The One Spot You Should Never Put Your Suitcase in Your Hotel Room

Travel hubs are buzzing with activity—busier than ever, it seems. Between the crowds, long lines, and all the packing, it’s easy to overlook the small details—like where your suitcase ends up once you finally reach your hotel room. I never really thought much about it myself—until I learned the one spot you should avoid entirely: your bed. It turns out, it’s not as harmless as it looks.

A 2025 study conducted by travel insurer InsureandGo found that suitcase wheels can carry nearly 58 times more bacteria than a public toilet seat. Microbiologist Amy-May Pointer, who led the research, explained that wheels and suitcase bases pick up germs from sidewalks, airport bathrooms, and train platforms—high-traffic areas that are teeming with bacteria during busy travel periods. Even airport luggage trolley handles were found to carry significant bacterial contamination, including Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus.

Heads up: Those airport luggage trolley handles? They can carry about 40 times more bacteria than a public toilet seat.

The key takeaway: placing your suitcase on the bed can transfer bacteria directly to your linens, increasing the risk of contact during your stay. So, how can you travel without bringing unwanted germs into your hotel room?

Expert Tips for Safer Hotel Stays

If you want to reduce the bacteria your luggage might bring along, the study suggests a few simple steps to follow:

• Keep your suitcase off beds and tables. Use a luggage rack or place it on the floor—your sheets will thank you later. This keeps the dirtiest part of your bag away from areas where you sleep and eat.
• Disinfect wheels and the base. Wiping your suitcase with disinfectant or a soapy cloth after each trip can significantly reduce bacteria—particularly on soft-shell suitcases, which the study found tend to hold more germs than hard-sided ones.
• Use wheel covers indoors. Washable sleeves or disposable shower caps help prevent bacteria from spreading to hotel carpets and furniture.
• Clean your hands after touching your luggage. A proper hand wash or using hand sanitizer stops bacteria from transferring to your phone, food, or yourself.
• Avoid rolling through visibly dirty areas. Steering clear of restrooms, puddles, and heavily trafficked floors helps keep your suitcase—and your room—cleaner.

On top of these steps, I’ve found a few extra habits that make trips feel safer and more comfortable: wearing slippers indoors, leaving outdoor shoes at the door, and bringing disinfecting wipes to clean remotes, light switches, and doorknobs. Following routines like these, along with Pointer’s expert insight, allows you to focus on the joys of holiday travel—connecting with loved ones, exploring new destinations, and keeping unwanted “guests” out of your suitcase.

For more travel inspiration and local adventures, explore Only In Your State and plan your next outing with the Itinerary Planner to uncover hidden gems, scenic stops, and must-see destinations near you. To see the full details on suitcase bacteria, check out the InsureandGo study and stay a step ahead of germs on your travels.