A flight attendant has shared a simple trick to prevent forgetting valuables in a hotel safe: place a shoe inside the safe alongside your items. This ensures you must open the safe before leaving, reducing the risk of leaving behind passports, jewellery, cash, watches, or electronics.
The Shoe Trick Explained
Barbara Bacilieri, a former flight attendant with 14 years of experience, advises travellers to put one shoe in the hotel safe with their valuables and leave the other by the door. When packing to leave, the missing shoe forces you to open the safe, acting as a built-in reminder to check for forgotten items.
“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. This "can't-leave-without-it" reminder turns the safe into part of your packing routine.
Bedbug Precautions and Room Checks
Bacilieri also warns about bedbugs, which can hide in mattresses, frames, and padded furniture. She recommends placing luggage in the bathtub upon arrival, as the solid, non-fabric surface keeps bags away from carpets and soft furnishings where bugs may lurk.
“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,” she advised.
Luggage Photos and Identification
She suggests taking pictures of your bag from multiple sides before check-in, including wheels, handles, and corners, to have a reference if it’s returned damaged. “Take pictures of your bag before handing it in. A full picture of the bag, and another of the wheels, handles and corners,” she said.
Bacilieri also recommends 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,” she explained. She notes photos can support a claim but don’t guarantee compensation, so checking travel insurance coverage is advised.
Packing and Final Checks
She stresses placing an identification card inside the bag, with name, phone number with country code, and email address. For liquids, she advises sealing them in tight bags to prevent leaks. She also suggests using shoe space for socks and protecting slippers with a clear cover.
Before leaving the hotel, she sets an alarm: “Set an alarm to remind you what needs to be checked. The charger, the safe, the documents.” This ensures a final check of all essentials before departure.
