Back in 2014, I posted about some tips I had about doing a scene in a hotel room. With summer approaching, I thought I’d repost it, make sure all the links still work, add a few new illustrative pics of mine, and include minor updates. The biggest updates are in how I pack all my gear (which is towards the bottom of the post), more supplemental pics, and “Day Use” hotel websites (mentioned just below).
So I imagine many of us had to use hotel rooms at some point for bondage play. And sometimes, nothing like a semi-seedy looking hotel can add to the hotness. Plus, you don’t have to do all the clean up of the room at the end. And two new (to me) websites can allow you to get a hotel room at a discount rate during the day: Day Use and Day Hotels. The prices and hours can vary (can be 10am-1pm, 9am-4pm, 10am-4pm, etc.), as well as availability… but it can be a good way to get a room cheaper for just a few hours if the scheduling works for you.
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. It means your bed has no tie off points.
Now, it is possible to buy a full under the bed bondage strap frame. Fort Troff also sells one with slightly higher quality restraints included–visit here and search for “under bed” and a few options will come up. If you have the budget and the space in your bag to pack it, that would be the most ideal solution. I do have one, and I do use it.
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 could 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.
Something else I’ve been finding handy lately is this bondage board. It’s easy to carry, and can be useful for a variety of potions, and it’s fabulously combined with these bondage belts, as you can see in the many examples in the gallery of my work below. Full disclosure: the belts come in a set of five, but I also had two additional, separate bondage hobble belts to make a set of seven. I’ve also combined it with some foot stocks, and smother box.
Another aspect of cheaper hotels I like is that they often have these “open closets” that invite some interesting overhead bondage opportunities. Often 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. Also, a closet wardrobe can also have some nice, isolating bondage opportunities. Gallery below of my work shows some examples.
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. That said, keep in mind hotel pics on websites are often representational, and the actual room you get may or may not have that exact piece of furniture. But often it pans out well. Sometimes, even a table or bench can be turned on its side and made into a bondage opportunity if you get creative.
In terms of packing gear, I really like these eBags Slim Packing Cubes (which can be found on Amazon, where many packing cube options are available). I got this assorted size pack, and it’s made the unpacking a breeze. I have a one cube for restraints, one for gags, and one for assorted gear. And they fit perfectly into my luggage. Only small catch: most packing cubes has a mesh top, so items with prongs (like a wartenberg wheel) can snag. Such items, as well as items that may get messy (lube and the like), can go in a clear plastic packing bag that I got here on Amazon (note: the plastic ones have some cheesy messages written on them, like “away we go”, but they’re easily ignored). And for even smaller items, like tit clamps, I use these mesh zipper file bags (again, Amazon). Even better, most of these bags can fit inside each other, and are easily consolidated in a variety of ways.
I bring an iPad and portable Bluetooth speaker, so that I can play music during a scene (which also helps to cover up any noise to neighboring guests), and I pack those into the zipper file bags as well. Even most bargain hotels have free wifi, so you can play play music you want. I also have some hypno audio and video downloaded onto the iPad, and if I bring some Bluetooth headphones, I can have the sub listen and watch them.
And when I do have a large item to carry, such as a leather sleepsack, I put that in the large ziplock “big bags”. They come in a variety of sizes.
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 in my carry on bag. 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 carry on bag, and while they let them through, they did get questioned. And other destinations may have other regulations. But the USA, after maybe at least 20 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, gasmasks, 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.
You will see me put many of these pointers to use in some upcoming posts. Hope it helps you out!
