It’s a story as familiar as travel itself. You come to a location prematurely to sign in your hotel or you’re stuck at the airport for a long stopover. It’d be terrific to see the sights, however the last thing you wish to do is carry your bag around town.
Fortunately, baggage storage choices are plentiful, and dropping your bags in a safe area is much easier than ever. Take the guidance of expert tourists and stow your bags so you can get the most out of your travel dollars.
How Does Luggage Storage Work?
Luggage storage centers offer a safe, hassle-free method for tourists to drop baggage as needed throughout long stopovers or awkwardly timed arrivals/departures. In most cases, you don’t need to fret about reserving baggage storage ahead of time.
Luggage storage or lockers are readily available for a repaired cost or an hourly rate at many airports, train stations and hotels. Businesses, tourist workplaces and luggage storage services likewise offer tired tourists with a location to stash their bags.
The finest choices are genuine baggage storage places that offer insurance coverage and assurance versus theft or damage. If you’re taking a trip with pricey belongings, bring them on your individual or purchase extra insurance coverage simply to be safe.
Here are 7 innovative baggage storage options advised by expert tourists:
- Use baggage storage or shipment service at airports
- Store baggage at train stations
- Check out bag storage at hotels
- Discover baggage storage services
- Ask the tourist workplace
- Find baggage storage at regional organizations
- Brainstorm innovative baggage storage options
7 Luggage Storage Solutions for Long Layovers and Sightseeing
There are lots of inexpensive, hassle-free choices to keep your bags when taking a trip — as long as you understand where to look. Here are 7 choices to think about when you require to ditch those luggage for a couple of hours so you can see some sights.
1. Use Luggage Storage or Delivery at Airports
Most airports have a baggage storage center or service. You can examine bags into the storage center and leave them any length of time, from a couple of hours to numerous days. Time limitations and charges differ from airport to airport and some have size limitations.
Gabby Beckford, a solo female travel professional who runs Packs Light, states airport baggage storage is absolutely worth the cost to get in a little bit more sightseeing.
“For example, Athens is a common connection point, and I connected through that airport on my way from Seattle to Mykonos,” she stated. “I had an eight-hour layover, which was long enough for me to use the airport’s luggage storage facilities for around $20 and then take the train to explore the city before my connection flight later that evening.”
At John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, you can keep your bag for about $4 to $18 daily. Just make sure to ask precisely for how long you can leave your bag as not every airport storage service is open 24 hr.
If you have a brief stopover however wish to zip out of the airport to get a bite to consume, many airline companies permit you to examine bags about 4 hours prior to your departure.
Some airline companies likewise use baggage shipment and will drop your bags at your location for an inexpensive cost.
2. Store Luggage at Train Stations
Some train stations will hold your bags at the “parcel check” service for just $10 daily. Amtrak’s at-station parcel check is for ticket holders just, which may not be a hassle-free area if you’re not taking a trip by train.
If you’re desperate for a location to stash your bags, you might constantly purchase an inexpensive train ticket, however it’s up to you to choose if the somewhat greater charge deserves it.
3. Check Out Bag Storage at Hotels
Most hotels keep your baggage after you have a look at for a little charge. If there’s no charge, personnel might anticipate a suggestion. Some hotels permit you to keep your baggage even if you didn’t remain there the night prior to. Just consult the front desk to see if that’s permitted.
When Beckford has a baggage storage issue, she likes to put her Marriott Gold status to work.
“If all else fails, because I am a Gold status member of Marriott, I’ll try to find a Marriott property and store my luggage there,” she stated. “They rarely ask if I currently have a room, and usually assume I am about to check in or have already checked out! I’d say hotels are usually my first plan B.”
Does travelling feel out of reach? A travel sinking fund, field trip and other methods to cut travel expenses can assist.
4. Discover Luggage Storage Services
Don’t simply google “luggage storage nyc” and expect the very best. Use a baggage storage service with a network of validated hotels and stores to discover a storage location.
For a luggage storage app with friendly service, have a look at Bounce baggage storage or Luggage Hero. Bounce uses more storage places if you’re taking a trip to a city in the United States, specifically city locations. Luggage Hero has more details on worldwide places where you can drop off or get baggage abroad, particularly in Europe.
5. Ask the Tourism Office
It may not be leading of mind, however the traveler workplace is an outstanding resource for discovering baggage storage choices. If the traveler workplace can’t keep your bags on website, they can suggest choices close by.
You can discover places of tourist workplaces noted by state here. A list of detailed worldwide tourist workplaces is readily available here.
6. Find Luggage Storage at Local Businesses
Even if a store isn’t part of a luggage storage network, they may accommodate an area for your bags behind the counter for money. Cafes, bars, dining establishments and even stores might be choices for keeping your baggage.
7. Brainstorm Creative Luggage Storage Solutions
Experienced tourist and blog writer Daniel James Clarke of Dan Flying Solo confesses he gets innovative when a go-to baggage storage area doesn’t exercise. Dan reports he’s had the ability to securely keep baggage — often at no charge — at coffee shops, bars and even churches.
“Since traveling full-time and carting all my belongings around, I’ve been surprised just how many places I’ve been able to store or keep them,” he stated. “My No. 1 tip is to always ask and often the answer is yes!”
So pack your travel plan and your luggage as complete as you’d like. Next journey, conserve yourself some cash and aching muscles by dropping your bags at a suggested baggage storage service and struck the streets footloose and fancy-free.
Kaz Weida is a senior author at The Penny Hoarder.
