Category Archives: Luggage storage

April 5, 2016

Where to Leave Your Bags Safely in Istanbul

You’ve arrived in Istanbul in the morning but you can’t check into your accommodations until late afternoon (usually around 3pm). Hotels and B&Bs often offer to hold your bags until you can check in, but if you’ve booked a private apartment you may be in a quandary about where to leave your bags in the interim.

Alas, Istanbul no longer offers staffed storage facilities in their train stations, however the good news is that self-service luggage lockers are still available at some of Istanbul’s railway stations and the main bus terminal.

 

The Ankara Gar station, for instance, is less than a kilometer southwest of Ulus Square in the historic district and has ample banks of brightly colored lockers where you can place your bulky, heavy bags while you stroll around the center.

If you find yourself at Istanbul’s Atatürk International Airport with a long layover (four hours or more), you can leave your luggage for safekeeping and take the metro or tram into the city to see the sights. Emanet Bagai is located outside the customs area. Once you exit, turn right and walk toward the end of the terminal. There are also baggage lockers in the Departures Hall of the International terminal (at the far end of Row B check-in desks near the toilets/WC). *Note: You’ll need to allow about an hour to return to the airport to retrieve your bags before catching your next flight.

The lockers are available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. You pay by the hour, so it can be a bit pricey but it can be worth it – having peace of mind knowing your bags are safe and you’re free to see the sights without having to drag your bags behind you.

Emanet Bagai
Contacts:
(+90) 212 465 34 42 (International Terminal)
(+90) 531 942 39 80 (International Terminal)
(+90) 537 505 79 93 (Domestic Terminal)
(+90) 212 463 77 77 / 6650 (International Terminal)
(+90) 212 463 77 77 / 6651 (Domestic Terminal)

April 3, 2016

Left Luggage in London: Free Yourself!

Are you a curious and adventurous traveler who wants to immerse yourself in the rich culture and unique lifestyle of the places you visit? Cross-Pollinate has dozens of privately owned apartments in the London metro area from which to choose. Staying at a self-catered vacation property is an excellent way to experience what life is really like for a native Londoner.

Few properties have staffed reception areas, so they’re generally unable to provide left luggage service before check-in time or after check out. In a big metropolis like London, wherever can you stash your bags?

Well, you’re in luck! We’ve come across a company called Excess Baggage Company that offers over 14 locations (10 of them are near major transportation hubs) where you can safely and affordably drop your heavy, bulky or valuable items while you enjoy the sights of the city unencumbered.

It’s really pretty easy: Drop your suitcases as early as 7:00am and pick them up as late as 11:00pm. Short- and long-term storage is available, as is 24-hour closed circuit TV, full security screening and baggage shipping/delivery. You can even purchase new luggage and travel accessories.

In addition, if you opt for using their convenient online/pre-booking system, you’ll be able to take advantage of their VIP priority handling lanes – just go straight to the counter and deposit your bags…no waiting.

Excess Baggage Company outlets are sprinkled along Great Britain’s national rail network that links London to surrounding UK airports, as well as other European destinations.

Now you can sightsee London freely and without worry!

Excess Baggage Company
Hours: 7:00am – 11:00pm
London area locations: London Heathrow Airport, London Gatwick Airport, North Terminal (The Avenue), South Terminal (Main Concourse), Charing Cross Station, Euston Station, King’s Cross Station, Liverpool Street Station, Paddington Station, St Pancras International, Birmingham New Street, Liverpool Lime Street Station, Victoria Station and Waterloo Station.

April 3, 2016

Lisbon: Leave your luggage and go, go, go!

It continues to be an exasperating travel dilemma: where to leave your luggage before check-in or after checking out of your Lisbon accommodation. Fortunately, companies have heard the call from travelers and answered with many convenient solutions.

In Lisbon for example, CityLockers provides users a safe and uncomplicated way to deposit and hold valuables. The lockers are under CCTV monitoring 24/7 (they’re connected to a central alarm system), are economically priced and centrally located at the Rossio Metro station with easy connections to the Lisbon Airport (Green Line – change once at Alameda to the Red Line). The self-service process is pretty straightforward.

To deposit bags:

1. Place bags in any available locker
2. Close door and wait for the light to turn on
3. Pay your fee (cash or credit cards)
4. Obtain and keep safe your access code

To collect bags:

1. Enter the access code
2. Pay any balance due
3. Take luggage and go

Lockers dimensions are as follows:

  • Small lockers: 36x48x60 cm or 14x19x23.6 in.
  • Medium lockers: 36x65x60 cm or 14×25.6×23.6 in.
  • Large lockers: 36x99x60 cm or 14×38.9×23.6 in.

CityLockers is open from 6:30am to 1:00am, 365 days a year. Hourly fees start as low as 1€ and special long-term rates are available. Note: For luggage storage of more than 7 days, advance booking is required. There’s also a new location in Porto (Porto-Trindade Metro Station).

Drop and go. Lisbon is waiting!

CityLockers
Rossio Metro Station
1100-201 Lisbon, Portugal
E-mail: citylockers@citylockers.pt
Hours: 6:30am to 1:00am (365 days a year)

 

There’s also Lisbon Lockers near Baixa/Chiado metro station, open from 9am to 8pm. They have wifi, bathrooms and a waiting room as well.  Prices and details available on their website.

Lisbon Lockers

R. Horta Seca 9, 1200-243 Lisboa

February 26, 2016

Luggage Storage: 3 Places to Leave Your Bags in Barcelona

So, you’ve rented a great vacation property in Barcelona, but you’re arriving before the apartment’s check-in time or check-out is at 11:00am and you still have lots of sightseeing to do before departing the city.  We’ve discovered 3 great options in Barcelona’s city center where you can leave your luggage safely and affordably.

#1: Locker Barcelona

Near Placa de Catalunya (next to a main transportation hub with service to the train station and the airport), Locker Barcelona offers 3 locker sizes to hold bags measuring up to 50cm x 90cm x 90cm bags. Oversize items are also accepted and prices are quite reasonable, plus you can access your locker anytime you want during the day, at no extra charge. Other services include Wi-Fi access, boarding pass printing, luggage weighing, and use of their changing rooms. Perfect for large groups, too.

Locker Barcelona, C/ Estruc 36
Email: info@lockerbarcelona.com
(+34) 933.028.796
Hours: 8:30am to 9:00pm (winter hours: 8:30am to 8pm).

#2: Bag Drop Service

Bag Drop Service not only conveniently stores your dropped-off luggage, but you can save tons of time by arranging your luggage to be picked up from your rental property and delivered straight to your point of departure (train station, airport or cruise terminal). They have 3 locations in the city center that are all in close proximity to public transportation connections.

Bag Drop Service
Bag Drop Service: Ciutat Vella. c/ Jerusalem, 11
Bag Drop Service: Pl. Espanya. c/ Mèxic, 15
Bag Drop Service: Sants. c/ Joan Güell, 54
Email: info@getbagservice.com
(+34) 603 823 099
Hours: 9am to 9pm (year round)

#3: Easyin City

Our last recommendation, Easyin City, not only provides a place to store luggage, they add a really cool twist…with every locker rental you get a free bike loaner. Brilliant!

Easyin City, Carrer de Bertrellans, 4,08002
(+34) 932 80 96 91
Hours: 9:00 am to 9:00pm

February 21, 2016

Where to store bags in Venice before or after check in/out?

by Toni DeBella

There are many upsides to booking a vacation rental property in Venice.  Some of these include budget-friendliness, convenience, room to spread out, and kitchens to prepare some of your own meals.

But what if you arrive in town way ahead of your check-in time (generally around 3pm) and/or there’s a space between the 11am check-out and your train or flight departure? With 3 hours to kill, what ever will you do with your bags?

Although a handful of properties may have reception areas or offices that will hold your bags, most are privately owned and don’t offer this service. You don’t really want to be sipping your Bellini in St. Mark’s Square – having to keep one eye on the beautiful architecture and the other on your Samsonite, do you?  It’s a myth that rolling bags are prohibited in Venice, however, dragging them up and down tiny footbridges all morning may not be your idea of fun.

Your worries are over…

Located in the historic center of Venice, a 4-minute stroll from both Piazza San Marco and the famed Rialto Bridge, Venice Luggage Deposit provides a solution to one of the most common travel dilemmas.

Called a deposito bagagli in Italian, Venice Luggage Deposit offers reasonably priced, per-day holding of your luggage, with discounts for multiple bags.  Special delivery service is available and they also accept oversize or unconventional items (i.e., surfboards) – but that costs a little bit more.  If you prefer, you can also make arrangements beforehand online, although no appointment is necessary – just drop ‘em and go!

You’re now ready to roam the winding streets and canals of Venice, hands free.

Venice Luggage Deposit
Castello 5496, Calle de la Malvasia
Email: info@veniceluggagedeposit.com
(+39) 041 476 4907; Cell (+39) 320 294 05 00
Hours: 9:30am to 5:30pm (holidays included)