My mum packs way too much and I have to lug it around. But I found a solution

July 12, 2026 — 5:00am

When I say that I love travelling with my mum, I mean it. Together, we’ve snorkelled at Hanauma Bay in Hawaii, eaten our weight in gluten-free pasta in Italy, witnessed Phantom of the Opera in London’s West End, marvelled at the Taj Mahal in India, and taken so many hop-on-hop-off tour buses that I’ve stopped keeping track.

However (love you, Mum), on a recent winter Euro-trip, I found it challenging to curb my irritation when carrying my mum’s two chock-a-block suitcases across Brussels’ beautifully cobblestoned streets. When my time with Mum started feeling less like a family holiday and more like a weight-lifting exercise, I realised that lugging our luggage from place to place desperately needed a fix.

Our next stop was Bruges for a two-night stay, where an overnight bag was all we needed, before returning to Brussels to board the Eurostar to London. Leaving our larger luggage at our Brussels hotel would have been ideal, though logistically, it didn’t stack up: the property was a significant distance from the Brussels-South station, and we weren’t returning as hotel guests. We needed an alternative lest we risk our relationship and rolling suitcase wheels.

Luggage storage comes in many shapes and sizes, from traditional methods to more tech-savvy solutions. The most familiar storage facilities are 24/7 self-service lockers, tucked into train stations and a time-saving solution for travellers in transit. However, these lockers are often subject to size limits, lower availability during peak seasons, and exposed locations that can feel a little less secure. As a result, staffed storage facilities, or left-luggage offices, are becoming increasingly common at major transport hubs. While these services include an added layer of safety, the trade-off is that they are typically only accessible during staffed hours and may come at a higher price.

Modern luggage storage solutions are designed to solve baggage burdens by offering more flexibility and freedom for travellers on the move. Platforms such as Bounce, Nannybag, Radical Storage, Stasher, and LuggageHero connect users with a network of local businesses providing secure, short- and long-term luggage storage, complete with built-in insurance. Through mobile apps and online booking platforms, travellers can locate nearby storage options, compare prices, opening hours, and customer reviews, and reserve space in advance.

Admittedly, Mum was apprehensive at first, but I had used Bounce in Europe before: once in Lisbon, when flying to and from Madeira for a short four-night stay; and again in Naples, while spending a week island-hopping in Greece. On both occasions, the experience had been seamless and stress-free – a secure, on-demand solution wherever and whenever best suited me.

Using Bounce’s network, we located a nearby business offering storage services with flexible opening hours and strong customer reviews. Booked and baggage-free, Mum and I breathed a sigh of relief. For a business that proclaims they’re “on a mission to make your journey lighter”, Bounce did exactly that.

With our bigger bags safely stowed away, we were finally free to do what any mother-daughter duo does best while travelling light: head straight to the shops.