It’s happened to me before—I checked into a charming little hotel room, placed my luggage near the bed, and started settling in for what I hoped would be a relaxing stay. Out of curiosity, I began reading some online reviews about the hotel. That’s when I saw it: bedbugs. My heart sank. I couldn’t stop imagining those tiny pests crawling into my suitcase, hitching a ride back home, and turning my life into a nightmare.

That unsettling thought led me to discover a surprisingly effective travel hack: placing your luggage in the hotel room’s bathtub. It might sound a bit odd, but it’s actually a smart way to avoid unwanted guests. Bedbugs rarely climb smooth, slippery surfaces, so the tub offers a safe zone.

It’s a simple, practical move that can spare you a lot of stress later. Now, it’s the very first thing I do whenever I check into any hotel.