Perhaps shockingly, the number one post of the year isn’t an explicitly kinky one, but a more practical one. Back in 2014, I posted about some tips I had about doing a scene in a hotel room. Thought I’d re-present it, along with a few new illustrative pics of mine, and a minor UPDATES. Seems it resonated pretty well! But I do stand by these tips, and I’m guessing many of you do as well!
So I imagine many of us had to use hotel rooms for bondage play. And sometimes, nothing like a semi-seedy looking hotel can add to the hotness.
But often, the bondage opportunities can be lacking. I think many of us have been disappointed by seeing this sight under a hotel bed, a rather common one in cheap rooms.
Now, it is possible to buy a full under the bed bondage frame. Fort Troff also sells one with slightly higher quality restraints included–visit here and search for “under bed” and it will come up. And if you have the budget (thought they’re not really that expensive, about $50-$60), and the space in your bag to pack it, that would be the most ideal solution.
But in the “why didn’t I think of this sooner” category, it dawned on me that by using a couple of 12 foot lengths of rope slid between the mattress and the box spring, you can create your own frame of sorts. It’s not perfect, as it could possibly be moved around by an especially squirmy victim, but it will do in most situations, and I’ve never had too much of a problem with it. The weight of the mattress and the person on it keeps it pretty well in place. You would weave as many ropes as you’d like to create all the tie down points you need. And then when finished, you can remove the ropes and put them to use in other positions.
Another aspect of cheaper hotels I like is that they often have these “open closets” that invite some interesting overhead bondage opportunities. And sometimes there will be space underneath a sink counter to “store” a slave, which could be quite humiliating. Not to mention the bondage position possibilities in a bathroom and tub.
I always try to scout out pics of the rooms beforehand with a little bit of internet research. I have occasionally booked a hotel specifically on the basis of their chairs and furniture. Often, hotels have chairs with solid backs without any tie down points, so I try to avoid that whenever possible.
UPDATE: Occasionally I get surprised with a closet wardrobe, but I can find ways to put them to good use. As you can see.
In terms of packing gear, I’ve found those large ziploc “big bags” are pretty ideal. (Note: UPDATE below.) They’re pretty durable, and you can keep your regular packing and your kink packing separate. This one is their “Large” size, and it perfectly fits a Hitachi Magic Wand (which you can get here or here, and a cordless version at Stockroom–just note the cordless version must be fully charged before it will work) and other gear. They also sell XL and XXL and up, but the Large size fits well into most carry on luggage, so that’s my personal preference. That said, the Large size can be the trickiest one to find… I’ve found a lot of stores only carry the XL and up sizes, so you may have to scout around a bit or order them online, such as Amazon. I ended up finding mine at Lowe’s, hardware chain in the USA, but even they didn’t have many, so your experience may vary.
Keeping your equipment in it’s own ziploc makes it very easy to grab your gear quickly, without having to dig through your bag (“Now, where did that muzzle go?”). And once done, it has the added advantage of containing any drool, lube, or cum they may have acquired through usage away from your regular clothes. If you wanted you could have separate bags, one for restraints, one for gags, and one for toys. For the sake of saving space, I try to cram it all into one, but one is certainly not limited to that.
Speaking of Hitachi Magic Wands (and I highly recommend them–did I mention there’s quite an array of attachments available for them?), if you decide to use the corded version, having at least a 3 foot extension cord comes in helpful way more than you’d think. Often, the outlets are not conveniently located next to the bed. Believe me, you don’t want to be all ready to go with your victim securely bound, only to realize the cord doesn’t reach them. I speak from experience here.
UPDATE: One problem I had with the ziploc bags was the unpacking for the scene. It can get very messy. I’ve since tried out these eBags Slim Packing Cubes (which can also be found on Amazon), and they’ve been amazing. I got this assorted size pack, and it’s made the unpacking a breeze. I just put the bags in a drawer, and unzip. And they fit perfectly into my luggage. The Hitachi Magic Wand fits inside the large bag without a problem. Only small catch: since the top is a mesh, items with prongs (like a wartenberg wheel) are best put in a small ziplock inside the bag so they don’t snag. And when I do have a large item to carry, such as a leather sleepsack, I do put that in the large ziplock.
Some of you really may wonder if I put all this in my carry on bag when traveling via the airport. The answer is yes. Even in this day and age, in the USA, traveling with bondage restraints and gags in my carry on bag has never presented a problem for me with TSA security. Ever. I’ve even traveled to Europe with bondage gear in my carry on bag and had no problems. I would hesitate to bring a gas mask in a carry on, as well as spreader bars, because they could be interpreted as weapons. I did once forget I had some metal spreader bars in my bag, and while they let them through, in one airport, they did get questioned. And other destinations may have other regulations. But the USA, after maybe at least 10 different trips with bondage gear in my carry on bag, I’ve only been stopped that one time I had the spreader bars.
If you really want to be sure, here is the current page to the TSA Prohibited Items list. As you can see, well over 95% of the list are items that could be direct weapons (knives, firearms, flammables, etc.). There is even a search box where you can ask, “Can I bring my…?” Although at last check, it didn’t recognize “bondage”, “gag”, “sex toy”, or “restraint”. But it did recognize “rope”, as well as “handcuffs” (!), and it did say that it’s perfectly fine for checked or carry on luggage, as well as “Adult Toys”. All that said, I should also add that I pretty much only bring restraints and gags, and some sensory play items, including Wartenberg Wheels. I am not bringing whips, chains, and the like. That could be a different story, and may be better suited to checked baggage. And yes, lube still has to fulfill their 3-1-1 rule, so don’t bring a bucket of it in your carry on bag. UPDATE: This is still true! Never been stopped once.
You will see me put many of these pointers to use in some upcoming posts. Hope it helps you out!
