Luggage tags- for independant self directed travel

If I were to check a bag, which I never do, it would be name and cell number only, inside and out.

If you use a USA phone number, use a friend/family who will NOT be on the trip.

I don’t check luggage or have an outside luggage tag, but I do place a couple of business-size cards in my suitcase and backpack with “If found, please contact (my name and e-mail address).” This is the same whether I’m traveling in USA or outside USA.

In my purse, I always have an emergency contact phone number in the USA. When I travel in Europe, that info is in my passport (inside my money belt) and in my crossbody purse.

There are now electronic baggage tags available. You register the tag and airline personnel can scan to notify you your bag's location. There is no information that could be copied or used by others. Ebags sells them and I am sure others do as well. One nic feature is an app that would notify you wherever you are.

Name, cell phone number, and email address.

That’s enough to reach me.

Name and email.
BTW, if you still use a camera or go pro, make your first shot, a copy of the same details....in case it is found.

Name, cell phone number, and email address.

My mother puts the information in large print on a regular size sheet of paper and lays it right on top of everything inside of her suitcase—also in an outside pocket. When traveling abroad I put my entire itinerary containing the names, dates, addresses, and phone numbers of of all my hotels and addresses of my Airbnb apartments. This is in addition to my name, cell phone, and email address.

flowerfun, does "climate" mean that there is actual danger that evil people will hunt your home down and break in? Or is this something you just read about on the internet: "My nannie's cousin's best friend was at Disneyland and ... "? Although your fears are not ridiculous, you have to evaluate what your most likely actual risks are, and serve yourself instead of vague anxieties.

I've been to Europe about 50 times, and I've never had my privacy invaded this way. I have had my bags arrive late once (to the Caribbean), and I think it's beneficial to have honest airport staff able to identify the bag. I've seen adhesive bar codes falling off of woven nylon bags, and I'd like my bag to be identifiable from the exterior.

I have always used luggage tags and an index card inside my luggage with name, address, and USA and UK phone number as well as my email in the hope that if it would ever get lost, someone would actually read the information and contact me - Well, my luggage was lost on my last trip to Europe and it never was reunited with me until I arrived back home in Missouri. - I even had the TravelGuard information attached to my luggage tag. My travel buddy - never got her luggage returned. - Lost for ever according to the airlines. Now I know someone, somewhere in some warehouse has to see the owner's information. From now on, I do hand luggage only.

Margaret

I just use my cell phone number (then they can reach me wherever I am, plus I don't have a home phone anyway), home city, and email. Home city is there because on the off chance they can't reach me an airline may send the bag to Chicago, and I could call the airport lost baggage and get it. I have no idea if that would ever happen, but why not try? So it would say M.Lastname, Chicago, IL, USA, phone, email. Write the phone number as +1 123 456 7890.

If your bag is lost the airline/hotel/whoever will need to get in touch with you. They don't need your address, as they would be unlikely to mail the bag to your home without talking to you first. Once they call you can provide your location or address.. If your bag is lost on the way to Europe your home address isn't useful - you want them to deliver the bag to your hotel in Paris, so once they call you can tell them where you will be.

No one but an airline or MAYBE a luxury hotel would mail a fairly heavy bag across the ocean, unless you pay for it. I'm picturing you leaving it on a subway platform and the subway office calling you. You'd probably just go pick it up there which is why your cell phone is useful.

I agree that having your address is unlikely to cause problems...but I see no reason to take the admittedly small risk so why bother?

We visited four cities in Italy last month just using carryons. I have a cpap machine which requires an additional bag. I would heartily recommend you use just carryons. The chances of your luggage getting stolen or lost become minimal. Also, if your luggage is always with you, you would be aware of an increased interest in your luggage tag.....or actually minimize the need for one on the outside of your bag completely. And, if you are visiting several cities, toting around large luggage will be a giant burden. Have a wonderful trip. Italy is a gorgeous place to go.....

Name and email only. I change SIM card so no phone #.

joe’s mention of a friend / family phone # is very good... I’ll do that.

I would never, ever put my home address.

In this day and age, there probably isn’t any need for addresses on a luggage tag. I haven’t used the “scannable” tags yet, but it sounds like a nice idea. I just have name, email address, and cell number. And if you don’t want your cell number there, you can always get a Google Voice or similar free number that rings on your cell phone. I use that for business purposes to keep my personal number as private as possible. Works pretty well.

And it’s a really good idea to have a second tag inside the bag as suggested above. Even bags with integrated ID pockets can suffer damage, so having a second one in the interior of the bag is a decent precaution.

In this day and age, there probably isn’t any need for addresses on a luggage tag. I haven’t used the “scannable” tags yet, but it sounds like a nice idea. I just have name, email address, and cell number. And if you don’t want your cell number there, you can always get a Google Voice or similar free number that rings on your cell phone. I use that for business purposes to keep my personal number as private as possible. Works pretty well.

And it’s a really good idea to have a second tag inside the bag as suggested above. Even bags with integrated ID pockets can suffer damage, so having a second one in the interior of the bag is a decent precaution.

Thanks for all the helpful responses. I too have traveled to over 50 countries but need to reduce my weight even more (every ounce counts) & some of my old traditional luggage tags are unnecessary when you can get a card laminated with the same info. Interior contact info. is in everything I bring even the small daypack.

It's not the airline that I'm worried about. I have 3 weeks of trains buses & hotels and 6 cities. that's a lot of luggage racks that all luggage goes into.

The risk is that having a home address can expose us to criminal behavior of our homes because it alerts folks that we are away. Also as a women traveling alone, extra precautions are unfortunately necessary. I don't want to have some scammer strike up a conversation because they noticed my city of origin on a tag.

In agreement with OP flowerfun!

Have you looked into hiding a gps card in your luggage? They're fairly inexpensive and widely available on Amazon.

Example of Luggage Tags

Hope this helps

I only put my name, email address and phone number on my luggage tag. I'm not worried about someone seeing my address in Italy and sending it to someone in the U.S. But, if my address was on it, someone at my home airport could read it and know I was going on a trip.

My luggage tag plays a second role. It is unique in that it is 3D and it allows me to notice it among the throngs of similar bags at the baggage carousel. For the times I am forced to check it.

Thank you everyone. I'll stick with not putting an address on the outside of my bag but will put a cell phone # & email address so I can be contacted if needed.

I mostly travel solo, always check in luggage, ie the spinner, which has luggage tags attached to it. The tags have my name, address, city, state, and cell #. No e-mail address. Inside the spinner I include the same info on a luggage tag too. The shoulder sack used to be checked in too, had luggage tags with the same information but no e-mail address. Since I've been using the spinner the last couple of years, no more checked in shoulder sack. That serves as my one piece of allowed carry on.

Fred, what do you mean by "the spinner"?

I think the thing i would be alot more concerned about if the fact that so many people post photos on social media while they are away. Its basically saying, Hello i am on the other side of the world and my house is empty!!! I have heard British insurance companies are saying you wont be covered if they find those sort of posts/photos if you get burgled while you are on holiday. So wait till you get home to share!

@ flowerfun....The "spinner" is the 4 wheel roller made by Samsonite, works super on smooth surfaces, almost glides across the floor but not so well on rough or uneven surfaces.