Marie Claire UK Marie Claire UK
  • Fashion Fashion
      • Fashion
        • View all Fashion
        • Fashion Trends
        • Shopping
        • Watches and Jewellery
        • Fashion News
  • Beauty Beauty
      • Beauty
        • View all Beauty
        • Fragrance
        • Hair
        • Make Up
        • Skincare
        • Nails
        • Marie Claire Beauty Awards
  • Health Health
      • Health
        • View all Health
        • Fitness
        • Nutrition
        • Female Health
        • Wellbeing
  • Life Life
      • Life
        • View all Life
        • Opinions
        • Travel
        • Sustainability
        • Weddings
        • Money & Work
        • Competitions
  • Culture Culture
      • Culture
        • View all Culture
        • TV and Film
        • Celebrity News
        • Books
        • Royal News
  • Vouchers Vouchers
      • Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Mint Velvet
        • Karen Millen
        • H&M
        • nobody's child
        • ASOS
        • ARKET
        • MANGO
      • Designer Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Reiss
        • THE OUTNET
        • SSENSE
        • Mytheresa
        • Liberty London
        • Selfridges
        • Farfetch
      • Accessories
        • View all Vouchers
        • AllSaints
        • Aspinal of London
        • Charles & Keith
        • River Island
        • FitFlop
        • Kate Spade
        • Vagabond
      • Jewellery
        • View all Vouchers
        • Pandora
        • Abbott Lyon
        • Goldsmiths
        • Beaverbrooks
        • Astrid & Miyu
        • Swarovski
        • Angara Jewellery
      • Beauty
        • View all Vouchers
        • Sephora
        • Cult Beauty
        • Space NK
        • Dyson
        • Clarins
        • Look Fantastic
        • Clinique
      • Activewear
        • View all Vouchers
        • Lululemon
        • Gymshark
        • Sweaty Betty
        • Nike
        • adidas
        • New Balance
        • Helly Hansen
  • NEWSLETTER Signup to our newsletter
  • logoCreated with Sketch.
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Women in Sport 2026
    • Marie Claire Masters
    • Spring Summer 2026
    • Nail Trends 2026
    • Best Investment Bags
    • Best Perfumes
    • Digital Issues
    • Women Who Win
    1. Life
    2. Travel

    This is the one thing you should never do to your holiday luggage

    We definitely didn't expect that.

    Jenny Proudfoot's avatar
    By Jenny Proudfoot
    Published 16 June 2017 In Features

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    luggage
    (Image credit: Rex)
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    We definitely didn't expect that.

    For a lot of us, going on holiday brings out our 'Monica Gellar' side - getting weeks of enjoyment writing detailed packing lists, organising our toiletries and buying a stack of the best holiday reads.

    Some of us even go the extra mile, putting a few security precautions on our check-in luggage, ensuring its safety - and making us feel extra smug.

    Some put a padlock on their cases to stop anyone tampering with the contents, while others cover their luggage with 'FRAGILE' tape (even when their cases aren't fragile) to make sure their cases stay intact. Most of us choose to ensure our bags stay safe in a simpler way, by attaching an identification tag to our bags.

    luggage

    (Image credit: Rex)

    It makes sense, right? Having your name and your address on your case will ensure that it can't get lost. What could go wrong?

    You may like
    • Florrie Thomas What to Pack for Every Type of Holiday, From Mountain Escapes to Spa Retreats and Family-Friendly Resorts
    • HOLIDAY JEWELLERY I’m Guilty of Overpacking, But These Holiday Jewellery Pieces Help Me Pack Less and Accessorise More
    • A selection of holiday photos taken by the author during recent travels, including landscapes, local food, architecture and everyday travel experiences. I’m Not an Influencer. So Why Do I Feel Pressure to Post My Holiday Photos?

    Well, a lot apparently. While it's true that adding an ID tag onto your bag can increase the chances that you'll be reunited with your belongings, it also increases the risks of danger. Yes, really.

    A frequent flyer, Clive Owens, recently opened up to Mamamia about why he feels ID tags are actually a bad idea, giving his holiday packing tips, and it's making us rethink everything.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    According to Clive, attaching an ID tag with your address to your luggage is essentially an advert for burglars, with him explaining that it spreads the message, 'This house is empty, please burgle - and take your time.'

    He continued: 'Don't put a friend's house because the burglars don't know it's a friend's house and will still burgle it. Put a work address and mobile number on it. Then, even if your mobile has a problem, your name and work address will help you and your underwear get reunited.'

    Jenny Proudfoot
    Jenny Proudfoot
    Social Links Navigation
    Contributing Features Editor

    Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. After working at Marie Claire UK for seven years - rising from intern to Features Editor - she is now a freelance contributor to the News and Features section.

    In 2021, Jenny was named as a winner on the PPA's '30 under 30' list, and was also listed as a rising star in journalism.

    Read more
    Florrie Thomas
    Fashion What to Pack for Every Type of Holiday, From Mountain Escapes to Spa Retreats and Family-Friendly Resorts
    HOLIDAY JEWELLERY
    Shopping I’m Guilty of Overpacking, But These Holiday Jewellery Pieces Help Me Pack Less and Accessorise More
     
     
    A selection of holiday photos taken by the author during recent travels, including landscapes, local food, architecture and everyday travel experiences.
    Travel I’m Not an Influencer. So Why Do I Feel Pressure to Post My Holiday Photos?
    Open Bag Trend: ChanelFall Winter 2026, Ready to Wear
    Fashion Trends I'm Baffled by the "Open Bag" Trend, But It Perfectly Captures the World the Ultra-Rich Live In
     
     
    Latest in Travel
    Mischa Anouk Smith on an astrology travel trip to Türkiye, where she got engaged less than 24 hours after a birth chart reading.
    Travel I Let Astrology Plan My Holiday—Less Than 24 Hours Later, I Was Engaged
    Cape of Senses Hotel in Lake Garda
    Travel If Slow Luxury Had an Address, It Would Be Cape of Senses—Inside One of Lake Garda's Most Beautiful Hotels
     
     
    A child in a blue and white striped swimsuit doing a cartwheel on a beach
    Travel Last-Minute Summer Holiday Packages From TUI Include a Beach Holiday in Spain and a Relaxing Resort in Türkiye
    The Great Marie Claire Adventure
    Travel The Great Marie Claire Adventure
     
     
    Latest in Features
    Arsenal footballer and Lioness Chloe Kelly
    Health and Fitness Women in Sport 2026: Featuring Chloe Kelly, Elite Beauty Products, Grand Prix 2.0 and So Much More
    Mischa Anouk Smith on an astrology travel trip to Türkiye, where she got engaged less than 24 hours after a birth chart reading.
    Travel I Let Astrology Plan My Holiday—Less Than 24 Hours Later, I Was Engaged
     
     
    nail brush benefits
    Nails My £4 Secret to a Minimal Manicure—This Simple Tool Makes Bare Nails Look Immaculate
    A woman lying on the floor scrolling on her phone
    Female health If You're Frazzled, Overworked and At Your Limit, These 5 Science-Backed Tips Can Help Avoid Burnout
     
     
    logoCreated with Sketch.
    • Site Archive
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Advertise with us
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • About us
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire UK is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.