Why You Shouldn’t Leave Your Luggage on a Hotel Room Floor

There’s a lot to remember when packing for trips these days, from what can and can’t go in a carry-on to how many pairs of underwear you should pack. However, the luggage concerns don’t end when you’re all packed up because there’s plenty to think about when you arrive at your hotel, including where you can safely place your luggage to keep it clean, dry, and free of pests — like those icky, awful bed bugs. While you likely already know not to put your luggage directly on the bed when you check into a new room, it turns out you may want to think twice before putting it on the floor, too. 

“Personally, I always use the luggage rack to unpack and then store my luggage in the closet,” LaDell Carter, the founder and lead travel consultant at Royal Expression Travels, shared with Travel + Leisure. “Professionally, I advise against leaving luggage on the floor due to the risk of unwanted critters. For example, while traveling in Jamaica, I once left my luggage on the floor for a short period. Upon returning home, I discovered that I had inadvertently brought back small lizards that had crawled into my suitcase.”

And Carter is far from alone in this practice. 

“After traveling to 45 countries and living across 4 continents, I have seen it all — the good, the bad, and the downright unsanitary,” wellness travel expert Kelli Tolliday, who is also the founder of Rising Nature Retreats, added. “Bed bugs are notorious travelers, and they can easily crawl into your luggage, clothing, and personal items, hitching a ride back to your home. Once they settle in, bed bugs can be incredibly difficult and costly to eradicate, causing a significant headache for travelers.” 

Bed bugs may be Tolliday’s top reason for not leaving her luggage on the floor, but they aren’t her only reason. 

“Hotel room floors, despite regular cleaning, can still harbor dirt, bacteria, and other unmentionables —  especially hotel rooms with carpet. Floors are exposed to the shoes of previous guests, spills, and cleaning chemicals,” Tolliday said. Beyond the ick factor, Tolliday also noted that leaving your luggage on the floor can create an organizational nightmare, echoing Carter’s suggestion to put your clothes away in the closet — or at the very least place your luggage on a hard surface to reduce the risk of picking up potential bed bugs.

Tolliday added that traveling “should be a time of enjoyment and discovery, free from the worries of pests, dirt, and damage to your belongings. By simply keeping your luggage off the hotel room floor, you can enhance your travel experience, ensuring that your belongings remain safe, clean, and organized.”

Of course, you could always leave your luggage in the bathtub, a favorite luggage spot for experts who are in the know about bed bug protection.