A flight attendant has revealed why travellers should put their suitcase in the hotel bathtub and leave a shoe on top of the safe when checking into a room.
Barbara Bacilieri, who worked as a flight attendant for 14 years, shares advice and insider tips for her 5.1m TikTok fans and 2.9m YouTube subscribers.
She recently advised holidaymakers to leave their luggage in the bathtub as soon as they arrive, rather than placing it on the bed or carpet.
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She told What’s The Jam: “Place your suitcase in the hotel bathtub before opening it. Leave it there, closed, while you inspect the room.”
Although it might seem like an unusual place to store a suitcase, the advice is intended to reduce the risk of bringing unwanted guests home.
“Bed bugs are a very serious problem, and they can sneak into your luggage and come back home with you,” Barbara warned.
Bedbugs can hide in mattresses, bed frames and upholstered furniture, and may crawl into luggage left nearby.
Keeping a suitcase in the bathtub gives travellers time to inspect the room before unpacking their belongings.
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The hard surface also avoids placing luggage directly on the fabric-covered areas where the insects may be hiding.
Barbara, 34, known online as Barbie Bac, advised: “Look at the mattress seams, headboard and luggage rack.
“If you find insects or suspicious signs, keep your bag closed and inform reception to request a room change.”
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Another simple trick involves the hotel safe, where guests often keep passports, cash, jewellery and other valuables during their stay.
Barbara’s advice is to use a shoe as a reminder to check the safe before leaving.
“If you put your passport in the safe, put one shoe inside and leave the other right by the door.
“This shoe will remind you to check the safe,” she said.
The idea is to create a reminder that is difficult to overlook when it is time to leave.
A guest getting ready to check out will need both shoes before leaving the room, prompting them to retrieve the one left inside the safe.
That should encourage them to open the safe and check that they have collected everything inside before heading home.
Barbara also shared a series of packing and travel habits drawn from her years as a flight attendant.
Before checking a bag, she recommends photographing it from several angles.
“Take pictures of your bag before handing it in. A full picture of the bag, and another of the wheels, handles and corners.
“This way you will have a reference for its condition if they return it damaged,” she said.
She also suggested photographing the baggage claim tag and keeping the original with your passport.
“Upon receiving your bag, inspect it before leaving the airport.
“If it appears broken, take pictures, notify the airline and keep the report number,” Barbara explained.
She added that photos help with documentation but do not guarantee compensation, and recommended checking what travel insurance covers regarding luggage.
She stressed the need for identification inside the bag itself. “The outer card may tear and get lost.
“Leave another identification card inside the bag where it is easy to see when it is opened.
“Name, phone number with country code, and email address. A contact person you can get in touch with during the trip,” she said.
When packing liquids, she recommended extra protection.
“Shampoo may leak even if the cap is closed, so keep it in a tightly sealed bag away from clothes.
“Do the same with other products that may spill.
“If anything leaks, the bag can contain it and save you from having to wash half the bag,” she explained.
She also suggested using the space inside shoes: “Put the socks inside the shoe.
“If you are carrying perfume, keep it tightly closed and protected inside a bag before putting it away.”
Slippers, she said, should be covered with a clear plastic cover or shower cap so they do not touch clean clothes.
She carries an empty bag for practical reasons. “This may be helpful if you encounter a problem when checking in.
“You may have to rearrange your bag because it is overweight.
“Upon returning, use it for dirty clothes,” she said.
She reuses her packing list when leaving the hotel and sets a specific alarm. “Set an alarm to remind you what needs to be checked.
“The charger, the safe, the documents. This name is more useful to you than an alarm clock that rings but says nothing.
“Set it a few minutes before leaving the hotel. When it rings, check everything before turning it off,” she said.
Barbara, who comes from Argentina and lives in Spain, has built a large online following by sharing travel advice and revealing details of life as cabin crew.
Her videos cover everything from the realities of working on an aircraft to practical ways passengers can make their journeys easier
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