A few weeks ago, I had a late afternoon meeting in Manhattan but was faced with a dilemma I’ve seen too many times. I was coming from another client where I had been all week, and was staying at the airport the night before the meeting – but not the same airport I was flying out from that night.  So, do I stick around the rather dull airport Marriott all day and head to the city right before my meeting, or lug my rolling suitcase all over NYC for the day. The latter is a pretty terrible experience, so it seemed like spending the day at the airport was going to win.

A quick Google search of my options, though, turned me on to Luggage Hero. Luggage Hero works with local hotels, cafes, and shops to allow travelers to store their bags for a few hours or a few days, all using their app or website. Bags are securely sealed and insured so you don’t have to worry about your items going missing while they’re stored.

Hundreds of options popped up on the map across Manhattan. At $1 an hour, plus $2 service fee, the offer was too good not to try!

And y’all – it’s a game changer. I could easily explore the city, then quickly pick up my bag and be en route back to the airport or wherever I needed to go.

The service is live in NYC, London, and Copenhagen. I could imagine using it when I have an extended flight layover, if I wanted to check out of my hotel on one end of town but explore the rest of the day on the other before heading to the airport, or if I got into town early and wanted to do some sightseeing before my hotel room was ready.

HOW IT WORKS

Hop onto LuggageHero.com to search for Luggage Hero’s near you. I opted for a location walking distance from Penn Station (where I was arriving into the city) and near my meeting in Times Square.

Select a location and reserve a spot. Don’t worry – you don’t pay until you drop your bag off.

Check your texts for the address of your Luggage Hero. Mine was in this fashion magazine shop, right off 7th Ave (how convenient!).

Arrive at the location and start the clock. You’ll be asked at this stage to add your credit card number, if you haven’t done so already. The clerk will give you a secure tag to close up your bag with. Take a photo to confirm the number on the tag, then enjoy your time in the city!

When you’re ready to get your bag, just arrive back at the location, stop the clock in the app, and show the clerk to retrieve your bag. You’re all done!

NOTE: This isn’t sponsored, nor do I receive a commission if you use the service. I just had a great experience and wanted to share!