These Luggage Trackers Help Safeguard Your Valuables for International Travel

Traveling always comes with its mishaps, and now more than ever, there's no greater gamble than a checked bag. In fact, one airline recently chartered an entire flight filled with only luggage to return 1,000-plus lost bags. That's just a sliver of the 684,000 bags mishandled this year, according to Air Travel Consumer Reports published by the Department of Transportation. So, skip the guessing game and the panicked dash to the closest airline kiosk by stashing luggage trackers in your belongings.

A luggage tracking device can fill in the blanks on where your lost items may be. They work by utilizing tech like GPS, Bluetooth or WiFi (depending on the tracker) to locate an item: "A GPS tracker taps into a global satellite system that uses microwave signals to help track down the precise location of where the unit is in real time," says Good Housekeeping Institute Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director Rachel Rothman. Other trackers use Bluetooth, so they have to be in relatively close proximity to the paired device or, in some cases, within range of other Bluetooth devices in the network. It's not exactly a foolproof measure — your luggage can still get lost — but knowing exactly where it ended up should give you some relief.

We at the Good Housekeeping Institute found the best luggage trackers worth stowing away in your suitcase. Our picks include tags that our Lab pros have tried over time and during our quest to find the best key finders.

Our top picks:

Stick around after our picks to learn more about important features to look for in a luggage tracker, plus more info on how we tested and made our top recommendations. Need more help packing for your next trip? Check out our guides to the best luggage brands, best smart luggage and best carry-on luggage.