Anyone who has traveled will be familiar with the feeling of looking out for your luggage in the airport, with at least one other bag looking just like yours. It can be quite a hassle to heave a bag out of the belt only to realize it wasn’t your bag, or even bringing home another’s bag and having someone else take home yours. It can be expensive to avail of custom shipping services, so marking your luggage is more affordable. Although some people have devised several methods to prevent these accidents from happening, such as a keychain, it can still be difficult to locate these marks with the amount of bags rolling in.

While the best way to avoid confusion on the carousel is to invest in a unique luggage that will significantly lower the chances of someone else having the same  bag as you— such as one with polka dots or zebra stripes, you may already have an ordinary bag at home and do not want to spend on another luggage.

Keychains are a good investment as they are not costly and can be easily spotted but be careful; some keychains are very small and can easily be detached from your bag. If not detached, the size can also make it difficult to locate. Make sure the keychain is not only large but also brightly colored, and does not blend in with the usual colors, such as dark blue, black, or red. A brightly-colored orange or anything neon would be more eye-catching.

If you do not have a keychain, a ribbon or a strap of cloth can also be used, but with the same concept— it must be brightly colored. Find a bright t-shirt or glossy, metallic ribbon and tie it securely on the handles of your luggage. If you cannot find any neon t-shirts, pastel and Easter colors will also work well, as they shy away from the normal colors. The strip of t-shirt of ribbon must be thick enough and securely tied so as not to fall off or untie itself during the sometimes rough handling of bags.

If you’d like to veer away from the ordinary means of marking your luggage, you can try iron-on stickers, spray paint, or even pictures. Personalizing a bag to this extent will ensure no one else obtains your luggage by accident.

Lastly, do not wait until morning to mark your bags. Do it at least the night or week before to ensure you are not rushing to place your marks, which may make them more unstable.

Once you’ve secured all the luggage necessities, you are now ready to travel and enjoy a vacation. Book a custom Italian vacation or a women tour getaway today, without the worry of someone mistakenly getting your bag.