The Mystery in the Hotel Room
It was my first morning working as a hotel housekeeper, and I wanted to make a flawless impression. I double-checked every corner, smoothed out every wrinkle in the sheets, and made sure the mirrors sparkled without a single streak.
But as I moved from room to room, something kept catching my attention. Nearly every guest — business travelers, families on vacation, even solo tourists — had placed their luggage in the bathtub.
At first, I didn’t think much of it. Maybe they wanted to keep the floor clear, or perhaps they didn’t want to track dirt into the closet. But as the day went on, I realized it wasn’t just a coincidence. It was deliberate. Guests who hadn’t even checked out yet had their suitcases sitting safely inside the tub.
By the third room, my curiosity got the better of me.
The Question Everyone Else Already Knew the Answer To
During our morning team briefing the next day, I finally asked about it. I tried to sound casual, like I was just making conversation.
“Has anyone noticed that some guests are putting their suitcases in the bathtub?”
I expected laughter or confusion. Instead, my coworkers exchanged knowing looks. Maria, one of the senior housekeepers who’d been working there for nearly ten years, smiled and said, “Oh, that’s not strange at all. They’re just protecting their luggage.”
“Protecting it?” I asked. “From what?”
She chuckled. “From tiny, unwanted visitors. Bedbugs don’t climb smooth surfaces. Keeping bags in the tub helps make sure the little pests can’t hitch a ride home.”
Her explanation made perfect sense. What I had mistaken for an odd travel quirk was actually a clever form of self-defense — a trick learned the hard way by those who’d once had to deal with the nightmare of bringing bedbugs home.
A Lesson from Experienced Travelers
Later that week, I met an older couple staying in one of our suites. They were warm, polite, and clearly seasoned travelers. As I tidied the room, I noticed their large suitcase neatly placed in the bathtub.
I smiled. “So you’ve heard of the bathtub trick too?” I asked.
The husband looked up from his newspaper with a grin. “Oh, we learned that one the hard way,” he said. “Years ago, we stayed at a hotel during a road trip. We didn’t notice anything at first, but a few days after getting home, we realized we’d brought some very small, very unwelcome guests with us. It took months — and a lot of money — to get rid of them. Since then, we always put our bags in the tub. Old habits, I suppose.”
His wife nodded in agreement. “It gives us peace of mind. We’d rather look a little strange than repeat that ordeal.”
I laughed softly, but her words stayed with me. There was something admirable about their quiet wisdom — a kind of knowledge that only experience can teach.
A Small Habit with a Big Purpose
After that day, I never looked at a suitcase in a bathtub the same way again. Each one told a story — of lessons learned, of troubles avoided, and of travelers who had discovered a small but meaningful way to protect themselves.
It made me realize that travel isn’t just about the places we go. It’s also about the lessons we gather along the way — little bits of wisdom that keep us safer, calmer, and a bit more prepared.
Some travelers learn to carry disinfectant wipes or pack extra locks. Others slip a rubber door stopper into their bag “just in case.” And then there are those who tuck their luggage safely into the bathtub, a quiet nod to experience that says: I’ve been there. I’ve learned.
A New Habit of My Own
Now, whenever I check into a hotel, I think back to that first week on the job. I open the door, set my bag down, and almost instinctively glance toward the bathroom.
The shiny porcelain of the bathtub doesn’t look like much — but I know better now. It’s more than a place to shower. It’s a tiny fortress against the hidden surprises that sometimes come with travel.
And so, like the travelers I once thought were being eccentric, I gently place my suitcase inside.
It might seem odd to some, but for me, it’s a reminder: the smallest precautions can sometimes save you from the biggest inconveniences.
Because every experienced traveler knows — the best lessons are the ones that quietly keep you safe.
