Dragging a suitcase across Dubrovnik's cobblestones. Hauling bags up five flights of stairs in a Lisbon guesthouse. Killing three hours in Prague with nowhere to leave luggage between checkout and your evening train. Multi-city Europe travel has one consistent problem — and two good solutions.
Best for: multi-city trips, avoiding heavy bags on trains, bulky sports equipment
Best for: early check-in, late checkout, day trips, exploring between trains
Luggage Forward — Ship Your Bags Between Hotels
Luggage Forward
Luggage Forward collects your bags from your current hotel and delivers them to your next hotel — typically within 1–2 days. You travel by train, plane or bus carrying only a day bag. The service covers Europe-wide shipping with real-time tracking and $1,000 built-in insurance per bag included in every shipment.
How it works: Book online at least 2–3 business days before collection. Enter your current hotel address, next hotel address and bag details. A courier collects from reception. Your bags arrive at the next hotel before you check in. You travel completely hands-free.
Radical Storage — Store Bags by the Hour
Radical Storage
Radical Storage is a network of local shops, cafes and businesses near tourist areas that store your luggage by the hour — typically €5–6 per bag per day. Available in hundreds of European cities including Rome, Paris, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Prague, Dubrovnik and most major destinations. Book online, drop off at the nearest partner location and collect whenever you are ready. Every booking includes €3,000 insurance per bag.
Best use cases: Arriving early before hotel check-in. Late checkout when your train is hours away. Day trips where you do not want to carry bags. Exploring old towns where bags are impractical (Dubrovnik walls walk, Athens Acropolis, Venice).
Find Luggage Storage →Which Do You Need?
| Situation | Best Option | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Moving from Dubrovnik to Kotor | Luggage Forward | Ships bags to Kotor hotel. You take the bus hands-free |
| Arrived Prague at 9am, check-in at 3pm | Radical Storage | Store bags nearby, explore old town bag-free |
| 2-week Balkans road trip | Luggage Forward | Ship bags every 2–3 days, travel with just a day bag |
| Day trip from Athens to Delphi | Radical Storage | Leave bags near Athens station, collect on return |
| Late checkout, evening flight | Radical Storage | Store bags for the afternoon, collect before airport taxi |
| Ski or sports equipment | Luggage Forward | Ship bulky gear ahead, fly or train without excess fees |
| Walking Dubrovnik city walls | Radical Storage | Store bags near the entrance, walk unencumbered |
Ship Your Luggage to Your Next Hotel
Luggage Forward — collection from your current hotel, delivery before you arrive
Book Luggage Forward →Where Luggage Forwarding Makes the Biggest Difference
Dubrovnik → Kotor
The 2-hour mountain bus is one of the finest journeys in the Balkans — enjoy it without a suitcase in the aisle. Ship bags to your Kotor hotel the night before.
Prague → Vienna
4-hour scenic rail journey through Austria. Far better with a window seat and no luggage overhead. Book Luggage Forward 3 days ahead.
Lisbon → Porto
Lisbon's trams and Porto's riverfront stairs are made for day bags, not suitcases. Ship bags ahead and travel by train unencumbered.
Athens → Santorini
The 5-hour high-speed ferry is one of Greece's great experiences — much better without bags crammed around your feet. Ship ahead to your Santorini hotel.
Rome → Florence
Only 1.5 hours by fast train but Florence's cobblestones and staircases are brutal with luggage. Arrive hands-free and explore immediately.
Budapest → Vienna
Classic Central Europe rail journey — better with a book and a coffee rather than managing bags at the station.
Practical Tips
Always pack a day bag for Luggage Forward trips — while your main bags travel ahead, you will need one night's essentials in a small backpack: one change of clothes, chargers, toiletries and valuables. Pack this before the courier collects your main bags.
Check hotel reception hours — both collection and delivery happen at hotel reception. Confirm your hotel has reception available during the collection window you book. Most hotels with 24-hour reception work perfectly.
Book Radical Storage online before arriving — partner locations have limited space. Book your slot online before you arrive in the city, especially in Rome, Barcelona and Dubrovnik in July and August.
Use both services on the same trip — Luggage Forward between cities, Radical Storage for same-day gaps like early arrivals or late departures. They complement each other perfectly on a multi-city Europe itinerary.
FAQs
How far in advance do I need to book Luggage Forward?
Minimum 2–3 business days before collection. For remote areas or peak season, book earlier. Last-minute bookings cost more and may not always be available.
Is my luggage insured with Luggage Forward?
Yes — $1,000 per bag is included at no extra cost. Higher coverage is available as a paid add-on for valuable items like cameras or sports equipment.
Does Luggage Forward cover Greek islands and Croatia?
Coverage varies by location. Major cities are all covered. For islands and smaller towns, check availability when booking. Most main ferry ports are covered.
How does Radical Storage work in practice?
Book online, get the address of the nearest partner location, drop off your bags and collect when ready. The partner could be a cafe, dry cleaner or shop — quality varies but each location is rated by previous customers.
Is luggage forwarding worth the cost?
For multi-city trips with 3+ cities, yes — the convenience, time saved and physical ease make the cost (typically €30–60/bag between European cities) worthwhile, particularly in countries like Albania and Croatia where cobblestones and stairs make luggage painful.