Suitcase in the tub? The bizarre hotel hack that could save your skin. Credit: Myra Thompson, Shutterstock.
Why smart travellers are ditching the luggage rack and heading for the loo – literally.
You’ve just landed at your Airbnb or hotel. But before you plonk your suitcase down on that neatly made bed – stop right there. A growing number of international travellers are ditching tradition and stashing their bags… in the bathtub. And no, they haven’t gone barmy.
Turns out, this splashy little trick might be your best defence against one of travel’s most dreaded horrors: bedbugs, el bedbug, zee bedbug, whichever language you speak, they’re small, they’re crawly, and they’re utterly terrifying.
A five-star stay for you… and a full English for them?
These creepy crawlers don’t care whether you’re staying in a luxury suite or a budget inn. As long as there’s a warm human body nearby, they’re checking in. Bedbugs – mostly Cimex lectularius and C. hemipterus – are tiny bloodthirsty parasites that hide in the nooks and crannies of furniture, waiting for their midnight feast. You.
And they’re not fussy. ‘They’re not attracted to dirt,’ warns the US Environmental Protection Agency. ‘They’re attracted to blood.’ So your spotless hotel might still be home to a few uninvited guests.
Wake up covered in itchy little red dots in a line or cluster? That’s the infamous ‘breakfast, lunch and dinner’ pattern – the classic signature of a bedbug bite.
Home is where the hide is
By day, these pests are masters of hide-and-seek. They snuggle deep into mattresses, squeeze into the joints of drawers, and even sneak behind electrical outlets. They’ve even been known to live inside alarm clocks, waiting to pounce like miniature vampires as soon as the lights go out. Romantic, eh?
And the worst part? One stay in an infested room and you could bring them back home in your luggage – a souvenir that just won’t quit.
Why the bathtub is your secret weapon
Here’s where the luggage-in-the-loo hack comes in. Bedbugs can’t crawl up slippery, steep surfaces like the sides of a porcelain tub. Nor do they fancy the idea of setting up camp in a plughole that gets blasted by hot water daily.
So by parking your suitcase in the bath – even just while you inspect the bed – you’re putting a protective moat around your belongings. It’s like your bag’s own panic room.
What to look for before you lie down in your Airbnb or hotel bed
Worried your bed might be buggy? Do a quick recon mission before unpacking:
- Look for rust-coloured blood spots on sheets or pillowcases.
- Check mattress seams for moving dots (yes, that’s them).
- Sniff for a sweet, musty odour – a telltale sign of a heavy infestation.
- Spot tiny brown flecks? Could be bed bug poo. Sorry.
If the room passes inspection, great. But if it doesn’t? Ask to switch rooms – and not just next door. Move floors. Bedbugs don’t carry passports, but they do love to travel.
The bottom line: Better safe than itchy
Placing your bag in the bath might feel a bit odd. But trust us, waking up as breakfast in bed is worse. If in doubt, take the plunge. And yes, don’t forget to remove it before you shower.
As travel hacks go, it’s cheap, cheerful, and saves you from going home with extra passengers.
Stay alert, stay dry – and keep it in the tub.
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