A Clever App Lets You Stow Your Luggage For An Hour Or A Day At Destinations Around The World

One of the great paradoxes of travel is that, while you need to bring luggage along with you on the journey, doing so also makes the very act of traveling much more difficult. For example, perhaps it's your last day in Barcelona and you're determined to knock a couple of these underrated attractions off of your bucket list. There's just one problem: you're hauling around a bulky, heavy bag that's not only weighing you down, but also making you reconsider the day's itinerary. Do you really want to drag that heavy suitcase along with you, everywhere you go?

While airports and train stations will often provide lockers or bag storage service, these can be expensive and inconvenient, so it should come as no surprise that there is now a very useful app to fill the gap. It's called Bounce. For a modest fee, this app hooks up travelers with participating businesses who provide secure storage space for their bags. With over 14,000 locations in 4,000 cities worldwide, it's super simple way to unburden you during those times you're tied to your bags.

Bounce works like this: After downloading the app, you enter your location into the map, and it brings up all the participating businesses in the area, which are marked with a purple luggage icon. Just click on the location you'd like, and you're then given an option of what kind of luggage you need to store (small, regular, or odd-sized). Select the appropriate size, pay with your card, and you're sent a booking confirmation which you just show to the business. They take your bags, and when you come back, show them the booking confirmation again and retrieve yopur luggage.

This service is certainly convenient, but is it secure? Generally, yes, but the level of security really depends on the business. Some, like participating hotels, will have locked storage rooms or even lockers, while other businesses may just stash your bags in an unsecured closet or behind the counter. Online reviews for Bounce have been extremely positive, though there are a handful that claim their bags were stolen or lost, so always keep your main valuables (cash, cards, passport) on your person. Also, you need to be aware of the business' operating hours, as some customers have returned only to find the lights off and the doors locked.

Bounce does insure bags for up to $10,000 (though you need to jump through some hoops to claim any losses) and also offers 24/7 customer support. Storage is good for 24 hours (they do not offer hourly), though if you are looking for long-term options, you can contact Bounce directly and they will help you make arrangements.

The best way to avoid having to schlep big bulky bags around on your trip is by avoiding bringing too much stuff, and this complete guide to packing light can help you achieve this. That said, apps like Bounce have definitely made travel a much more headache-free experience, and here are a few more that could help you on your next outing.

Hopper is a handy airfare-tracking app that not only advises you if the price is likely to rise or fall, but will also offer you exact dates on when to pull the trigger, while Roadtrippers helps you plan your journey with maps of restaurants, hotels, campsites, unique roadside attractions, and more. Culture Trip clues you into multi-day package trips all around the globe (think kayaking in Patagonia or wine-tasting in Tuscany), Hotel Tonight offers same-day hotel vacancies (often at steep discounts), and Happy Cow lets vegetarian, vegans, or any else taking a break from meat know where to get a good plant-based meal in their area.

When it comes to navigating (and paying for) public transportation in major hubs around the world, Moovit is an invaluable resource. Google Translate and Papago are your best bets for language apps (complete with camera features), and for finding good restaurants, consider using Word of Mouth, an independent restaurant guide app powered by culinary experts all around the globe. For your best options for packing light, check out the top-rated carry-on backpack for every budget.