Luggage Storage
Editorial Review
NYC.com
What if you have a day to spend sightseeing but need to store your luggage? Your options are rather limited, but there are solutions.
Most of Manhattan's finer hotels have a luggage storage room. If your hotel does not store luggage, you might ask the concierge of a nearby one that does. You might also find that a generous tip can possibly help find you a solution if the hotel clerk hasn't got an answer. However, less expensive hotels might not be of any help at all, at which point you need to consider other options.
On a similar note, if you just stepped off a cruise ship and have eight hours before your flight, what to do? If you are the persuasive sort and well-dressed, you likely could store your luggage at a four-star hotel simply by approaching the concierge. Again, a generous tip would be in order, in addition to any fee the hotel might charge.
A mention of places that currently do NOT store luggage: The Port Authority Bus Terminal; LaGuardia Airport; and Newark Airport. Advance airline check-in does not function here as it does in some European countries, whereby your luggage can be delivered to the airline 24 hours in advance. Thus, an early trip to the airport would be a waste of time anyhow. Some foreign carriers do make special arrangements for their first-class passengers; inquire of the airline.
Although JFK airport does have two luggage storage facilities, unless you intend to fly into JFK and fly out again from JFK, it's a waste of your time to travel so far just to store your luggage. This service is most useful if you have just arrived after a long-haul international flight and have a day to spend before your onward connection. At the Terminal 4 Arrivals area, the facility operates 24 hours per day, and charges $4.00 to $16.00 per day depending on the size of your luggage. For more information, phone (718) 751-4020. The facility in Terminal 1, located near Alitalia and Olympic Airlines in the Arrivals area, operates from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM, also charges $4.00 to $16.00 per day depending on the size of your luggage. For more information, phone (718) 751-2947.
Pennsylvania Station does store luggage, but the facility can be hard to find. Do ask a uniformed Amtrak employee for assistance at the station if you have difficulty finding it. Generally, you need to be able to present a train ticket to use this service, but not always. Costs are moderate. This option is most useful if you intend to travel via Amtrak, or if you will take NJ Transit/AirTrain to Newark Airport.
Perhaps less stressful and more convenient would be Manhattan Luggage Storage aka Schwartz Travel Services at 355 West 36th Street, which offers luggage storage, luggage forwarding, small lockers, a coat check and a modest self-storage facility. They charge $8 to $10 per bag per day and are open daily from 8 am to 11 pm.
Due to heightened security concerns, museums are now more reluctant to store big items. Certainly if you arrive with three suitcases you will have an extremely difficult time convincing the museum staff to accept your luggage. But one medium-sized backpack or suitcase with wheels and carrying handle might be perfectly acceptable. Usually museums store luggage for free.
You might also try the coat check facility of a well-known restaurant, although this could require some persuasion and a generous tip. While a decent-looking suitcase on wheels might be fine, more than that likely would be unacceptable. A generous tip is appropriate, especially if you have no intention of eating at the restaurant. Do if you intend to return at an off-hour such as 4 p.m. ensure the restaurant does not close in the mid-afternoon!
In sum, with a bit of planning you can arrange to store your luggage should you find you have a day or so to spend in New York minus your possessions. A final note: Always lock your luggage before storing it! Even though United States air transportation policy no longer allows you to lock your checked luggage, things unfortunately do occasionally disappear in hotel facilities. Obviously under no circumstances should you leave any valuables your luggage (camera, passport, money).
Customer Reviews
From Jessie E, Medford, MA----------------------------------------------------------
Normally I keep my luggage at my friend's apartment, but he had to go out of town and didn't have a spare key for me to get back in and retrieve my bags. Schwartz is SUPER accommodating and conveniently located near Penn Station (and the Bolt Bus stop!). It is also open early and late!
The staff, Monica, was very sweet and helpful.
If I'm ever in a jam again, I will certainly use Schwartz!
From Sam L, Honolulu, HI--------------------------------------------------------------
This is a great type of service when vacationing in NYC. It definitely fit the bill for our needs on this vacation trip to the big city.
First leg of our vacation was spent in the south side of NYC (below 42 street) and then followed by a weekend stop in Dallas for a Cowboys game at the new Cowboys Stadium. We didn't want to haul all of our luggage over the weekend to Texas and back for the second leg of our trip which was to the north side of NYC (above 59th street).
We used a taxi to make the trip up to Schwartz to drop off our luggage on Friday night before our Saturday departure. You could use a subway as I seen many people lug around their suitcase in and out of trains. But, we opted for a cab ride instead. Our total bill came out to $65for 2 pieces of luggage stored from Friday to Monday. This is paid up front and for my needs I can't complain. Once we dropped off the heavies, we explored the midtown's west side area until we found a subway stop to make our way back to our hotel that night.
Picking up our luggage is pretty straight forward, but DO NOT FORGET YOUR TICKET under any circumstances. You are issued a movie stub type ticket at drop-off and need this to pick-up your luggage. It's a great type of old-school security system since they won't even accept any ID for picking up your luggage. No Ticket = No Luggage!
From ro. San Jose, CA--------------------------------------------------------------------
This place was a real life saver. We didn't want to be carrying our luggage around Manhattan so we went to the Schwartz Travel on 355 w 36th st St.
The women keeps track of the bags and you fill out some information and she gives you a ticket for your bags.
It was $8 a bag which was not bad considering how much of a hassle it is to be carrying around your luggage in Manhattan.
From Anne U. Concord CA,------------------------------------------------------------
Lifesaver. This place is a lifesaver.
So with NY sightseeing (coming from Philly) and staying with relatives at night in a NY suburb, we were kinda bummed on lugging our luggage the whole entire day.
I heard about day/hourly storages in NY sometime ago and searched the night before online. I was hoping that the Port Authority or Penn Station would have one but surprisingly couldnt really find one or get info online.
For some reason, I stumbled this company online. I do believe in fate :)
The company is definitely legit, close to the Port Authority and White Castle-Yum :)
We stored it from 11am to 6:00pm, we paid $8 which is well worth it.
The ambiance isn't all fancy, it's like a large coat check area with one person manning the place.
Oh BTW-they only take cash!!
From G. W. Dayton,---------------------------------------------------------------------
as a women traveling alone I was delighted to find Schwartz, the girls where freindly and helpful. i will sure use them again.
From Al M, Montgomery Village, MD-------------------------------------------------------
It's too bad there aren't any public lockers at Penn Station. So I had to do research to find a place to put my luggage since I checked out at the hostel on the upper west side and I wanted to walk around the city before leaving Penn Station later that day. So I found about Schwartz online. And I checked it out the day before to see if they are a legit place. Yes they are and safe and secure.
The staff are very friendly and it was $8 for my one piece of luggage. It's worth it if your hotel is far away from Penn Station and you want to explore the city the last day before leaving Penn Station. Time is money!
From Michael M, Brooklyn NY------------------------------------------------------------
If you need to store your bags in Manhattan, go to Schwartz. They're close to buses and trains that leave the city, and I will always use them whenever I have a late departure and don't want to carry my bags.
Last weekend I dropped off a backpack and side bag for 4 hours for $10. Highly recommended
From Lisa M. NY. NY.-----------------------------------------------------------------
You drop your stuff off, and for $10 a bag, from 8 am to 11 pm, you can stash your stuff and explore NYC luggage free. This is invaluable, especially around Penn Station. And as far as I can tell, one of it's kind.
From R. P. Henderson, NV-------------------------------------------------------------
Schwartz Travel Services is amazing. The service is invaluable and trustworthy. As a traveler in Manhattan, it was very convenient.
I used them for their 24 hour luggage storage. I had been staying with a relative in New Jersey, and had to get to New York City in the early morning, and was wanting to travel and sightsee a bit more before my flight at 8:30 pm that night. My luggage would've made this impossible, but then I found this place.
For $10 a piece, I was able to drop off all my luggage for 12 hours or so, and the service was courteous and the place was clean and seemed reputable. The clerk was a very nice lady who was patient and polite, and helped us with the luggage and stored it on shelves in the back of the office. When I left that night, not a thing was moved in any of the bags, and the clerk was friendly and helpful, and I was on my way with a smile.
The location is fairly convenient as well, situated only 2 blocks from Penn station, and 6 blocks from Times Square.
Highly recommended.
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