Many years ago I had a training in San Diego but wanted to see more of California. I flew into San Francisco then took the train down, stopping at San Juan Capistrano to look around and visit the sites. I realized that I had over packed to the max and would not be able to do anything if I drug my luggage along. There was a hotel right there (1992 so I have no idea name of it) and I went in and talked to the desk clerk. I was not staying there, only sight seeing for about 6 hours before catching the train again. The clerk graciously took my luggage for safe keeping with no charge and for a desperate non client. I am still grateful to this day!!
I grew up in the 90's. I feel like it was a different time. Not to sound jaded, but I feel like if you did that today, you would have a much harder time finding a place that would do it. I could be wrong, who knows.
@@vbcsalinasapologetics1242it’s not common but does still work! Basically be polite, be willing to tip and it will be safely taken care of. If you want a hack to make it always work go to the bellhop ask them to take it, take the ticket go inside, use the restroom etc and leave then come back and ask for your luggage drone the bellhop. Tip the drop off person and the pickup person though and even if they realize you aren’t a guest they won’t care one bit.
My family and I have left our luggage with the front desk after check, because our flight didn't leave for several hours and we went out to eat and shopping before we caught the shuttle back to the airport. Hilton did charge us a $50 fee. Had we been reward members, we wouldn't have been charged anything. I think there are those who rent an Airbnb or VRBO and check out is 9am to 11am and they have to take all their luggage with them.
@@daphnegarzarelli-lawson324 I agree! It was honestly better than dragging all of our luggage around town. Before booking a hotel room we now ask about leaving bags/luggage after check out. The majority of hotels don't charge.
as someone who uses airbnbs a lot when travelling due to the reduced cost of staying for 1-2 nights, i have asked some places if i'm okay to drop off my bags early if i have a convention or event im planning on going to, and i havent actually had a time where someone has said no thus far. most people are pretty accomodating about this kind of stuff, and i've even had one person kindly put my belongings in my room once they had finished cleaning/preparing it! however, on the occasion where they say no, i know there are solutions in london (where i do most my travelling) where i can rent out a space to keep my luggage which would cost around £20 as a flat rate for the day
I travel a lot for both work and pleasure. I have used this service many times. All the hotels I have needed this service have always been willing to accommodate my needs. In fact, just last spring I was touring New Zealand and the tour schedule required staying at a hotel in Auckland for one night, traveling to another hotel a few hours away for 2 nights, then back to Auckland for the remainder of our stay. I asked the Auckland hotel staff to hold our larger bags until we returned. They verified our reservation for later in the week, tagged our bags, gave me the claim check, and then stowed them in a secure storage room. When we returned we picked up our bags with absolutely no hassle, no damage, and no extra charge. I've also had hotels hold my bags before check-in time and after check-out. As long as you are polite about it and ask, rather than expect, the staff have always been very gracious. Yes, I tip well for this service. It is very valuable to me, so I recognize accordingly.
I've been a night auditor for almost 20 years, across 8 hotels, and none of them have ever charged to hold bags for a few hours. Regular guests will sometimes leave a bag for a few days until they return, so they don't have to pay luggage fees on a flight. We always accommodate. Great content, keep posting!
Yup, I use this trick frequently, and I don't think I've ever been told no or charged much for the service so long as I'm actually staying at the hotel. This has worked for me in most of the countries I've visited, too, including Europe and Japan.
I've left my bags at many hotels, and the system has been everything from putting a numbered tag on each bag and giving us matching numbered claim tickets, to just saying "the left luggage room is over there" and it's an unlocked room that they can see from the front desk. Never had an issue. Never been charged, either.
@@CoupleMoore It is kinda scary, but there is some relief in knowing it's under the watchful eye of the front desk (and hopefully a security camera or two).
One hotel I stayed at had a room for the luggage, but it was not under anyone's attention. The luggage survived, but I never left luggage with that hotel again. Every other place I left luggage at kept the luggage behind the front desk.
@@CoupleMoore Depends on what you have in there. A complete pain, of course but at this point even my current suitcase is older and will have to be replaced soon. I won't have enough to wear and will be laundering every other day for several weeks if I lose five days worth of clothes, shoes and toiletries (all my stuff needs to be hemmed before use) but I'd be carrying my ID and passport, wallet and a list of my meds. What can't you live without. The place I most worry about losing a suitcase is at the airport. My friends had someone pick up their labeled bag from the luggage carousel and start to take it away.
I spent an extended weekend in Las Vegas. I arrived at the Hooters Hotel (now the OYO Hotel) earlier than check-in, and they graciously allowed me to leave my bags with Bell Services so I could venture off to have lunch. They also held my bags after checkout, so I could do a bit more exploring before heading to the airport. I'm grateful for services like this - it made my trip so much easier!
Worked security systems (i.e. locks, access control, fire alarms. video) at a resort complex many years ago. we had a family who visited every summer. They hated flying or even driving with their luggage so they would ship it via UPS the week prior. Upon check out it was just a couple of day packs and purses with them. Housekeeping would find their luggage all packed up and stacked at the end of a bed. Front Desk and Maintenance would get it boxed up and call UPS to ship it back.
My husband acted like I was crazy the first time he saw me ask the hotel if they could hold my luggage. They took it no problem. As a side note, I had a long layover in Poland and wanted to see a few things in Warsaw. I stopped by a hotel and explained I wasn't staying but asked very nicely. First hotel said no but second hotel were so sweet and held onto my luggage for the 5 hours I asked. I definitely went back to Warsaw on another trip and that was the hotel I stayed at with my husband and kids. Obviously, it's not their responsibility to look after luggage but so helpful!
I left my luggage after check out in the Hotel in Finnland last year. My flight was planned in the afternoon so i had plenty of time in the national Library and to eat in Helsinki one last time. I took my Laptop, important documents with me and leaving my luggage behind didn‘t cost anything extra + the stuff was absolutely nice and helpfull.
I've done this frequently, but mostly at hotels and hostels in the Nordic countries. I've never had to pay for the service nor had any items go missing.
I bookended a trip to Europe with stays at Disney hotels. I took part of my luggage to the hotel I planned to stay after I got back from London, which was not the hotel I stayed at before I left, they held my luggage for a week. No problem whatsoever.
I used to go to a lot of conventions. Every hotel would watch your bags either before check[in or after checkout. It seemed that everybody knew this, because the lines to claim your bags could be pretty long. I don't remember there ever being a fee, maybe $5, but a lot of folks left the bell desk a tip. This would have been roughly 1990 - 2019, large chains, downtown locations in large cities.
I've never had to pay for the service, and I've even had an AirBNB agree to take my bags once, which was super king. But there are times it doesn't make sense to use, especially after check-out, like if I'm heading to the beach or something and then I'd have to go all the way back downtown to my hotel and then back out to the airport. Essentially if that extra trip back to the hotel to sort the bag would add a bunch of time that I could otherwise be sightseeing, I'll just take the bag with me at that point as long as its not too cumbersome.
Sadly, I was quite often unlucky, every hotel I went they don't. I know that some do, that's why I ask. But luckily, at the train station they have secure lockers that I use then. But I am from Germany and don't expect that everywhere.
That surprises me, since that's a very normal thing here in Switzerland, with no extra cost. They even go out of their way to tell us about it in the touristy areas here, and in the other areas, it's nearly assumed that you can leave bags. Weird that it's not the same next door.
@@magdolynI am German, too, and have never had a hotel here refuse to hold my luggage. Maybe I've just been lucky so far, but I think it's a pretty standard service here as well.
Jessica, I no longer travel but love to watch your videos. Your humor, grace, and attitude are refreshing. And the way you present these true-to-life experiences you share always put a smile on my face. Thank you!
I always had great success sending a box of my things ahead for the hotel to hold, so I could carry a smaller bag onto the plane, then leaving it for them to mail out when I left. I did call ahead to confirm it was okay and get a "box is coming" note in my reservation and paid postage plus tip for the outgoing box.
I used to travel several times a year for work or with family in the US Canada and Mexico all of the hotels had this service and I have used it checking in and out I have never had a issue with my bags the hotel watched. I really appreciate this service!
This is key for backpacking. You drop your bags off wherever you're staying (hotels, hostels, etc) and go about your day. Maybe after lunch you'll go properly check in and transfer your bag into your room. But this way it doesn't matter when your next train or flight is, or what time you arrive. You're able to just walk around and enjoy the city. If the hotel is too far from the city center and you don't want to have to go there and back, most cities in Europe will also have lockers for your bag. At a train station, or bus station or such
Many, many years ago I took a state contractor's license exam in Anaheim. It was eight hours starting at 8 AM with a lunch break. I had to stay in the nearest hotel the night before. I wasn't able to return until long after checkout ( obviously) and was able to leave without a second night I didn't know what to do until at checkout the hotel suggested that I could leave my bag. I think there was a nominal charge. Worked out perfectly and I did well on the test.
I've stayed in many different hotels over the years, and have never had any issues with leaving my bags at the bell stand - either before checking in or after checking out, and I've never had to pay. ❤
Something you should probably keep in mind when seeing people around town with their bags is that if people are walking around with the bags, they probably don't have a car with them or they would have left those bags in the car (and presumably put their most valuable possessions that they brought with them in a purse or single carry-on sized bag? I travel with electronics and if I've got a car and if I've got a pre-check in thing to do or an after check-in thing to do, the electronics go in my purse and the luggage just has clothes and toiletries and stays in my car). If you don't have a car, going to the hotel when you get into town, or going back to the hotel before you leave town, probably costs either a significant amount of time if you're getting around via public transit and your own two feet, or a significant amount of money if you're getting around by cab. Not having to take an extra trip to the hotel between getting into town and their first activity, and/or between doing an activity and getting out of town, will always give you at least a little bit more time on that activity (if not a lot of time), and is at the very least cheaper in not having to pay for your public transit/cab/an extra few hours and miles with the rental car/or whatever. It's a convenient service, especially if your activity is near the hotel, or if there's little a shuttle between the hotel and airport that you'd be using anyways, or if you do have the time or money to take that extra trip to the hotel without it being a big deal, but I expect not everyone who's walking around with their luggage are only doing so because they didn't think to ask the hotel if it was possible to hold it.
This!! Until last year, we didn't have a car to travel with. We'd always travel via bus or train to the town and then walk with our luggage to the hotel. Cabs are expensive, especially in touristy areas, and at the seaside in my country, many taxis drive between cities which makes wait times very long. It's quicker to walk by foot to the hotel from the bus station, and then rest at the hotel. We sometimes have taken a cab, but it was too expensive for what it's worth. Granted, we were staying in a small town where you can easily walk from one side to the other in a few minutes, for larger cities, the taxi price is more worth it. Now that we have a car, it was so much easier. We didn't even need to bring all our luggage up at once - we brought some, left smaller bags behind in the car, then went for everything else when we weren't as tired.
Back when I used to travel quite a bit for work, I'd take early or redeye flights in. Left my bag at the hotel front desk, explored the city and came back to check in after dinner. Similarly, I'd check out after breakfast, leave my bag and collect it after dinner for my redeye back. Helped a lot that I can usually sleep through flights, and saved a bunch of money too.
I can’t remember a hotel that hasn’t offered this. But sometimes there have been a fee. And sometimes the security haven’t felt great, when it is open for public, or when I collect it I just point to it and says what is mine, without checking if it is.
Most of the time when I travel, I have a car. The one time I didn't, I was able to leave the luggage at the hotel before we had to leave for our flight. It was a small hotel near Disneyland (not a Disneyland hotel). The front desk agent was very nice about it. I just kept my most important things (including laptop) in a single backpack and enjoyed a day in Downtown Disney.
I work in a mid-sized (about 90 rooms) hotel in central Labrador, up in northern Canada, and we have a locked storage area under the stairs in our lobby, where guests can keep their luggage for a while. In fact, since our town is basically a travel hub for the region, it's not unusual for people visiting the smaller communities on the northern coast, or for tourists traveling on to nearby fishing camps in the summer, to leave their bags in that room for days at a time. As well, if it's only for a few hours, we'll happily let guests keep their bags behind the front desk.
We do this every time we go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, when we went to Disney ,and we did this when we traveled to Italy. We were never charged and I would say we have been very lucky we never had any issues. I think because my husband travels so much for work, he has the system down pat.
Yes, I always check my bags into hotels early and leave them for later after check out. Also, for long journeys where, say, I’m on an island waiting for a ferry, I leave my bags at cafes or tavernas. The only place where I’ve had to pay was train stations (and then it’s like a service) but most places will kindly do it for free. At cafes and tavernas I almost always tip because it’s a great service. It’s always worth checking and asking if it’s somewhere new. There’s always a way not to have to drag your bags (but keep your passport and money with you to be safe).
I can only think of once when we made use of this service. It was while in Vegas, and we had a evening flight out, so rather than lug our stuff around for most of the day, we had the hotel hold it for us.
I travel by train most of the time, so I check out often hours before my train goes. I regularly leave my luggage in the hotel and had never to pay for it. Hotels in Germany and central Europe.
I left my bags near the front desk with a lot of others on my check out day. They were not locked up. When I got home to unpack, three of my DVDs had been stolen. I think it was housekeeping. I will never do that again.
I travel occasionally for business. My last day in a city might still have meetings before my afternoon or evening flight, but with checkout time being 11 AM (or even 1 or 2 PM if I get a no-charge late checkout) I would usually check out in the morning and have the hotel hold my bags (no charge) until I come back in the afternoon after my work is done. Eazy Peazy.
I’ve left my bags with hotels sometimes while on vacation with my family I don’t know if it costed money because I didn’t pay for it, but every time we needed it they had it
I thought that was fairly common knowledge, twice when checking out I've asked if they can keep my bags! One in New York my flight home wasn't till the afternoon so had a final morning sightseeing and they were organising the taxi to the airport anyway! The other time I'd travelled for an event and booked the night after and as I didn't have a set return time as I had an open train ticket I could spend the morning actually seeing the city then go back for my bags which were in the hotel right by the station! Never been charged for it and they lock it in another room! I always have a lock on my bag for while travelling so I just make sure its locked up then anyway.
I do that sometimes when I need to tour a city but my flight back is in evening. The people at the desk always keep it safe. Nothing has ever gone missing for us
I've definitely used this service, both before check in & after checking out. It was a convention and events were ongoing all day for 4 days, so that was really convenient. Also, every airbnb we've rented allowed us to bring in luggage before checking in and after check out, but maybe we just pick the right ones!
i've worked at a hotel for a bit over a year now, and the number of times i've been asked to hold a suitcase in the back while a guest either waits for a room, or waits for a late flight i can count on 1 hand. the number of times, however, that i've had people borderline rage at me because i couldn't either 1. check them in early at 10am or 2. give them a free 3pm late checkout.... i can't even remember how many times THAT has happened...... i also can't even remember how many times i've had people stay checked into their room until literally the last second (or the last second of their agreed upon late checkout) chilling down in the lobby... go up, grab their already packed bag, and walk out on the hour on the button. they easily could have left their bag, it was already packed. we don't charge to hold bags.
I've never had a hotel refuse to hold my bags before or after check-in. That's in New Zealand, Europe, USA, Japan, Australia and Hong Kong. Even every AirBnB I've stayed at has been happy to have the bags dropped off in the entranceway before check-in time as long as it was not too early (I.e before the last person staying had checked out.) The strangest one I've encountered though was a hotel in Japan who just told you to leave your bags in the middle of the lobby and just grab them when you needed them later in the day.
Pre-9/11, when I basically lived in a hotel for months for work, I would leave my big suitcase there when I flew home for the weekend or a week. Great to fly internationally with only carry on. Sometimes they'd even have it waiting in my room when I returned.
Never did that when I was motel commuting. I should have thought of it. My motel put all the stuff I liked, fridge, microwave, iron in my room and gave me the same room every week. It was nice service.
Yes, hotels do hold the bags. However, once I stayed at an independent apartment and after I handed over the keys, there was no place to leave a bag. Granted I didn't plan any more activities after the key handover. Maybe they stayed somewhere like that, or maybe even in AirBnBs.
I’m actually surprised people don’t know about letting the hotel hold their luggage prior to checking in. Every time I have traveled to Europe or Asia I always get to the hotel before the check in time, due to the time zone difference I tend to land early in the morning, and I always ask them if they are able to hold my luggage for a few hours before I come back for check in and they always accommodate my request. I have always assumed most people know about this service. When I go to Japan in May I will land and arrive early in the morning and I will politely ask them to hold my luggage until I come back after 3 PM, so I can fight off jet lag by doing stuff in the city for a few hours.
I actually found this out when i called a week or so before my stay, and I asked if i could leave my bag at the hotel because check-in was at 3PM and the convention I was going to started at 10AM. They said absolutely and that that is something they normally provide. They were shocked i didn't know that, too but were happy to explain. Huge weight off my shoulders for that day, and when i got to the hotel around noon - just expecting to leave my bags there to get to the covention - they had my room ready! I was pleasantly surprised and said seriously, and they said seriously and gave me my room key. Staff was amazing, and i am very thankful for them.❤
The most I've ever paid for luggage storage is $5 USD (per bag, but I only had one), that was at an NYC hostel. Every other place I've stayed, I've done this and it cost nothing. My experience is in Mexico, USA, and Canada. Usually I end up with late flights and it's nice to be able to go out and explore as much as possible without making it a farmer's walk workout.
A family member and I have had our bags held at a hotel while we were out and about checking out some tourist sites. They didn't charge to hold our bags and set them aside in a room behind the front desk, probably locked up.
The hotel i used to work at is part of a big chain and had a lot of frequest corporate travelers. Some of them literally stay Monday-Friday 40+ weeks a year, so those people would always pack up a large suitcase before checking out and leave it in the room. Our bell team would pick it up and store it every Friday, then bring it up the following Monday after the room has been cleaned and assigned
Hotels I've stayed at always offered luggage storage either before check-in or after check out. Most hotels have also allowed us to check in early. I never expect it, but also always show up early and ask. If the answer is no then no problem. We wait 😊 Never paid for luggage storage, but I also signed up to be a member with all the main apps/chains. Even though I don't travel a ton anymore the base member perks are worth it and it doesn't cost you a think. The IHG app allowed me to have a free late check out at an intercontinental and it was my first stay. Just being a member gave me that perk.
This reminds me of another story of mine. I once had a lady call Guest Relations because she went grocery shopping before check-in, but got to the hotel at 12. She was upset because there wasn't a room available for early check-in, and she had cold foods that were going to go bad. Lesson learned, check in 1st before you go shopping for perishables.
Been using this service for over 30 years, on multiple continents. Hotels are universally good to customers this way. Rarely have I been charged a per bag fee, but at peak times at a resort hotel with a 15k person conference, they would charge a reasonable fee per bag. Also, if I was not a guest but having dinner or a meeting, the bellman would charge a fee per bag which is fair. The convenience is worth it.
I kinda knew it was a thing, but only had to make use of it once when I went to San Francisco a few years ago. I usually plan the travel time around the fact that I don't want to get up at the crack of dawn, so I usually end up getting to my hotel after check-in time. However, when I got to the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco, they had me go over to the luggage desk where they gave me a ticket to fill out and stuck another one on the bag. It was free.
I used to travel for business quite a bit, and I didn't know about having the hotel hold bags until one time I was traveling with the owner of the company and we arrived quite early in the day. She arranged to have our bags held and I was uncomfortable about it at first, but later really came to appreciate it. Last year while in DC over Memorial Day weekend I had a late flight out and was very pleased to hand over my luggage until I was ready to catch the shuttle to the airport, it allowed for sightseeing in the afternoon.
I’ve done this dozens of times and I’ve never known a hotel to say no or charge me. Usually they have a designated room/closet for this, though a few times they’re like “stick it behind this couch in the lobby, we’ll keep an eye on it for you.”
I’ve used this service often, both on check in day waiting for my room and on check out day when I would be out of my room but not be leaving the city until later in the day. I’ve never had an issue with security of the bags or had anything going missing. Almost always this service has been free, except for hotels I’ve stayed at in NYC where there was a charge. That varied between $10 to $25. Love your videos! I worked for a travel marketing agency and I always said if we ever wrote down all the crazy things people said to us we would have a bestselling book.
I was surprised it was a free service back like 10 years ago when I started traveling a lot - but I’ve never had an issue caused by them holding my suitcase. My carry-on has the valuables and is always with me. I’ve never been charged but if you told me some place do, I’d believe you.
We had a very good hotel stay in Nanning, China. The hotel held our bags and even transported it to the other hotel that we wanted to change to. Free of charge and just smiles all around. Great experience.
Have done this all over Australia and Europe, never had a problem. An alternative is Railway or Bus terminal luggage lockers, especially if your hotel is on the outskirts of a major city and you have catch a train or bus from said city to travel to next destination.
I've done this in Stockholm a couple times. I was travelling to northern Sweden originating from Philadelphia airport. I would get to Stockholm by plane (usually multiple planes), go to the train terminal and put my luggage in a storage locker so I could go around the city and play tourist. I'd return to the train station to fetch my belongings and take the overnight train up to Kiruna. Turns out this was best because from Kiruna I needed to drive 45 minutes to Esrange, my final destination. I was like the walking-dead wandering around Stockholm, so if I had taken the 2hr plane to Kiruna I would be even more tired for the 45 minute drive in a foreign country. By taking the overnight train (about the same cost), I was well rested by the time I got behind the controls of a high-speed killing machine (i.e. car).
Yes, I have left luggage with the front desk both before and after checkin. Some hotels will put it in a locked room and some just have it sitting out in the open like a breakfast room, but I have never had a issue. Some hotels will even let you store your luggage for multiple days. When my husband and I traveled to destinations like New Zealand where you might stay at a hotel, then go on a multi day hike in backcountry huts and then return to the hotel we were able to leave items like the duffel that we transported our backpacks in on the airplane and extra clothes at the hotel or hostel. I think one place may have charged a small per day storage fee.
I always leave my bags with the concierges/bell staff and have never had an issue with it and never had to pay extra for the service. I just did it yesterday in Vegas while waiting for a late flight home and when checked in on arrival also. I always shake my head when i see people dragging their luggage all over the place as well. Thanks Jessica 😊 ❤
Did this with a friend from New Zealand. She landed in San Francisco in the morning, and I went by train/BART to meet her, then were were going to spend the day in SF before going back to the valley by train. So we got downtown by BART, walked into a hotel by Union Square and asked to check her bags. No questions about whether we were staying and no charge. But I tipped very nicely, because it was so convenient and helpful!. [Edit: this was in 2019]
Yes, I found this out a couple years ago when I got to a hotel early, asked if it was possible to check in, and the front desk offered to hold my bags while I waited for a room. I’ve since asked for it any time I get to a hotel super early and it’s been an awesome little thing to get to do while waiting. Luckily I’ve never been charged. Definitely recommend people try this!
Used to travel for work and spent two years traveling every week to another state. I kept my sewing machine and materials in a travel bag at the hotel from Friday to Sunday while I was home. Never had a problem. Chaim was Hampton Inn. They were wonderful
I went to NYC with my sister. We flew in at midnight to Connecticut and then took a sleep at a hotel there, then took a train to NYC and parked our bags at the hotel until check in time. It was a great service, very helpful in such a crowded chaotic city, and we just went back that evening, checked in and everything was great!
The hotel we stayed at in Hawaii even had a ‘shower room’ for those of us who wanted to hit the beach one more time before getting on our plane. I was so appreciative when the front desk person mentioned that service when we asked if they’d hold our luggage a few hours. There was no charge for luggage or use of the room to shower. However the allowed time in the room to shower was short and timed, lol.
When I stayed at Disney World many years ago, they held our bags so we could go ahead and enjoy the parks until we came back to check in. Granted we had reservations at that hotel and had a package that included hotel, meals, park passes, etc. That just shows how long ago it was. 😂
Disney World has an excellent setup for storing guest bags! And they can also hold groceries, too, for people who put in deliveries for their vacation before they get to the hotel.
I did know this. Also found out while traveling with others that the desk will often have complimentary items you might have forgotten, such as a toothbrush.
I've used the service, when I'm traveling for studies. Check out time was during cours hours but I didn't like running around with my suitcase. So after the day learning, on the way to the train station I picked up my suitcase. This charming hotel didn't charge for the service
Jessica, don't know if you've seen the video, but Miami told spring breakers to stay away. A number of cities are also giving spring breakers the cold shoulder (including charging HIGH fees for everything). And yes, I have had a hotel hold my bags and no, they didn't charge me (this was five years ago).
@@MountainPearlsThat's easy to answer. There's been a lot of violence such as shootings in the past couple years. And the crowds have gotten unmanageable where they're walking in the street and keeping cars from going through. It's gotten unmanageable.
That's easy to answer. There has been an upswing and violence and bad behavior in the past couple years. There have been shootings and large fights. And crowds have been gathering in streets and impeding cars. That's why the cities are clamping down because it's gotten unmanageable.
@@LKMNOP I live near Virginia Beach, and though not that much of a spring break destination, they have some special weekends during the summer, mostly music oriented (if you can call what is being performed music). Last year when this was coming up, all vacations and furloughs of any kind for all police staff was blacked out for those dates. Extra police were called in from Norfolk, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk, Portsmouth, and about anywhere else in driving distance that could spare some cops. Also some private security was hired. So when I hear the city preach about how great the festivals are for tax revenue, I have to wonder just how much that extra revenue is after you subtract millions for an abundance of cops just to keep violence and mayhem down.
@@nedkelly2035 It's the same amount of extra revenue. The revenue a government takes in is SUPPOSED to be spent on services, not hoarded forever. Unless your government is run by a dragon?
before I drove to conventions, I took trains and buses, and it was one of the nicest things to have my bags held at the front desk while I attended the last day of the convention. The only time I didn't was when I was going to a lecture and it would have been more time to return to my hotel and pick up my bags. So I brought it along with me. I have never been charged for the service.
I knew about the baggage holding option. There is another thing that can happen as well, if you are somehow separated with your luggage, once you make a claim and tell them when you check-in, the hotel will bring your luggage to your room as soon as possible.
Flashback to the 90s when me and my family arrived in the morning fresh from the overnight train, intending to drop our luggage at our room before spending the day at the town. Luckily, the train station we just arrived from was practically across the street and offered extensive luggage storage facilities.
I learned about the service from attending conventions and have used it quite often. Only ever had one hotel charge for it and we just didn't use that hotel for later trips. It wasn't until my first time visiting Disney as an adult that I learned you can do this all year round and not just a convention weekend.
There are also a lot of luggage pickup-hold- and delivery services available! For instance, here in Nashville there are several companies that will come to you to pick up your luggage. Now, just like checking luggage, keep your meds and valuables with you to ensure there’s no way anything can happen to them. But- it’s a cheap enough service and is SUPER handy!
My family and I traveled by train to see the eclipse in Indianapolis this past weekend. After a short walk, we got to the hotel at 5:45 AM. The front desk lady was very confused, but my parents explained that we had called earlier and they'd said then that they'd hold our bags for us. The lady understood and put our bags in the office... and then proceeded to let us stay in a room off the breakfast area (it had a sliding door and couch/table/chairs) AND said we could have breakfast for free even though our reservation wasn't until that night! She was so kind and generous (and, no, nothing happened to our bags).
Yes, I have left my luggage at hotels on many continents. I tend to put things I want kept safe in the locked baggage. Never been charged for it, never had an issue both before and well after check-in. I find most are happy to keep it as long as you get it on the same day if you check out. I thought it was common knowledge!😅
I worked for a HIlton for 4 years (began in 2020), and our property did not charge for holding luggage. We offered this service as an incentive to keep guests from trying to do late checkout, especially during big event times. Only time this came back to bite us was when an entire team of students (12-15 kids) left all of their stuff there, but typically only a couple people would drop off their stuff. Heck, several working professionals who regularly stayed with us would leave a bag with us in-between stays (check out Thursday or Friday, come back the following Sunday or Monday) for however long their contracts were. We'd stash them in the room with the guest safes. One gentleman would even stash a travel fishing rod with us during warmer months.
Utilized this service when I had to check in early at a conference and my room wasn’t ready (not Hotel’s fault, we checked in at 9am because my copilot had meetings she had to attend pre-conference.) The staff was incredible, and went out of their way to accommodate. Honestly, it’s rare that I’ve ever stayed at a hotel that wasn’t as t least considerate of not downright hospitable. Shout-out to the Hotel in Branson we frequent often just because they make us feel absolutely welcome since our first visit!
I was beginning to think I was just bougie. Every hotel I've ever stayed in has offered this service, I've never used it because we usually had a rental car and would leave our bags in the trunk until check in or after check out. But we were always aware of it. Either a front desk person would tell us or it would be listed under the hotel's offered services next to safe access and that kind of thing.
I always do this. I call ahead of time to make sure it's a service they offer. We like to take the first flight out going to our destination and the last flight going home. I always tip when I leave our bags and pick them up.
I’ve done this many times at start and end of stay and I’m really glad you are highlighting it! I think if more people knew this there would also be a reduction in people desperate for early checkin and late checkout. I used to worry about my flight times compared to check in/out times in my earliest years of travel. Now I don’t even give that a thought. I’ve shown up at my hotel at 7 am and dropped my bags to go explore the city before returning much later for checkin. Places often have space where you can freshen up too if you’ve just arrived after a red eye, even if it’s just a keyed bathroom. One place had a whole locker room we could use after our international flight. I’ve done the same on last day to store to get that last day of exploring or conference in. I’ve had full bellhop stands to “just put it in that room over there” that the front desk keeps an eye on to them literally just keeping it at the front desk.
The hotels I've stayed at all offered this. Used it at an aparthotel in Edinburgh where I checked out early but left my bag with them until I left for the train station. Airbnb actually let me leave my bag with her in the morning until i could check in in the afternoon. I didn't have to pay for it and it was great. It was actually something I was looking for.
I have worked in the hotel industry myself, not as long as you but still. I would never leave anything of value at the hotel without me. I have learned from the less than trustworthy people that I worked with how to get into locked luggage, and how to get into a room even if you have a security bar/chain. I myself have broken into safes (at the guests request) and I can tell you that there is a code on those safes, that most hotels don't change, to bypass your code, there is also a key that can be used on them, you just remove one cover. Nothing is secure in a hotel... NOTHING
I have stayed in multiple hotels across Canada, and not once have I ever had an issue with an establishment storing luggage for a few hours until I was ready to depart. I don't think that I was ever charged for the privilege either. Some hotels are better organized (with claim tags and a dedicated storage room) than others (which will put the bag in the corner of the office or a janitor's closet), but I have never had a problem.
Yes, I knew this was available and I've used it several times particularly at conferences where check-out time was 11 but activities lasted longer. I've never had a problem. Bags were always placed in a secure area and tagged.
Sometimes I drag my luggage when I am between transportation, like early ferry arrival and late train or flight departure, so could then take a walk in town. It if often baggage lockers available, but not always and they are sometimes expensive.
I've not done much traveling but I was aware of this service when waiting for check-in. Not that it's also (sometimes) available when checking out. Good to know. Thanks Jessica! ❤
yess !!! We both pushed onto the next flight bc of a complication with the plane so we got to stay an extra night and since our next flight wasn’t until 9pm and checkout was 11am and they were so kind and held our bags when we went out to lunch!!! It would’ve been a pain if we had to carry around 3 suitcases and a buggy/stroller!
Yes, I left my bags in the front desk a lot when I arrive early... My job books the fight usually at the first commercial hour, so we have time to adapt in case something goes wrong (cancelled fight etc). They always charge but is the price of a coffee, so it is good.
I was a young person on one of my first business trips when an older colleague told me this service was available. Since then I’ve had many hotels hold luggage, sometimes from checkout until late in the evening when I had a night flight home. I’ve never had to pay and never had a problem.
Many years ago I had a training in San Diego but wanted to see more of California. I flew into San Francisco then took the train down, stopping at San Juan Capistrano to look around and visit the sites. I realized that I had over packed to the max and would not be able to do anything if I drug my luggage along. There was a hotel right there (1992 so I have no idea name of it) and I went in and talked to the desk clerk. I was not staying there, only sight seeing for about 6 hours before catching the train again. The clerk graciously took my luggage for safe keeping with no charge and for a desperate non client. I am still grateful to this day!!
I grew up in the 90's. I feel like it was a different time. Not to sound jaded, but I feel like if you did that today, you would have a much harder time finding a place that would do it. I could be wrong, who knows.
@@west_coast_girl I have done this -left bags at a hotel where I was not checked in - during 2005, 2021, and 2023.
@@vbcsalinasapologetics1242it’s not common but does still work! Basically be polite, be willing to tip and it will be safely taken care of. If you want a hack to make it always work go to the bellhop ask them to take it, take the ticket go inside, use the restroom etc and leave then come back and ask for your luggage drone the bellhop. Tip the drop off person and the pickup person though and even if they realize you aren’t a guest they won’t care one bit.
My family and I have left our luggage with the front desk after check, because our flight didn't leave for several hours and we went out to eat and shopping before we caught the shuttle back to the airport. Hilton did charge us a $50 fee. Had we been reward members, we wouldn't have been charged anything.
I think there are those who rent an Airbnb or VRBO and check out is 9am to 11am and they have to take all their luggage with them.
Ridiculous that you were charged a fee and a fee so high!! Thanks for the perspective on the airbnbs.
@@daphnegarzarelli-lawson324 I agree! It was honestly better than dragging all of our luggage around town.
Before booking a hotel room we now ask about leaving bags/luggage after check out. The majority of hotels don't charge.
Was that in the States? I stayed at a Hilton in Mexico and I only tipped the bellhop
as someone who uses airbnbs a lot when travelling due to the reduced cost of staying for 1-2 nights, i have asked some places if i'm okay to drop off my bags early if i have a convention or event im planning on going to, and i havent actually had a time where someone has said no thus far. most people are pretty accomodating about this kind of stuff, and i've even had one person kindly put my belongings in my room once they had finished cleaning/preparing it!
however, on the occasion where they say no, i know there are solutions in london (where i do most my travelling) where i can rent out a space to keep my luggage which would cost around £20 as a flat rate for the day
$50 for how many bags? You stated family.
I travel a lot for both work and pleasure. I have used this service many times. All the hotels I have needed this service have always been willing to accommodate my needs.
In fact, just last spring I was touring New Zealand and the tour schedule required staying at a hotel in Auckland for one night, traveling to another hotel a few hours away for 2 nights, then back to Auckland for the remainder of our stay. I asked the Auckland hotel staff to hold our larger bags until we returned. They verified our reservation for later in the week, tagged our bags, gave me the claim check, and then stowed them in a secure storage room. When we returned we picked up our bags with absolutely no hassle, no damage, and no extra charge.
I've also had hotels hold my bags before check-in time and after check-out. As long as you are polite about it and ask, rather than expect, the staff have always been very gracious.
Yes, I tip well for this service. It is very valuable to me, so I recognize accordingly.
I've been a night auditor for almost 20 years, across 8 hotels, and none of them have ever charged to hold bags for a few hours. Regular guests will sometimes leave a bag for a few days until they return, so they don't have to pay luggage fees on a flight. We always accommodate.
Great content, keep posting!
Yup, I use this trick frequently, and I don't think I've ever been told no or charged much for the service so long as I'm actually staying at the hotel. This has worked for me in most of the countries I've visited, too, including Europe and Japan.
It's not really a trick. It's a service they offer.
I've left my bags at many hotels, and the system has been everything from putting a numbered tag on each bag and giving us matching numbered claim tickets, to just saying "the left luggage room is over there" and it's an unlocked room that they can see from the front desk. Never had an issue. Never been charged, either.
Unlocked?! Oh no. That’s scary.
@@CoupleMoore It is kinda scary, but there is some relief in knowing it's under the watchful eye of the front desk (and hopefully a security camera or two).
One hotel I stayed at had a room for the luggage, but it was not under anyone's attention. The luggage survived, but I never left luggage with that hotel again. Every other place I left luggage at kept the luggage behind the front desk.
@@CoupleMoore Depends on what you have in there. A complete pain, of course but at this point even my current suitcase is older and will have to be replaced soon. I won't have enough to wear and will be laundering every other day for several weeks if I lose five days worth of clothes, shoes and toiletries (all my stuff needs to be hemmed before use) but I'd be carrying my ID and passport, wallet and a list of my meds. What can't you live without.
The place I most worry about losing a suitcase is at the airport. My friends had someone pick up their labeled bag from the luggage carousel and start to take it away.
I spent an extended weekend in Las Vegas. I arrived at the Hooters Hotel (now the OYO Hotel) earlier than check-in, and they graciously allowed me to leave my bags with Bell Services so I could venture off to have lunch. They also held my bags after checkout, so I could do a bit more exploring before heading to the airport. I'm grateful for services like this - it made my trip so much easier!
Worked security systems (i.e. locks, access control, fire alarms. video) at a resort complex many years ago. we had a family who visited every summer. They hated flying or even driving with their luggage so they would ship it via UPS the week prior. Upon check out it was just a couple of day packs and purses with them. Housekeeping would find their luggage all packed up and stacked at the end of a bed. Front Desk and Maintenance would get it boxed up and call UPS to ship it back.
Wow, sounds expensive!
Um, why wouldn’t they want to drive or fly with the luggage, both of those are cheaper than shipping it
@@12369ja Not necessarily. I remember paying nearly 300 pounds for excess baggage on an international flight once.
Qantas wants to charge me about 1000 AUD to bring an extra bag to Europe, so probably would be cheaper to ship it.
@@marcusmyge Wow, that's daylight robbery!
My husband acted like I was crazy the first time he saw me ask the hotel if they could hold my luggage. They took it no problem.
As a side note, I had a long layover in Poland and wanted to see a few things in Warsaw. I stopped by a hotel and explained I wasn't staying but asked very nicely. First hotel said no but second hotel were so sweet and held onto my luggage for the 5 hours I asked. I definitely went back to Warsaw on another trip and that was the hotel I stayed at with my husband and kids. Obviously, it's not their responsibility to look after luggage but so helpful!
I left my luggage after check out in the Hotel in Finnland last year. My flight was planned in the afternoon so i had plenty of time in the national Library and to eat in Helsinki one last time. I took my Laptop, important documents with me and leaving my luggage behind didn‘t cost anything extra + the stuff was absolutely nice and helpfull.
I've done this frequently, but mostly at hotels and hostels in the Nordic countries. I've never had to pay for the service nor had any items go missing.
I bookended a trip to Europe with stays at Disney hotels. I took part of my luggage to the hotel I planned to stay after I got back from London, which was not the hotel I stayed at before I left, they held my luggage for a week. No problem whatsoever.
I used to go to a lot of conventions. Every hotel would watch your bags either before check[in or after checkout. It seemed that everybody knew this, because the lines to claim your bags could be pretty long. I don't remember there ever being a fee, maybe $5, but a lot of folks left the bell desk a tip. This would have been roughly 1990 - 2019, large chains, downtown locations in large cities.
I've never had to pay for the service, and I've even had an AirBNB agree to take my bags once, which was super king. But there are times it doesn't make sense to use, especially after check-out, like if I'm heading to the beach or something and then I'd have to go all the way back downtown to my hotel and then back out to the airport. Essentially if that extra trip back to the hotel to sort the bag would add a bunch of time that I could otherwise be sightseeing, I'll just take the bag with me at that point as long as its not too cumbersome.
Sadly, I was quite often unlucky, every hotel I went they don't. I know that some do, that's why I ask. But luckily, at the train station they have secure lockers that I use then.
But I am from Germany and don't expect that everywhere.
That surprises me, since that's a very normal thing here in Switzerland, with no extra cost. They even go out of their way to tell us about it in the touristy areas here, and in the other areas, it's nearly assumed that you can leave bags.
Weird that it's not the same next door.
@@magdolynI am German, too, and have never had a hotel here refuse to hold my luggage. Maybe I've just been lucky so far, but I think it's a pretty standard service here as well.
Jessica, I no longer travel but love to watch your videos. Your humor, grace, and attitude are refreshing. And the way you present these true-to-life experiences you share always put a smile on my face. Thank you!
I had NO IDEA that this was an option! We don’t stay in hotels often, but this is good to know. Thanks!
I always had great success sending a box of my things ahead for the hotel to hold, so I could carry a smaller bag onto the plane, then leaving it for them to mail out when I left. I did call ahead to confirm it was okay and get a "box is coming" note in my reservation and paid postage plus tip for the outgoing box.
I’ve done that at places where I needed gear for hiking and such! So convenient.
My mom did conventions and would do this too.
I used to travel several times a year for work or with family in the US Canada and Mexico all of the hotels had this service and I have used it checking in and out I have never had a issue with my bags the hotel watched. I really appreciate this service!
This is key for backpacking. You drop your bags off wherever you're staying (hotels, hostels, etc) and go about your day. Maybe after lunch you'll go properly check in and transfer your bag into your room. But this way it doesn't matter when your next train or flight is, or what time you arrive. You're able to just walk around and enjoy the city.
If the hotel is too far from the city center and you don't want to have to go there and back, most cities in Europe will also have lockers for your bag. At a train station, or bus station or such
Many, many years ago I took a state contractor's license exam in Anaheim. It was eight hours starting at 8 AM with a lunch break. I had to stay in the nearest hotel the night before. I wasn't able to return until long after checkout ( obviously) and was able to leave without a second night
I didn't know what to do until at checkout the hotel suggested that I could leave my bag. I think there was a nominal charge. Worked out perfectly and I did well on the test.
I've stayed in many different hotels over the years, and have never had any issues with leaving my bags at the bell stand - either before checking in or after checking out, and I've never had to pay. ❤
Something you should probably keep in mind when seeing people around town with their bags is that if people are walking around with the bags, they probably don't have a car with them or they would have left those bags in the car (and presumably put their most valuable possessions that they brought with them in a purse or single carry-on sized bag? I travel with electronics and if I've got a car and if I've got a pre-check in thing to do or an after check-in thing to do, the electronics go in my purse and the luggage just has clothes and toiletries and stays in my car).
If you don't have a car, going to the hotel when you get into town, or going back to the hotel before you leave town, probably costs either a significant amount of time if you're getting around via public transit and your own two feet, or a significant amount of money if you're getting around by cab. Not having to take an extra trip to the hotel between getting into town and their first activity, and/or between doing an activity and getting out of town, will always give you at least a little bit more time on that activity (if not a lot of time), and is at the very least cheaper in not having to pay for your public transit/cab/an extra few hours and miles with the rental car/or whatever.
It's a convenient service, especially if your activity is near the hotel, or if there's little a shuttle between the hotel and airport that you'd be using anyways, or if you do have the time or money to take that extra trip to the hotel without it being a big deal, but I expect not everyone who's walking around with their luggage are only doing so because they didn't think to ask the hotel if it was possible to hold it.
This!! Until last year, we didn't have a car to travel with. We'd always travel via bus or train to the town and then walk with our luggage to the hotel. Cabs are expensive, especially in touristy areas, and at the seaside in my country, many taxis drive between cities which makes wait times very long. It's quicker to walk by foot to the hotel from the bus station, and then rest at the hotel. We sometimes have taken a cab, but it was too expensive for what it's worth. Granted, we were staying in a small town where you can easily walk from one side to the other in a few minutes, for larger cities, the taxi price is more worth it.
Now that we have a car, it was so much easier. We didn't even need to bring all our luggage up at once - we brought some, left smaller bags behind in the car, then went for everything else when we weren't as tired.
Every time we have stayed at Disney…we have relied on bell services A LOT! Super grateful for those CMs!
Back when I used to travel quite a bit for work, I'd take early or redeye flights in. Left my bag at the hotel front desk, explored the city and came back to check in after dinner. Similarly, I'd check out after breakfast, leave my bag and collect it after dinner for my redeye back. Helped a lot that I can usually sleep through flights, and saved a bunch of money too.
I can’t remember a hotel that hasn’t offered this. But sometimes there have been a fee. And sometimes the security haven’t felt great, when it is open for public, or when I collect it I just point to it and says what is mine, without checking if it is.
Most of the time when I travel, I have a car. The one time I didn't, I was able to leave the luggage at the hotel before we had to leave for our flight. It was a small hotel near Disneyland (not a Disneyland hotel). The front desk agent was very nice about it. I just kept my most important things (including laptop) in a single backpack and enjoyed a day in Downtown Disney.
I work in a mid-sized (about 90 rooms) hotel in central Labrador, up in northern Canada, and we have a locked storage area under the stairs in our lobby, where guests can keep their luggage for a while. In fact, since our town is basically a travel hub for the region, it's not unusual for people visiting the smaller communities on the northern coast, or for tourists traveling on to nearby fishing camps in the summer, to leave their bags in that room for days at a time. As well, if it's only for a few hours, we'll happily let guests keep their bags behind the front desk.
We do this every time we go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, when we went to Disney ,and we did this when we traveled to Italy. We were never charged and I would say we have been very lucky we never had any issues. I think because my husband travels so much for work, he has the system down pat.
I watch to learn it helps you're easy to watch and have a way of telling your story that is just so inviting, and I definitely don't think I'm alone.❤
Yes, I always check my bags into hotels early and leave them for later after check out. Also, for long journeys where, say, I’m on an island waiting for a ferry, I leave my bags at cafes or tavernas. The only place where I’ve had to pay was train stations (and then it’s like a service) but most places will kindly do it for free. At cafes and tavernas I almost always tip because it’s a great service. It’s always worth checking and asking if it’s somewhere new. There’s always a way not to have to drag your bags (but keep your passport and money with you to be safe).
I can only think of once when we made use of this service. It was while in Vegas, and we had a evening flight out, so rather than lug our stuff around for most of the day, we had the hotel hold it for us.
We stay at hotels a few times in the past few years and I NEVER KNEW THIS WAS AN OPTION!!! It would have made a lot of things easier, thats for sure!
I travel by train most of the time, so I check out often hours before my train goes. I regularly leave my luggage in the hotel and had never to pay for it. Hotels in Germany and central Europe.
I never knew that hotels did that.
I left my bags near the front desk with a lot of others on my check out day. They were not locked up. When I got home to unpack, three of my DVDs had been stolen. I think it was housekeeping. I will never do that again.
I travel occasionally for business. My last day in a city might still have meetings before my afternoon or evening flight, but with checkout time being 11 AM (or even 1 or 2 PM if I get a no-charge late checkout) I would usually check out in the morning and have the hotel hold my bags (no charge) until I come back in the afternoon after my work is done. Eazy Peazy.
I’ve left my bags with hotels sometimes while on vacation with my family I don’t know if it costed money because I didn’t pay for it, but every time we needed it they had it
I thought that was fairly common knowledge, twice when checking out I've asked if they can keep my bags! One in New York my flight home wasn't till the afternoon so had a final morning sightseeing and they were organising the taxi to the airport anyway! The other time I'd travelled for an event and booked the night after and as I didn't have a set return time as I had an open train ticket I could spend the morning actually seeing the city then go back for my bags which were in the hotel right by the station! Never been charged for it and they lock it in another room! I always have a lock on my bag for while travelling so I just make sure its locked up then anyway.
I do that sometimes when I need to tour a city but my flight back is in evening. The people at the desk always keep it safe. Nothing has ever gone missing for us
I've definitely used this service, both before check in & after checking out. It was a convention and events were ongoing all day for 4 days, so that was really convenient.
Also, every airbnb we've rented allowed us to bring in luggage before checking in and after check out, but maybe we just pick the right ones!
i've worked at a hotel for a bit over a year now, and the number of times i've been asked to hold a suitcase in the back while a guest either waits for a room, or waits for a late flight i can count on 1 hand. the number of times, however, that i've had people borderline rage at me because i couldn't either 1. check them in early at 10am or 2. give them a free 3pm late checkout.... i can't even remember how many times THAT has happened......
i also can't even remember how many times i've had people stay checked into their room until literally the last second (or the last second of their agreed upon late checkout) chilling down in the lobby... go up, grab their already packed bag, and walk out on the hour on the button. they easily could have left their bag, it was already packed.
we don't charge to hold bags.
If they were going to hang out in the lobby, it makes you wonder why they felt that their luggage had to stay in the room.🤨 People are strange.
I've never had a hotel refuse to hold my bags before or after check-in. That's in New Zealand, Europe, USA, Japan, Australia and Hong Kong. Even every AirBnB I've stayed at has been happy to have the bags dropped off in the entranceway before check-in time as long as it was not too early (I.e before the last person staying had checked out.) The strangest one I've encountered though was a hotel in Japan who just told you to leave your bags in the middle of the lobby and just grab them when you needed them later in the day.
Pre-9/11, when I basically lived in a hotel for months for work, I would leave my big suitcase there when I flew home for the weekend or a week. Great to fly internationally with only carry on. Sometimes they'd even have it waiting in my room when I returned.
Never did that when I was motel commuting. I should have thought of it. My motel put all the stuff I liked, fridge, microwave, iron in my room and gave me the same room every week. It was nice service.
Our family of four left our bags in Wash. DC. Nothing happened. The bags were locked in a bag-storage area. The cost was smiles and “thank you.”
Yes, hotels do hold the bags. However, once I stayed at an independent apartment and after I handed over the keys, there was no place to leave a bag.
Granted I didn't plan any more activities after the key handover.
Maybe they stayed somewhere like that, or maybe even in AirBnBs.
I’m actually surprised people don’t know about letting the hotel hold their luggage prior to checking in. Every time I have traveled to Europe or Asia I always get to the hotel before the check in time, due to the time zone difference I tend to land early in the morning, and I always ask them if they are able to hold my luggage for a few hours before I come back for check in and they always accommodate my request. I have always assumed most people know about this service. When I go to Japan in May I will land and arrive early in the morning and I will politely ask them to hold my luggage until I come back after 3 PM, so I can fight off jet lag by doing stuff in the city for a few hours.
I actually found this out when i called a week or so before my stay, and I asked if i could leave my bag at the hotel because check-in was at 3PM and the convention I was going to started at 10AM. They said absolutely and that that is something they normally provide. They were shocked i didn't know that, too but were happy to explain. Huge weight off my shoulders for that day, and when i got to the hotel around noon - just expecting to leave my bags there to get to the covention - they had my room ready! I was pleasantly surprised and said seriously, and they said seriously and gave me my room key. Staff was amazing, and i am very thankful for them.❤
The most I've ever paid for luggage storage is $5 USD (per bag, but I only had one), that was at an NYC hostel. Every other place I've stayed, I've done this and it cost nothing. My experience is in Mexico, USA, and Canada. Usually I end up with late flights and it's nice to be able to go out and explore as much as possible without making it a farmer's walk workout.
A family member and I have had our bags held at a hotel while we were out and about checking out some tourist sites. They didn't charge to hold our bags and set them aside in a room behind the front desk, probably locked up.
The hotel i used to work at is part of a big chain and had a lot of frequest corporate travelers. Some of them literally stay Monday-Friday 40+ weeks a year, so those people would always pack up a large suitcase before checking out and leave it in the room. Our bell team would pick it up and store it every Friday, then bring it up the following Monday after the room has been cleaned and assigned
Hotels I've stayed at always offered luggage storage either before check-in or after check out. Most hotels have also allowed us to check in early. I never expect it, but also always show up early and ask. If the answer is no then no problem. We wait 😊
Never paid for luggage storage, but I also signed up to be a member with all the main apps/chains. Even though I don't travel a ton anymore the base member perks are worth it and it doesn't cost you a think. The IHG app allowed me to have a free late check out at an intercontinental and it was my first stay. Just being a member gave me that perk.
Yes, that's a good tip. Often you'll get free stuff just by signing up for their member program. I've had free WiFi before from doing that.
This reminds me of another story of mine. I once had a lady call Guest Relations because she went grocery shopping before check-in, but got to the hotel at 12. She was upset because there wasn't a room available for early check-in, and she had cold foods that were going to go bad. Lesson learned, check in 1st before you go shopping for perishables.
Been using this service for over 30 years, on multiple continents. Hotels are universally good to customers this way. Rarely have I been charged a per bag fee, but at peak times at a resort hotel with a 15k person conference, they would charge a reasonable fee per bag. Also, if I was not a guest but having dinner or a meeting, the bellman would charge a fee per bag which is fair. The convenience is worth it.
I kinda knew it was a thing, but only had to make use of it once when I went to San Francisco a few years ago. I usually plan the travel time around the fact that I don't want to get up at the crack of dawn, so I usually end up getting to my hotel after check-in time. However, when I got to the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco, they had me go over to the luggage desk where they gave me a ticket to fill out and stuck another one on the bag. It was free.
I used to travel for business quite a bit, and I didn't know about having the hotel hold bags until one time I was traveling with the owner of the company and we arrived quite early in the day. She arranged to have our bags held and I was uncomfortable about it at first, but later really came to appreciate it. Last year while in DC over Memorial Day weekend I had a late flight out and was very pleased to hand over my luggage until I was ready to catch the shuttle to the airport, it allowed for sightseeing in the afternoon.
I’ve done this dozens of times and I’ve never known a hotel to say no or charge me. Usually they have a designated room/closet for this, though a few times they’re like “stick it behind this couch in the lobby, we’ll keep an eye on it for you.”
I’ve used this service often, both on check in day waiting for my room and on check out day when I would be out of my room but not be leaving the city until later in the day. I’ve never had an issue with security of the bags or had anything going missing. Almost always this service has been free, except for hotels I’ve stayed at in NYC where there was a charge. That varied between $10 to $25. Love your videos! I worked for a travel marketing agency and I always said if we ever wrote down all the crazy things people said to us we would have a bestselling book.
I was surprised it was a free service back like 10 years ago when I started traveling a lot - but I’ve never had an issue caused by them holding my suitcase. My carry-on has the valuables and is always with me. I’ve never been charged but if you told me some place do, I’d believe you.
We had a very good hotel stay in Nanning, China. The hotel held our bags and even transported it to the other hotel that we wanted to change to. Free of charge and just smiles all around. Great experience.
Have done this all over Australia and Europe, never had a problem. An alternative is Railway or Bus terminal luggage lockers, especially if your hotel is on the outskirts of a major city and you have catch a train or bus from said city to travel to next destination.
I've done this in Stockholm a couple times. I was travelling to northern Sweden originating from Philadelphia airport. I would get to Stockholm by plane (usually multiple planes), go to the train terminal and put my luggage in a storage locker so I could go around the city and play tourist. I'd return to the train station to fetch my belongings and take the overnight train up to Kiruna. Turns out this was best because from Kiruna I needed to drive 45 minutes to Esrange, my final destination. I was like the walking-dead wandering around Stockholm, so if I had taken the 2hr plane to Kiruna I would be even more tired for the 45 minute drive in a foreign country. By taking the overnight train (about the same cost), I was well rested by the time I got behind the controls of a high-speed killing machine (i.e. car).
Yes, I have left luggage with the front desk both before and after checkin. Some hotels will put it in a locked room and some just have it sitting out in the open like a breakfast room, but I have never had a issue. Some hotels will even let you store your luggage for multiple days. When my husband and I traveled to destinations like New Zealand where you might stay at a hotel, then go on a multi day hike in backcountry huts and then return to the hotel we were able to leave items like the duffel that we transported our backpacks in on the airplane and extra clothes at the hotel or hostel. I think one place may have charged a small per day storage fee.
I’m currently at that magical place and for this trip we left out baggage with the bellhop at the resort. No issues and the staff were great.
I always leave my bags with the concierges/bell staff and have never had an issue with it and never had to pay extra for the service. I just did it yesterday in Vegas while waiting for a late flight home and when checked in on arrival also. I always shake my head when i see people dragging their luggage all over the place as well. Thanks Jessica 😊 ❤
Did this with a friend from New Zealand. She landed in San Francisco in the morning, and I went by train/BART to meet her, then were were going to spend the day in SF before going back to the valley by train. So we got downtown by BART, walked into a hotel by Union Square and asked to check her bags. No questions about whether we were staying and no charge. But I tipped very nicely, because it was so convenient and helpful!. [Edit: this was in 2019]
Yes, I found this out a couple years ago when I got to a hotel early, asked if it was possible to check in, and the front desk offered to hold my bags while I waited for a room. I’ve since asked for it any time I get to a hotel super early and it’s been an awesome little thing to get to do while waiting. Luckily I’ve never been charged. Definitely recommend people try this!
Used to travel for work and spent two years traveling every week to another state. I kept my sewing machine and materials in a travel bag at the hotel from Friday to Sunday while I was home. Never had a problem. Chaim was Hampton Inn. They were wonderful
I went to NYC with my sister. We flew in at midnight to Connecticut and then took a sleep at a hotel there, then took a train to NYC and parked our bags at the hotel until check in time. It was a great service, very helpful in such a crowded chaotic city, and we just went back that evening, checked in and everything was great!
I think because I've traveled a lot for work, I knew that hotels would hold my bags.
The hotel we stayed at in Hawaii even had a ‘shower room’ for those of us who wanted to hit the beach one more time before getting on our plane.
I was so appreciative when the front desk person mentioned that service when we asked if they’d hold our luggage a few hours.
There was no charge for luggage or use of the room to shower. However the allowed time in the room to shower was short and timed, lol.
When I stayed at Disney World many years ago, they held our bags so we could go ahead and enjoy the parks until we came back to check in. Granted we had reservations at that hotel and had a package that included hotel, meals, park passes, etc. That just shows how long ago it was. 😂
Disney World has an excellent setup for storing guest bags! And they can also hold groceries, too, for people who put in deliveries for their vacation before they get to the hotel.
I did know this.
Also found out while traveling with others that the desk will often have complimentary items you might have forgotten, such as a toothbrush.
No, I didn’t know about hotels holding luggage for patrons. Never have even thought of it!! Thx for the heads up!
I've used the service, when I'm traveling for studies. Check out time was during cours hours but I didn't like running around with my suitcase.
So after the day learning, on the way to the train station I picked up my suitcase. This charming hotel didn't charge for the service
Jessica, don't know if you've seen the video, but Miami told spring breakers to stay away. A number of cities are also giving spring breakers the cold shoulder (including charging HIGH fees for everything). And yes, I have had a hotel hold my bags and no, they didn't charge me (this was five years ago).
If a tourist city as huge as Miami is telling a huge demographic to stay away…I want to know why (I’m guessing there are very good reasons).
@@MountainPearlsThat's easy to answer. There's been a lot of violence such as shootings in the past couple years. And the crowds have gotten unmanageable where they're walking in the street and keeping cars from going through. It's gotten unmanageable.
That's easy to answer. There has been an upswing and violence and bad behavior in the past couple years. There have been shootings and large fights. And crowds have been gathering in streets and impeding cars. That's why the cities are clamping down because it's gotten unmanageable.
@@LKMNOP I live near Virginia Beach, and though not that much of a spring break destination, they have some special weekends during the summer, mostly music oriented (if you can call what is being performed music). Last year when this was coming up, all vacations and furloughs of any kind for all police staff was blacked out for those dates. Extra police were called in from Norfolk, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk, Portsmouth, and about anywhere else in driving distance that could spare some cops. Also some private security was hired. So when I hear the city preach about how great the festivals are for tax revenue, I have to wonder just how much that extra revenue is after you subtract millions for an abundance of cops just to keep violence and mayhem down.
@@nedkelly2035 It's the same amount of extra revenue. The revenue a government takes in is SUPPOSED to be spent on services, not hoarded forever. Unless your government is run by a dragon?
We got off a cruise earlier in the day. To hotel had a locked conference room for us to put our bags & many others as well.
I do it all the time! Almost every time I travel - have yet to encounter a hotel that did not offer to hold luggage. 🤷🏻♀️
before I drove to conventions, I took trains and buses, and it was one of the nicest things to have my bags held at the front desk while I attended the last day of the convention. The only time I didn't was when I was going to a lecture and it would have been more time to return to my hotel and pick up my bags. So I brought it along with me.
I have never been charged for the service.
I knew about the baggage holding option. There is another thing that can happen as well, if you are somehow separated with your luggage, once you make a claim and tell them when you check-in, the hotel will bring your luggage to your room as soon as possible.
Flashback to the 90s when me and my family arrived in the morning fresh from the overnight train, intending to drop our luggage at our room before spending the day at the town. Luckily, the train station we just arrived from was practically across the street and offered extensive luggage storage facilities.
I learned about the service from attending conventions and have used it quite often. Only ever had one hotel charge for it and we just didn't use that hotel for later trips. It wasn't until my first time visiting Disney as an adult that I learned you can do this all year round and not just a convention weekend.
There are also a lot of luggage pickup-hold- and delivery services available! For instance, here in Nashville there are several companies that will come to you to pick up your luggage. Now, just like checking luggage, keep your meds and valuables with you to ensure there’s no way anything can happen to them. But- it’s a cheap enough service and is SUPER handy!
My family and I traveled by train to see the eclipse in Indianapolis this past weekend. After a short walk, we got to the hotel at 5:45 AM. The front desk lady was very confused, but my parents explained that we had called earlier and they'd said then that they'd hold our bags for us. The lady understood and put our bags in the office... and then proceeded to let us stay in a room off the breakfast area (it had a sliding door and couch/table/chairs) AND said we could have breakfast for free even though our reservation wasn't until that night! She was so kind and generous (and, no, nothing happened to our bags).
It's worth asking at the very least.
Yes, I have left my luggage at hotels on many continents. I tend to put things I want kept safe in the locked baggage. Never been charged for it, never had an issue both before and well after check-in. I find most are happy to keep it as long as you get it on the same day if you check out. I thought it was common knowledge!😅
I worked for a HIlton for 4 years (began in 2020), and our property did not charge for holding luggage. We offered this service as an incentive to keep guests from trying to do late checkout, especially during big event times. Only time this came back to bite us was when an entire team of students (12-15 kids) left all of their stuff there, but typically only a couple people would drop off their stuff.
Heck, several working professionals who regularly stayed with us would leave a bag with us in-between stays (check out Thursday or Friday, come back the following Sunday or Monday) for however long their contracts were. We'd stash them in the room with the guest safes. One gentleman would even stash a travel fishing rod with us during warmer months.
Utilized this service when I had to check in early at a conference and my room wasn’t ready (not Hotel’s fault, we checked in at 9am because my copilot had meetings she had to attend pre-conference.) The staff was incredible, and went out of their way to accommodate. Honestly, it’s rare that I’ve ever stayed at a hotel that wasn’t as t least considerate of not downright hospitable. Shout-out to the Hotel in Branson we frequent often just because they make us feel absolutely welcome since our first visit!
I was beginning to think I was just bougie. Every hotel I've ever stayed in has offered this service, I've never used it because we usually had a rental car and would leave our bags in the trunk until check in or after check out. But we were always aware of it. Either a front desk person would tell us or it would be listed under the hotel's offered services next to safe access and that kind of thing.
It’s mostly used by guests who do not have private transportation.
I always do this. I call ahead of time to make sure it's a service they offer. We like to take the first flight out going to our destination and the last flight going home. I always tip when I leave our bags and pick them up.
I’ve done this many times at start and end of stay and I’m really glad you are highlighting it! I think if more people knew this there would also be a reduction in people desperate for early checkin and late checkout. I used to worry about my flight times compared to check in/out times in my earliest years of travel. Now I don’t even give that a thought. I’ve shown up at my hotel at 7 am and dropped my bags to go explore the city before returning much later for checkin. Places often have space where you can freshen up too if you’ve just arrived after a red eye, even if it’s just a keyed bathroom. One place had a whole locker room we could use after our international flight. I’ve done the same on last day to store to get that last day of exploring or conference in.
I’ve had full bellhop stands to “just put it in that room over there” that the front desk keeps an eye on to them literally just keeping it at the front desk.
The hotels I've stayed at all offered this. Used it at an aparthotel in Edinburgh where I checked out early but left my bag with them until I left for the train station. Airbnb actually let me leave my bag with her in the morning until i could check in in the afternoon. I didn't have to pay for it and it was great. It was actually something I was looking for.
Smaller hostels and hostels often don't have a proper place to store luggage.
I have worked in the hotel industry myself, not as long as you but still. I would never leave anything of value at the hotel without me. I have learned from the less than trustworthy people that I worked with how to get into locked luggage, and how to get into a room even if you have a security bar/chain. I myself have broken into safes (at the guests request) and I can tell you that there is a code on those safes, that most hotels don't change, to bypass your code, there is also a key that can be used on them, you just remove one cover. Nothing is secure in a hotel... NOTHING
I have stayed in multiple hotels across Canada, and not once have I ever had an issue with an establishment storing luggage for a few hours until I was ready to depart. I don't think that I was ever charged for the privilege either.
Some hotels are better organized (with claim tags and a dedicated storage room) than others (which will put the bag in the corner of the office or a janitor's closet), but I have never had a problem.
Yes, I knew this was available and I've used it several times particularly at conferences where check-out time was 11 but activities lasted longer. I've never had a problem. Bags were always placed in a secure area and tagged.
Sometimes I drag my luggage when I am between transportation, like early ferry arrival and late train or flight departure, so could then take a walk in town. It if often baggage lockers available, but not always and they are sometimes expensive.
I've not done much traveling but I was aware of this service when waiting for check-in. Not that it's also (sometimes) available when checking out. Good to know. Thanks Jessica! ❤
yess !!! We both pushed onto the next flight bc of a complication with the plane so we got to stay an extra night and since our next flight wasn’t until 9pm and checkout was 11am and they were so kind and held our bags when we went out to lunch!!! It would’ve been a pain if we had to carry around 3 suitcases and a buggy/stroller!
Yes, I left my bags in the front desk a lot when I arrive early... My job books the fight usually at the first commercial hour, so we have time to adapt in case something goes wrong (cancelled fight etc). They always charge but is the price of a coffee, so it is good.
I was a young person on one of my first business trips when an older colleague told me this service was available. Since then I’ve had many hotels hold luggage, sometimes from checkout until late in the evening when I had a night flight home. I’ve never had to pay and never had a problem.