Can You Leave Luggage at a Hotel If You're Not a Guest?

You've checked out, your train isn't until the evening, and the hotel across the road has a luggage room. Can you just leave your bags there? Sometimes. It depends entirely on the hotel, and if you're not staying there, the answer is often no.

The short answer

There's no rule that says a hotel has to store bags for people who aren't staying with it. Each hotel decides for itself. Some will help, especially if you're eating in their restaurant or have stayed before. Some charge a fee. Many keep their luggage room for their own guests only.

If you are staying there, it's a different story. Most hotels will hold your bags before check-in and after check-out on the day itself, usually free of charge.

Why hotels often say no to non-guests

A luggage room is limited space, looked after by staff who are also running reception. Every extra bag is something the hotel has to log, store and hand back to the right person. When a hotel turns non-guests away, it's usually for one of these reasons:

• Space: the room is often full of guests' bags at check-in and check-out times.
• Security: the hotel doesn't know who you are or what is in your bag.
• Staff time: reception teams are busiest exactly when people want to drop off and collect luggage.
• Responsibility: once your bag is behind their desk, the hotel has to answer for it if something goes wrong.

How to ask a hotel to hold your bags

If you'd still like to try, a little preparation helps:

• Ask before you turn up. Call or email the hotel and get a clear yes or no, rather than asking at a busy desk.
• Check the cost. Ask whether there's a fee per bag or per day.
• Confirm the collection time. Find out how late you can pick your bags up, especially if your train or flight is late at night.
• Get a ticket or receipt for each bag you hand over.
• Keep valuables with you. Passports, laptops, medicines and anything you can't replace should stay in your day bag.

Is it safe to leave luggage in a hotel?

Hotel luggage rooms are normally locked or watched by staff, so the risk is low, but standards vary from hotel to hotel. It's also worth knowing what happens if something does go wrong.

In England, Wales and Scotland, the Hotel Proprietors Act 1956 lets a hotel limit its liability for a guest's belongings to £50 per item and £100 in total, as long as the required notice is displayed near reception. The limit doesn't apply if the hotel or its staff were at fault, or if you handed the item over expressly for safe keeping. These rules are about guests who have booked a room. If you're not staying, ask the hotel what cover, if any, applies to your bags.

This is general information, not legal advice.

If the hotel says no: book luggage storage instead

Luggage storage services exist for exactly this situation. With StoreMyLuggage, you book a space online with a local business, drop your bags off and collect them when you're ready. You know the price and the rules before you set off, rather than hoping a reception desk says yes.

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