When you first enter a hotel room, the natural instinct is to drop your bags on the nearest surface and start settling in. But travel specialists caution that this simple habit can expose you to an unexpected problem: bedbugs. Before unpacking, the safest temporary spot for your luggage isn’t the bed, floor, or even the luggage rack — it’s actually the bathtub. Because bedbugs prefer warm, fabric-rich areas, placing your suitcase on a smooth, hard surface keeps it out of reach while you evaluate the room.

To start your inspection, keep your luggage in the bathroom and take a few minutes to scan the space where you’ll be sleeping. Check the mattress seams, headboard, and surrounding furniture for dark specks, shed skins, or other signs of pests. Bathrooms rarely harbor bedbugs due to their cooler temperatures and lack of soft materials, which makes them an ideal holding area as you look around. This simple pause helps prevent unwanted hitchhikers from settling into your belongings.

Once the room appears clean, experts suggest following a simple step-by-step routine to stay protected throughout your stay. Avoid placing clothing in drawers, keep smaller items inside hard containers or sealed plastic bags, and elevate your suitcase on a non-fabric surface whenever possible. Before leaving, give your luggage another quick inspection and, when you arrive home, place travel clothes in a hot dryer for at least 20 minutes to kill any lingering pests. These preventive habits help maintain peace of mind — especially for frequent travelers.

Finally, make these precautions a regular part of your travel routine. A few minutes of awareness at check-in can save you from the stress, cost, and inconvenience of a bedbug infestation later on. Treat the bathtub as your temporary safe zone, keep your items organized, and approach each hotel stay with a mindful eye. By doing so, you protect not only your suitcase and clothing but also your comfort and confidence each time you’re away from home.