition to air tags I also use the airlines app to track our luggage especially when making a tight connection.
I am a 43 year Airline employee. I saw two errors in this video. I saw that you put a camera and an ipod in your suitcase. DON'T EVER PUT ELECTRIC S IN YOUR CHECKED BAGS. AIRLINES DO NOT COVER MEDICACIÓN, CAMERAS, OR ELECTRICS IN YOU CHECKED BAGGAGE. Last, never put cash in your check bag.
That’s not her putting a camera in a suitcase. That’s generic, non-copyright video that can be used to illustrate a basic point. She does add in another point in the video that you should put valuables in your carry-on. As the point about money, I didn’t see any video with cash going into check luggage.
@@DailyEdwardstho it wasn’t mentioned, any helpful tip like not putting cash into a carryon is most welcome.
Tip: use a generic email on your suitcase. That way you can be contacted without giving away any personal info. I even let it engraved on my suitcase.
Nobody is here for travel tips……it’s her voice they’re watching.
@@toddjones1403 I’m not sure how you watch a voice.
Upon arriving at our hotel, we leave the bags in the entryway and immediately check the room and bed for any bugs. In our many travels, domestically and abroad, we have yet to find any. We almost always stick with Marriott or Hilton.
Hope your no bed bug streak continues! Happy travels!
@@PortableProfessional Thank you, we hope it continues as well!
The hotel chain doesn't matter. The Bellagio and Venetian in Las Vegas are very high end hotels. Last year an pd earlier this year they had beg bug outbreaks.
@@conniekershaw4412 Very true, we've just gotten lucky it seems.
Thank you Megan for another useful info filled travel video.your points and hacks are always useful.. i would like to share one point here.when ever i return from a journey i use a garment steamer to steam around my luggage especially the wheels and then wipe the luggage with sanitiser wipes. i hope the steam kills most of the bugs or germs..keep up the good work with best wishes.❤💚
Hatched bedbugs are killed when sprayed with 91% rubbing alcohol. Also, having a large garbage bag near your door is a good way to keep traveling clothes away from the house prior to washing.
I just want to add that you can pack one pair of vinyl gloves which you can buy a four pack or a six pack of or get a box of 100 off of Amazon, pack a set of those in a small Zip loc type bag which folds almost flat and put those on before you touch the Clorox wipes. That Clorox is a toxic chemical and penetrates through your fingers quickly. I always carry at least three little Ziploc‘s each with one set of those gloves cause then when you’re done with the gloves, you pull them off from the wrist down so that they’re inside out when you touch them, put them back in the Ziploc and throw them out. You can also keep that Ziploc for something else like mints or candy or to keep your eyeglasses or lip balm in - as the bag is still clean when you first take the gloves out so if you don’t wanna waste the bag you can do that too.
I absolutely love your channel, I’m getting ready to travel overseas, and you have helped me so much. I’m binge watching several of the videos so that I’ve got it straight. Lol. Thank you so much! ❤
We don't fly very often , so we don't even consider things like this. What a helpful video!
Also put your frequent flier membership number on the tag. I also print the information on a letter-size page within a clear plastic holder and put that inside the bag. Air tags are a great idea.
As a backpacker traveller, say thank u Megan! 😊👍
Most has happen to me.. my luggage was lost , never returned , bed bugs at an Airbnb just horrible experiences.. great tips, thank you
That’s not great! Hope your future travels are trouble free! Thanks for watching!
@ thank you
Has anyone tried spraying the suitcase with permethrin? I have used it on my clothes when camping to repel mosquitoes.
Great tips. Keep it up. I flew for 40 years for AC and it's amazing all the stuff you're saying is so truth. Even at the beginning of my career I started doing tow important things. 1 sanitize the TV remote control, or cover it, 2 bring your own plastic glass. Love your dog........
After entering hotel room, we drop suitcase in tub, then search out bedbugs under bed sheets (easier to see evidence)...if not evidence then bags can enter main living space
Thanks for watching!
First thing to do when you get to a hotel room is to check for bedbugs. Also, you can leave your suitcase in your garage when you get home, then throw everything in the wash immediately.
Regarding your 1st point about having your home address on your bag being a tip for potential burglars that your home is empty … that applies in spades for social media posts about your travels and vacations. If you really want to post that stuff wait until you get home. The news will wait.
Extra shoe insoles, laundry sheets, to go rain coats,toilet paper and ziplock bags are also good to bring along and easy to pack.
Each year I average 50 flights for work, zero issues. I love these videos for reducing lines at security by encouraging people to drive rather than fly and risk bedbugs and their house getting robbed.
Megan, thanks for mentioning the luggage locator tags! I knew Apple had them but I am not an Apple person so I always just ignored them. But they have them now for Samsung Galaxy people! That will be joining my luggage for my upcoming (2 weeks) trip to England.
Some airlines offer baggage locators at extra cost too.
Tile will work for both Apple and Samsung.
I'm watching the video, enjoying the information as usual...then you got to tip 5...and now I'm looking for creepy crawlies all around my home office.... Thanks Megan! LOL
My luggage tags have my first initial and last name as well as flight information e.g. YYZ - LHR Jan 30 2015 and the same for the return flight info.
More recently (in recent years) I've started bringing a larger backpack (which basically is my "carry on" if I'm already checking a bag) with about 3 days worth of clothes (usually 1 pair of pants, and days worth of shirts and other clothes, which fits within a backpack since I can re-wear pants multiple days). This has proven helpful in one trip where my flight got in late, and was the last flight out of Chicago, but my bag did show up the next day (so I'd say pack at least one day and maybe 2 days of clothes in your carry-on). This saved me from having to go to the store when I got to my destination (which was about 10pm at night).
The whole bedbug thing does have me a bit concerned, now that I've been going to Europe more often. Generally in the US, I've found a few chains of hotels I can stay at that I know dion't have this ssue, but in other countries, it has me wondering how regulated safety and sanitation is when it comes to verifying that hotels and more importantly B&B's and hostels don't have this issue. I mean I mostly book based on reviews so I generally will only books hotels that have a lot of positive reviews over many popular booking sites to see the trend and then decide from there if I'm not sure about the hotel chain. Unfortunately, my concern is that other countries may not be as strict. In the US, if an infestation or report is made and the local Health Inspector finds out, that hotel is generally shut down until the problem is resolved. But regarding the bed bug thing, are hardshelled cases maybe better in this regard (being able to resist bedbugs hiding in them, because they are hardshelled and cannot nest in the fabrics as easily as they might with a soft-sided bag?)
Always enjoy reading your comments. You certainly have a lot of travel experiences.
Is there a device or a way to quickly check your room for bedbugs? Other than stripping down the beds.
@@ohlone67 That's the only way I'm aware of (checking around the bed, mattress and box spring). That's the most common place you'll find them, although some people say they can also hide in cracks in walls, etc. I would just follow the tips for avoiding bed bugs and keep your suitcase in the bathroom (I've also thought about just putting all my clothes into plastic bags too until I need them to act as a secondary layer.
@@PortableProfessional Thanks. Unfortunately some of the lessons come from things learned the hard way. Interestingly the two incidents involving a delayed bag was the same airline to the same destination (Las Vegas on Southwest) but on different trips, years apart though. But there's nothing more annoying than looking for a WalMart at 10pm after a 4 hour flight to try to find something to wear for the next day until your bag arrives....
Sounds like I have been very lucky I have never come across bed bugs in all the 40 years I’ve been travelling in Europe, UK, Canada, America, Africa, Egypt, India, China, Asia, Australia. I always stay in 3 to 4 stars rated places. Obviously you should be aware but don't worry too much.
A helpful vid. Pay attention to the luggage material as well. Do a little research. Over the decades we have seen leather, nylon, canvass, ABS, polypropylene, polycarbonate, and aluminium. There are advantages and disadvantages to each type. I love the flexibility, strength, and low weight and price of polypropylene (PP). Also look for zippers that resist being opened by a nail or pen. And broken wheels can be bought online for replacement. No need to chuck the luggage.
I actually will leave my suitcase in my garage for about 4 days after a trip, and it is thoroughly sprayed with Lysol... before I even think of bringing it into my home. The contents I will remove and straight into the washer it goes ( not necessarily the same day).
I love the idea of the air tags. I could've used it on my recent trip as I arrived at my final destination minus my luggage. Thankfully, after about two days, I was reunited with my suitcase, and it was intact.
Thank you for the video! 👍😁
That won’t kill bed bugs. Only heat or extreme cold kills them.
@danamontroy8178 For sure! I also take extra steps whenever I stay at a hotel by NEVER placing my suitcase on the bed or up against a wall. My clothes stay in my suitcase or I may hang them up but never placed on or over any furniture .... lol
My husband and friends think I am strange, but that's ME! Thank you for your advice.
Thank you very much from France ! Extremely interesting !
Such a sensible, gal! WELL DONE!!
Glad you think so! Thanks for watching!
Ahhh thats such a good reminder to clean my suitcase. I've never cleaned the wheels! 💀
I love not checking luggage,haven't checked anything since 2021 when I bag got lost in Iceland.
My wife and I were coming back to the US from a river boat cruise… leaving Prague… my wife’s suitcase ended up in Poland…? We had AirTags in our bags (was our 1st time using them too) and could track them. We found out every tag on her bag had been ripped off… including the original airline tag. The only thing that saved us was the braided wire luggage tag (Amazon) that will never break off. I use them on every bag we have including backpacks.
I placed an AirTag in my luggage and it was removed along with several outfits in compression bags. I didn’t get my luggage at my location until two days after I arrived . I wrote and spoke with Delta after not receiving it. I did the same regarding the missing items upon receiving my luggage and was unapologetically informed that missing items had to be reported within 24 hours.
And often missing luggage before leaving the airport. One should always get a form indicating that they reported their luggage missing. Don't just let them tell you that they can "see" it and when it will arrive/be delivered.
Thank you for this video. I was searching for air tags to use with Samsung phones. Your video gave me the information to locate them on Amazon!❤
In hotel carry on bag sits on the hard bag surface. When home everything goes in wash, carry on bag sits out on a hard surface and then is bagged. Also check the corners of the bed under the sheets to see how many surprises you may have.
My outside luggage tag says address is inside. My luggage can’t be opened with a pen since I don’t have a zipper. When I did use zippered luggage I had a cover that made it difficult to gain entry. TSA security keys can easily be bought online and there are only 7 of them. I use my on luggage locks and they are made from boron so extremely difficult to cut. If TSA needs to see inside they will see me at the luggage pickup. AirTags are very useful
I have Tile trackers on all of our bags. The last time hubby flew, the suitcase made it just fine, but somehow the Tile is still somewhere in the Atlanta airport.
Always put the tracker inside the luggage, preferably behind the suitcase lining. I put AirTags in adhesive silicone covers that are adhered to the inside of the luggage, under the lining. Easily pop them out of the silicone case and remove the battery after the trip.
Thanks for all the good information 👍 😀
I use a suite case luggage rack when packing and unpacking.
I have never had issues with bed bugs and I travelled to Paris last year and Italy this year. I think the story about bed bugs has been highly exaggerated because I know many colleagues, friends and family who travel to European cities. I don’t tend to put my suitcase on the bed or the floor of a hotel and wipe surfaces if I feel the need
The luggage in the bathtub tip is excellent. Thank you for the tips and hacks!
You are so welcome!
I do love watching your videos from time to time but they sure do put me off travelling 😄
I was thinking the same thing. Was excited to travel this year but am rethinking it. Glad to have the info but it does dull the shine.
Think positively about it, it's a free insurance policy that helps ensure a great vacation and mitigates worries and fear. Don't be scared, be prepared 😂🎉. Blessings from Ontario Canada 🇨🇦🎇🕊️
I think I will put my suitcase in the garage after my trip. My washer is just inside the door.😏
Oh wow never thought of that. Thank you!!
Thanks Megan, great tips, as always.
You're so welcome!
I used wheel covers to protect the wheels and then when I get home, I wash the wheel covers. Unfortunately, some of the wheel covers have fallen off during handling. Where once I had enough for 2 suitcases, only one has them now. LOL Must buy some more. It was so much easier to wash the covers than the yucky wheels.
Wheel cover are new to me! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks!
Good tips as always Megan ❤
Thank you, Kenneth!
The Samsung air tag is a great tip. Really enjoying your travel tips!
Thanks! Glad it was helpful!
Excellent tips! Thanks for sharing 😊
You're very welcome, Debra!
Thank you
I take a strip of ducktape and put inside with my name, phone, and email on it. A card can and will be lost very quickly.
I have been using an old shower curtain to put over the bed while packing/unpacking. I try to use the hotel/cruise rubber “suitcase” bed cover when available, otherwise I try to use a wooden surface to unpack.
they climb wood furniture, bedbugs can be in walls, behind frames on walls, inside drawers, you'd go crazy if you read infestation/pest companies blogs 😭😭😭
Always Love Learning Something New from you Megan!!! You're the Best! 💖💎🙌∞
Thanks so much! Happy travels!
Have a friend that always takes off the wheels from her luggage and brushes them with a little dish soap and very hot water. Never had a problem.
Questions: What does security (TSA, Customs, port law enforcement) do to suitcase sleeves when the luggage has been separated from you? Will the officer be kind enough and non-destructively remove the sleeve or cut it off?
The sleeves simply unzip or have velcro closures. I wouldn't think that undoing the sleeve would be too cumbersome for them. Of course, there will always be that *one* person that couldn't be bothered...
@@marceld6061 she mentioned above that they will cut it off if the bag needs to be inspected. Of course, some may unzip it but one should be prepared that it may be cut off.
Also be aware of the local wildlife of the location in which you are staying. Bed bugs are one thing, but no one wants to bring home a scorpion either.
Thanks for the tips.
This is why I just bought a zipperless hard shell carryon. Can easily clean it
Some people use a tracking device in their checked baggage. TSA allows luggage trackers. I think that's an excellent idea.