Over the Horizon She's Smooth Sailin' These Concrete Seas (Luggage Storage in the Modern City)

Once upon a time, when I was a 20 year old backpacker with a 45 pound pack and a Eurrail pass, I’d find myself seeking out left luggage offices or lockers at various train stations to be free of my burdensome pack while I explored a city or waited for my train. 

Over the years, lockers have largely vanished and left luggage spaces have been taken over by corporations who charge twice as much as is reasonable to rent a little storage space. Thankfully, there are a number of disruptors who have jumped into the market, offering a reasonable price to stash your bag as long as you need. 

I’ve twice availed myself of BAGBNB. In New Orleans I had an evening flight and nowhere convenient to leave my suitcase for the day. I had been staying with friends, meaning hotels wouldn’t be likely to store my luggage, and the airport is quite a ways from town (plus, I wasn’t planning to check my bag). The BAGBNB site offered only a few location options in New Orleans (there are more plentiful options in larger cities). I chose one in the CBD which turned out to be at the Catahoula Hotel. For $12, I was free to enjoy the day in New Orleans while my bag was safely locked away. 

More recently, in London, I had matinee theater tickets and a 6pm train to catch after (no time to go back to the flat where I was staying in between). For £5 I was able to stash my bag in a mini market near the train station for the day without any hassle. Left luggage at the same station wanted £12.50. 

BAGBNB is not the only player in this space. You can comparison shop at Stasher, Knock Knock, Nannybag, Luggage Hero, and Vertoe. They mostly seem to use the same storage spaces, so pick the one with the lowest price and get on with enjoying your travels.