Choosing and Getting Your Room Right
Request floors 2–6 when booking
Ground floor rooms are easier targets for break-ins and smash-and-grab theft through windows. Above the 6th floor, you're outside the reach of most fire department ladders in many countries. Floors 2–6 are the sweet spot: high enough to deter casual break-in attempts, low enough to be accessible in an emergency evacuation.
Avoid rooms near stairwells, elevators, and end-of-corridor rooms
These locations get more foot traffic and are less observed. Mid-corridor rooms where you'd hear other guests coming and going are generally preferable. Avoid rooms directly next to the ice machine or vending area — those attract frequent, unpredictable traffic at all hours.
Ask for a room without an interior adjoining door
Adjoining doors that connect two rooms are an additional entry point. Most are double-locked on both sides, but they're a structurally weaker point than an exterior wall. If you're traveling solo or with concern about privacy, request a room without an adjoining door when booking.
Don't let the receptionist announce your room number
If the front desk says your room number out loud while other guests are nearby — "You're in room 412, Ms. Smith" — politely ask to be given a different room. An overheard room number is all someone needs to know where you're sleeping and whether you're alone. Better hotels write the room number on a card without announcing it verbally.
When You Get to the Room
Learn your emergency exits before you unpack
Walk to the nearest stairwell exit. Count how many doors it is from your room (you may need to navigate in darkness or smoke). Note which direction the stairs go. This takes 60 seconds and could matter enormously in a fire. Elevator lobbies are not emergency exits — most elevators lock to the ground floor automatically during fire alarms.
Use every lock on the door — not just the key card lock
Hotel room key cards can be cloned, and master keys exist. Once inside, engage: the deadbolt, the swing bar or chain lock, and if you have one — a door wedge alarm. A door wedge alarm ($8 on Amazon, fits in any bag) sounds a 120dB alarm if the door is pushed open from outside. This works against anyone with a master key, including hotel staff entering without knocking.
Check the door peephole for tampering
Reverse peepholes allow someone in the corridor to look into your room through the peephole. A peephole cover costs $2 and clips on from inside. Alternatively, stuff a small piece of tissue in the peephole at night.
Scan for hidden cameras in your room
Hidden cameras in hotel rooms are more common than most people believe. Scan: any clock or clock-radio not built into the room's standard fixtures, USB charging hubs, smoke detectors in unusual positions (not flush to ceiling or in unexpected locations), and any item with a small hole facing the bed or bathroom. Method: turn off the lights and use your phone camera — many cameras use infrared LEDs that show up as white dots on your camera screen. Also look for anything that's slightly out of place or has a suspicious hole. Check behind the TV, inside the AC unit, and the bathroom smoke detector.
Valuables and Information Security
Use the hotel safe — with limits
Hotel safes are appropriate for: laptop, extra cash, chargers, spare cards. They are not appropriate for your passport and most valuable jewelry. Hotel staff have master codes for every safe in the building. Your passport should be on your person when you leave the room, or in a travel document wallet. Consider a portable TSA-approved lock bag for your passport.
Don't use the hotel room Wi-Fi for anything sensitive
Hotel Wi-Fi networks are shared and often poorly secured. Don't access banking or sensitive accounts without a VPN. A VPN encrypts your traffic on public networks — the same NordVPN plan you'd use at home or coffee shops covers hotel Wi-Fi too.
Manage the "Do Not Disturb" sign strategically
Leaving DND on the door 24/7 signals that the room may be empty and unmonitored (or that you're avoiding housekeeping because you have something to hide). Criminals who target hotel rooms note this. Use DND when you're actually in the room, but schedule housekeeping normally. A room that looks lived-in and regularly serviced is a less attractive target.
One tool every traveler should own
A door wedge alarm ($8) works in any hotel room, any country. It's the single best portable security device for travelers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can hotel staff enter my room while I'm sleeping?
Yes — hotel staff generally have the right to enter for safety or maintenance reasons, and in most jurisdictions they can enter with minimal notice. Engaging your deadbolt and chain lock prevents entry even with a master key in most cases. The door wedge alarm adds another layer. If you experience unauthorized entry, report it to the front desk and ask for a different room or a management response.
Is it safe to use the hotel room TV's USB ports for charging?
Generally yes for simple charging, but some USB ports can conduct data — called 'juice jacking.' A USB data blocker (small adapter, $5–8) allows power through but blocks data transfer. For high-security travelers, bring your own wall adapter and use AC outlets only.
What should I do if I find a hidden camera in my hotel room?
Do not touch or move it. Leave the room immediately, taking your valuables. Report it to the front desk and local police simultaneously. Document the camera's location with photos from the doorway if you can do so without touching anything. Ask the hotel to call police. File a formal police report — hidden cameras in hotel rooms are a crime in all US states.
Recommended Products
Products we've tested and recommend for this topic. Affiliate links — disclosure.
Door Wedge Alarm
~$15
120dB alarm triggered by door movement. Battery-powered, TSA-friendly.
View on Amazon →