Methods and devices for tracking portable items, such as luggage, are disclosed. The methods and devices determine an actual location of the portable item, compare the actual location with a predetermined expected location of the portable items, and provide an alert if the actual location is outside of a calibrated range of the predetermined expected location. The system includes a device co-located or stowable with the portable item, and systems and applications remote from the device and able to communicate therewith to send or receive signals, or both.