Why Savvy Travelers Keep Their Suitcases in the Bathtub

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

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