To unpack or not unpack...

[Franky]

Is anyone else so rubbish at folding shirts that they always have to iron all business shirts when they arrive? Its always how i seem to spend my first night in a hotel on business Should be at the bar!

Everyone else stays in the case unless its a long trip.

My wife's rule on things that need ironing is to put them on hangers in a plastic dry-cleaning bag, fold them in half, and they're last in and first out, and never need attention wherever we arrive at.

 

[Milboo]

Why do people place toiletries back in the bag?

For me it is toiletries and straighteners into the bathroom and unpacked (frequently use one of the glasses to store any brushes etc). Shoes go into the drawer under the luggage spot. Chargers on to desk. PJs to the side of the case. Clothes remain in the case - not worried about wrinkles as I don't own anything that needs ironing (given I don't actually own an iron!).

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I think it's a no brainer - I always unpack immediately apon arrival every hotel!

 

[AnnaB]

I think it's a no brainer - I always unpack immediately apon arrival every hotel!

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Yep, you look all settled in now :mrgreen:

 

[Foreigner]

I unpack, essential toiletries go to bathroom, clothes remain folded but ironed for the following morning, used clothes folded, last night sleeping in the buff and pack all clothes into bag. In the morning of checkout all toiletries return to bag.

 

[JohnK]

Why do people place toiletries back in the bag?

Paranoid about leaving things laying around. If there was a way to hide the luggage I would do that too.

 

[Archphoto]

Toiletries and shirts that need to be ironed only, the rest stays in the bag usually.
I'll iron any tees if needed, otherwise I don't bother, and polo shirts are brilliant - no ironing necessary.

When I was travelling almost non-stop, I had a bag that was packed and waiting for the next shoot once I'd arrived home. Shooting hotels meant (minimum) laundry was included, so only stuff that got washed when I got back, was that worn on the flights home. Had it's own toiletries bag that was renewed constantly - half full products were replaced with full ones, just in case I never had time to replenish on the go!

 

[Ausbt]

Complete unpack. Use cells (usually the nicer cotten laundry bags from Sofitel or elsewhere). Toiletry bag hanging in bathroom or smaller airline goody bag size for overnighters. Apartment I'm in presently has huge walk-in with copious amounts of plastic hangers - these have been great after washing clothes, wet stuff dries quickly. I've been known to take my own mini clothesline with me. I'd rather launder - that way my bag is lighter or I can bring back more.

My great sin is the desk in a hotel or kitchen table in an apartment - it becomes littered with cough. Fruit-bowl full of receipts, chargers and cables of all varieties, the odd souvenir (geeze I've even souvenired a paper coffee cup on this trip). General detritus.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

I only unpack what is needed during the stay. The rest stays in the case. Toiletries bag goes in the bathroom. Rons shirts go on a hanger after a good shake ( I have a roll/fold technique that seems to work for me ) I usually don't have to iron anything. Plus irons/ironing boards are disappearing from hotels I have noticed.

For our current trip we are on in Japan, we are sending our two large suitcases on to out hotel 6 days down the track, and HLO the two hotels we are staying at and travelling by bullet train. I pack essential toiletries in two large zip lock bags ( they squish in better than a toiletries bag - plus you don't need everything for 2 x 3day stay ) So far successful.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

I think it's a no brainer - I always unpack immediately apon arrival every hotel!

View attachment 68405

Hey ! that's drrons method of unpacking too !

 

[harvyk]

Paranoid about leaving things laying around. If there was a way to hide the luggage I would do that too.

Meh, I'll place anything important into the in-room safe, but the way I see it is if any of my other stuff got stolen, none of it is expensive, and i'd have no problem simply replacing it.
Then again I tend to buy cheap with the intention of replacing it before too long anyway.

 

[JohnK]

Meh, I'll place anything important into the in-room safe, but the way I see it is if any of my other stuff got stolen, none of it is expensive, and i'd have no problem simply replacing it.

Not every room has a safe and not everything fits in a safe.

I don't like the thought of someone going through my luggage. Duty free alcohol, perfume, toys/gifts, presents for back home etc. If it's one thing I have learned in Thailand is don't trust anyone. Things go missing from hotel safes when you and another staff member supposedly have the only keys. And certainly don't give someone the opportunity to test their honesty and loyalty to their job. Hear too many stories of possessions disappearing from rooms. The housekeeper will let criminal friends into hotel room. No doubt what so ever.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

If hotel room doesn't have safe you should not be staying there. Honesty of staff in major international hotel chains checked / monitored on daily basis - they constantly 'test' staff - so many bulls**t stories about items stolen from rooms.

Hotels like most things in life you get what you pay for. I have never ever had anything stolen from hotel room and I leave stuff laying around everywhere every time - but I don't stay in cough hotels either - sorry for being way OT but the cr*p that some go on with hotel security is over the top.

 

[SuzieQ68]

I generally only unpack in full when staying for at least 7 days. Otherwise tend to live out of the suitcase (usually travel carry on though, so probably no reason not to unpack, just habit).

With regards to safes in hotels, I've stayed in many types of accommodation - not all of them have safes and of those that do, have come across quite a few that are actually not even attached to anything - so quite easy to take the whole safe!!! If it's attached, will keep stuff in the safe (even in Thailand). If not, tend to lock anything important in the bag. Doesn't mean things won't go missing, but working on the theory that out of sight, out of mind (or temptation).

 

[Franky]

yes - things are so much easier when you're neat and tidy...

I think it's a no brainer - I always unpack immediately apon arrival every hotel!

View attachment 68405

 

[serfty]

General rule is not to unpack. ... sometimes hang a few things to dewinkle.

I don't travel with that much really.

I do keep a separate bathroom kit for travel (these days two bags, one for dry & another see through for LAGs).

 

[Conrad_S]

Hang the things I'm going to wear. Toiletries bag goes in the bathroom. Shoes on the floor under the bag rack (if there is one). Everything apart from the hung up clothes goes back in the bag or in one spot in the room every morning before leaving. I like to make it easy for the room staff as I really appreciate they do.

 

[Milboo]

Hang the things I'm going to wear. Toiletries bag goes in the bathroom. Shoes on the floor under the bag rack (if there is one). Everything apart from the hung up clothes goes back in the bag or in one spot in the room every morning before leaving. I like to make it easy for the room staff as I really appreciate they do.

Heading slightly off topic - when I check out, aside from a rumpled doona and all towels in the tub (or corner of bathroom) the room is spotless. That way I know I gave everything of mine.

 

[Archphoto]

Heading slightly off topic - when I check out, aside from a rumpled doona and all towels in the tub (or corner of bathroom) the room is spotless. That way I know I gave everything of mine.

Same here - I leave the room as neat as possible; they work hard enough without needing to do extra because I've left the room looking as if a tornado has gone through it!

 

[Bolthead]

Crushables, shoes and toiletries always taken out of bag (especially suits and the like)...