Travel experts say the safest place to keep your suitcase in a hotel room isn’t the bed, the floor, or even the luggage rack — it’s actually the bathtub. While it may seem unusual, the tub offers protection from one of the most common and troublesome travel hazards: bedbugs.
Bedbugs thrive in soft, warm environments like mattresses, carpeting, and upholstered furniture. They can easily crawl into bags placed on or near these surfaces, hitching a ride home with travelers. Because they are so small and resilient, an unnoticed encounter can quickly turn into a costly infestation.
What makes the bathtub safer is its smooth, slippery surface, which bedbugs struggle to climb. Bathrooms, in general, are also cleaned more frequently and thoroughly than other parts of hotel rooms. These combined factors make the tub one of the least likely places for bedbugs to hide or reach.
Before getting comfortable in any hotel room, experts recommend completing a quick inspection. Look at the mattress seams, headboard, and nearby furniture for small rust-colored stains, shed bug shells, or live insects. Even high-end hotels are not immune, as bedbugs travel easily from place to place without any connection to cleanliness.
Specialists also suggest keeping your belongings elevated when possible. If you don’t want to use the bathtub, placing your luggage on a metal luggage rack — after checking it for pests — is the next best option. Metal is harder for bedbugs to climb, though not as foolproof as a smooth bathtub surface.
Storing clothing in sealed plastic bags adds an extra layer of protection. Bedbugs are expert hitchhikers and can cling to fabric, hide in pockets, or slip between folds. Keeping clothes sealed until use helps minimize exposure.
These precautions matter because bedbugs can survive for months without feeding, meaning even a brief contact can bring them home with you. A little prevention can save travelers from major inconvenience later.
For many, using the bathtub as a temporary luggage station feels strange at first, but it remains one of the simplest and most reliable ways to keep your belongings safe on the road.