After a long journey, dropping your suitcase onto the hotel bed can feel almost automatic. But travel creator and former flight attendant Barbara Bacilieri recommends stopping briefly in the bathroom first.

Known online as Barbie Bac, Bacilieri suggests keeping your suitcase closed in the bathtub while you check the room for bedbugs. It is one of several practical habits she shared with Creatorzine to help travelers protect their belongings and avoid leaving important items behind.

The bathtub tip is straightforward: keep luggage away from beds, carpets, and upholstered furniture until you inspect the room.

This supports the broader precaution. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends temporarily placing luggage in a tiled area, such as the bathroom, while checking accommodation for bedbugs. The bathtub itself does not guarantee protection; inspecting the room remains the important step.

Before unpacking, Bacilieri advises examining the mattress seams, headboard, and luggage rack. If you spot insects or anything suspicious, keep your suitcase shut and contact reception to request another room. The US Environmental Protection Agency also advises travelers to inspect hotel rooms and luggage racks for bedbugs.

A few minutes spent checking on arrival could help reduce the chance of taking an unwanted passenger home.

Bacilieri’s advice also addresses a more familiar hotel problem: forgetting valuables in the safe.

Her suggestion is to place one shoe inside the safe alongside your passport or other belongings, leaving its partner near the door. Choose a pair you intend to wear when checking out. When you reach for both shoes, the missing one should prompt you to open the safe and collect everything stored there.

A phone reminder can help. Instead of setting an unnamed alarm, label it with the items you need to check—such as your passport, charger, and safe—and schedule it for a few minutes before departure. Reusing your packing list can also make the final room check easier.

Some of her other suggestions begin before you reach the hotel.

Before checking your luggage at the airport, Bacilieri recommends taking clear photographs of the suitcase, including its wheels, handles, and corners. Photograph the baggage receipt too, and keep the original somewhere accessible.

When the suitcase arrives at your destination, inspect it before leaving the airport. If you discover damage, photograph it, report it to the airline, and retain the report reference. These records can help document what happened, although photographs alone do not guarantee compensation.

She also recommends placing contact details inside the suitcase, where they can be found easily if the outer luggage tag disappears. A name, email address and telephone number with the international dialing code give someone a way to reach you.

A little organization inside the bag can prevent everyday frustrations. Put toiletries in sealed bags to contain leaks, and keep footwear covered so the soles don't touch clean clothing. Tuck socks inside shoes to use the space.

An extra lightweight bag can come in handy if you need to rearrange belongings at check-in, subject to your airline’s baggage allowance. Later, it can hold laundry for the return journey.

Together, these habits create a simple travel routine: document your luggage before departure, inspect your room before unpacking, and check your essentials before leaving. The bathtub may be the most memorable suggestion, but the value lies in taking a moment to check before moving on.