# How much do you unpack at hotels? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 12, 2016, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032 "2016-04-12T18:53:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032/21 "2016-04-12T22:38:25Z")
I never use dressers. As far as I’m concerned, my bag is a single drawer of a dresser and works just fine for that purpose. Of course, I also pack light. The usual for me is three sets of clothes and I’ll do laundry twice a week. However, I do hang some things up in the closet. If I have jackets, shirts and/or pants that I don’t want wrinkled, those get hung up. My dirty stuff goes in a pile in the corner or a bag. Given my practice of packing light, it’s not a big pile. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2016, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032/22 "2016-04-12T23:10:25Z")
If I’m staying someplace for two weeks, it doesn’t make sense not to unpack everything. But for an overnighter, I just unpack what I’ll be needing. ---
**Author:** ![davey77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@davey77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davey77)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2016, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032/23 "2016-04-12T23:43:03Z")
You mean… those dressers actually OPEN? ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2016, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032/24 "2016-04-12T23:59:52Z")
Depends how long I’m staying. For an overnight, I don’t unpack. If I’m staying a week in one hotel, I do unpack into drawers – otherwise it’s too difficult to find things in my suitcase. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032/25 "2016-04-13T01:11:58Z")
I hang everything there’s a hanger for and double up if I have more than the hangers (rare). I put the luggage on the luggage rack and keep the rest in there. Upon leaving, I try to have stuff only on the bathroom counter, one nightstand, and the hangers for easy checking that I have everything packed back up. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032/26 "2016-04-13T01:21:20Z")
I have hard time with my dressers at home, why would I bother with them while traveling? I do open them all when I first get there to find and throw away the bible, however. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032/27 "2016-04-13T02:09:52Z")
I always unpack if I’m staying more than one night. It’s far easier to find my things in a dresser than in my bag. ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032/28 "2016-04-13T02:59:19Z")
I don’t even use dressers at home. Dress-type clothes you hang up, the rest you keep in various heaps of “clean,”, “not clean but wearable under some circumstances,” and “should be burned.” I use the same system in hotels. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032/29 "2016-04-13T05:18:30Z")
Even when I’m staying in the same room for several nights, I tend to live out of my baggage. Other than say a toothbrush and some small things I just get out what I need as I need it and return it as I’m finished. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032/30 "2016-04-13T09:36:59Z")
I barely use the dressers or the closet, but I do take some things outside of the case and leave them in the bathroom, on available horizontal surfaces or on the back of an armchair. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032/31 "2016-04-13T10:37:06Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > Even when I’m staying in the same room for several nights, I tend to live out of my baggage. Other than say a toothbrush and some small things I just get out what I need as I need it and return it as I’m finished. This is my style too. If I have a jacket I will hang it up but all I leave out is toiletries and reading material. I pack my dirty stuff as I take it off. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032/32 "2016-04-13T11:47:01Z")
If it’s just the one night, I don’t bother, but if I’m staying 2 to 4, I’ll put the clothes I’m planning to wear in the dresser drawers and put the suitcase in the wardrobe/closet. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032/33 "2016-04-13T11:51:20Z")
> [@MoonMoon](#): > > When I traveled weekly for work, I unpacked and hung everything to prevent wrinkles. There are many things I NEVER use in a hotel room: > > the dressers (bed bugs) Yet you sleep in the beds? They’re called bed bugs for a reason, y’know. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032/34 "2016-04-13T12:05:54Z")
Ever since my backpacking days I’ve packed light and lived out of one bag. That’s still the case. On the rare occasion I have to wear something very formal it gets hung up, but that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032/35 "2016-04-13T13:37:38Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Yet you sleep in the beds? They’re called bed bugs for a reason, y’know. Oh, I know. But it’s kind of a psychological thing. I try not even to put my clothes on the bed, and I always keep the sleepy clothes I wear separate from the rest of my things. As soon as I get home everything goes in the wash. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032/36 "2016-04-13T15:15:08Z")
I try to get a room with two beds–one to sleep on and other one to put all my stuff on. I never put anything in the dresser drawers, but I will hang things in the closet if I’m staying for a more than one night. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032/37 "2016-04-13T15:15:24Z")
If I’m staying for more than one night I fully unpack into the dressers. When I was younger I lived out of my suitcase, but my late SO got me into the habit of unpacking. The first time I saw him do that I thought it was bizarre. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032/38 "2016-04-13T15:26:45Z")
I never use the dresser drawers. Ever. Because the one time I did, in Cancun, and we had to change rooms (the loudest, shrillest, most-ear-bleeding screaming child was in the room next door) and while we were waiting for the concierge to take us to the new room I realized that I nearly forgot my ID, passport, etc. in the drawer. I was so exhausted from traveling that my brain wasn’t working. Scared the living shit out of myself and I’ve never used the drawers again. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032/39 "2016-04-13T23:54:45Z")
Given the choice, I tend to live out of my luggage when I’m staying at a hotel/motel because, frankly, I don’t give a damn about it. But my husband is a stickler for using the dressers, so I don’t usually get given the choice… ---
**Author:** ![Morelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Morelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morelin)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032/40 "2016-04-14T00:48:57Z")
I’ll hang up nice/dress clothes, and then pull new stuff out of the suitcase and pile dirty stuff into a laundry bag in the corner. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-unpack-at-hotels/752032.md?page=3)