Hotel check-out at 11, train at 8 p.m.: what to do with your luggage

Most hotels ask you to leave your room in the late morning, and many trains leave in the evening. That is eight or nine hours with a suitcase. You have three realistic options.

Option 1: ask the hotel to keep your bags

Ask at the front desk. Many hotels hold luggage after check-out. It is free or cheap, but you must come back during reception hours, and some hotels refuse when they are full.

Option 2: book a storage partner near the station

Pick a partner close to your departure station, pay online and drop the bags on your way. You then collect them with your code on your way back to the train, with a margin for delays.

Option 3: carry it all day

Sometimes the only option, but cobbles, metro stairs and crowded pavements make this a tiring way to see a city.

Collect your bags on the day you booked, before the partner closes. Allow extra time if your train leaves late: closing times differ from one partner to another.

Ideas for the afternoon

• Walk along a river or canal.
• Visit one museum rather than three.
• Eat a long lunch somewhere local.
• Finish near your departure station so the last stretch is short.