Five Ways to Store Luggage While You're Traveling

Whether you're country-hopping around the globe or just heading to a nearby city for a weekend getaway, lugging a couple of suitcases behind you as you go is a sure way to make any trip a lot more of a hassle than it needs to be!

Having some extra time with a bunch of baggage is a problem most tourists encounter sooner or later, and luckily, in most destinations, there's a solution. And whether you're visiting London or Laos, an urban jungle or a beach resort, you'll normally have a few options for storing your bags while you're out and about. In this short guide, we highlight the five major ways in which tourists generally store their baggage. Along the way, we'll also give you some tips to help you roam freely without being weighed down by bulky suitcases — and even save money in the process.

At The Airport

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Pretty much all sizable airports around the world have luggage storage facilities that allow you to store your bags while you wait for your flight or while you visit the city during a layover.

You can normally find them in the main airport terminal building before security and check-in, although the exact location depends on the airport. Airports are often big and confusing places after all, so we recommend asking staff or finding an information desk when in doubt!

At a Railway Station

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Railway stations, especially at busy transportation hubs like London King's Cross, New York Penn Station, Paris Gare de Nord, Milano Centrale, and many others, frequently offer luggage storage services for passengers arriving or departing by train.

Since train stations are normally a lot smaller than airports, luggage storage facilities are, accordingly, a lot easier to find! You'll normally run into one in the station's main retail section, next to the platforms, or next to the main entrance. Many train stations, especially in Europe, are also surrounded by baggage storage locations in the streets nearby, so they'll probably be hard to miss if you're visiting a larger city by train.

At Your Hotel

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If you're staying in a hotel on your trip, you can ask the reception to request to store your bags before check-in or after check-out. This service is normally available and it's typically completely free for hotel guests, however, it's often not considered polite to store your bags for more than just a few hours in this way.

Around City Centres & Tourist Attractions

In city centres which boast heavy tourist foot traffic, like Covent Garden in London or Sampheng in Bangkok, you'll normally easily find luggage storage services offered by independent businesses or as part of a chain. For example, most British city luggage storage facilities are run by one of two companies: Excess Baggage Company or CitySpareSpace.

Some tourist attractions or information centres may also offer temporary luggage storage services for visitors to the area, though this depends on the country.

Via an Online Platform

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Aside from formal baggage storage facilities, thousands of ordinary, trustworthy establishments like hotels, restaurants, and convenience stores are happy to store your bags, too, and usually for much cheaper. This is where online services come into the picture.

What's Online Luggage Storage?

Online baggage storage services essentially let you book your bags into a third-party private business for however long you request (usually a day or more). It's quick, safe, and – most of all – very affordable. Another perk is that it's arranged entirely online, and once you've paid in advance, all you have to do is drop your bags at your chosen location once you arrive.

There are a few reputable and popular luggage storage apps out there for you to choose from, including Bounce, Stasher, and Nannybag. All of them are low-cost and trustworthy, and in general when traveling, we recommend checking each out and choosing whichever has the best availability of storage locations in your destination.

Stasher: A Great Option to Store Luggage While Travelling

Of the platforms outlined above, we personally prefer Stasher. Its app and website are quick and easy to use, it supports over 5,000 locations ('Stashpoints') in over 1,000 cities worldwide, and it can save you a surprising amount compared to storing your bags at a bigger establishment like those you'll typically find in airports, train stations, and city centres.

Stasher works with dozens of approved establishments to let you store your baggage cheaply and securely for a few hours. These include convenience stores, hotels, restaurants, postal shops, pharmacies, and laundrettes. If you're visiting a big city, you probably won't go far without unwittingly walking past a Stashpoint!