Hotel Room Security Tips

Especially when I’m traveling alone and/or in a country where my nationality and/or appearance cause me to stand out from the crowd, I have a few hotel room safety measures I take to alleviate anxieties and be sure I’m safe while in my room.

To be clear, I realize that the statistical likelihood of anything bad happening to me in my hotel room is low.

That said, there are some things I like to do to put my anxious mind at ease and ensure that I’m able to relax in my space. 

1. Put the ‘do not disturb’ sign on the door.

I like for my space to remain my space.  I make my own bed every day, keep my bathroom tidy, and keep the trash in the trash cans.  You can always call the front desk to request fresh linens or to empty a full trash can.

I’ve had experiences with theft and my personal belongings being moved around unnecessarily by the hotel cleaning crew.  I’m not saying that all hotel cleaning crews are crooked, but I prefer to avoid strangers entering my room while I’m gone or sleeping in. No thanks.

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ALSO: Keep a mental note on where you left things in your room.

For example, remember where your towels are, how your toiletries are arranged, and the position of any other items in your room.

I have (more than once) left the ‘do not disturb’ sign on the door of my hotel room and come back after a day away to find that things were not where I left them.

I’m talking about towels not being where I left them, toiletries moved, etc. (Never mind the few times that my belongings were stolen. That lesson has been LEARNED. Use the in-room safe!)

The moved linens and toiletries alerted me that the cleaners (or someone?!) came into my room while I was away- even though I had the ‘do not disturb’ sign on the door.

Usually, a call to the front desk will fix the problem, but you should also take steps to safeguard your stuff and yourself when this kind of fuckery is afoot. 

Needless to say, I kept my valuables with me for that entire trip and used a few of my hotel room security measures while I was there.

Tip: I know people who will leave their hotel room TV on at an audible volume when they leave to give the impression that they’re in the room. I don’t love wasting power like this, but it is an easy solution if you’re worried about anyone entering your room because they think you’re not there.

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2. Knowing that your hotel room is secure while you’re sleeping can be the key to a good night’s rest.

Aside from always requesting a room above the ground floor (views AND secure windows!), there are a few good hotel room safety products on the market that help alleviate any anxieties of an intruder in my space.  Doorstop alarms, portable travel locks, and portable alarms are all easy to carry wherever you travel.   

*Definitely use Command Strips with portable alarms for easy removal, but make sure it’s really well stuck on the door so it doesn’t fall off when you least expect it!

Yes– I realize that it’s unlikely that there would be an intruder in my hotel room, but sometimes peace of mind is more important than statistical likelihood- especially when you’re a solo female traveler, in an unsafe area, or in a shady hotel.   Or all of the above.

Useful Trick: If I’m feeling creeped out and didn’t bring any of my sanity security products, I’ll prop the room’s ironing board or lean a chair in front of my hotel room door. This sounds insane, but if the door opens, there would be a HUGE crashing sound and I’d immediately be aware of anyone trying to enter my room (hopefully it would scare the intruder away as well!).

I’m not sure if this is urban legend, but it feels worth mentioning-  I’ve heard tales of shady hotel staff turning the peep-holes in hotel doors around so that the occupant cannot see out and anyone in the hall can see in. I don’t know if this is true, but I’ve checked many hotel room peep-holes in recent years (thank you, anxiety) and haven’t found a reversed one yet.  Do what you will with that information.

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3. Don’t be afraid to call the front desk/security if you see something or someone weird.

To be clear: I’m no cop-calling Karen. My general tendency is to live and let live, but when my safety is in question, sometimes needs must.

I’ve called security on people loitering in the hotel hallways, people who obviously aren’t guests of the hotel (you know when you see it), strange things going on in the parking lot, or for anything else that makes me feel like something isn’t right. 

It certainly doesn’t hurt to make the call, and I’ve even been thanked by hotel security for alerting them to things that needed attention! 

Especially when you’re alone, it’s always a good idea to ask at check-in if there is regular roaming security in the hotel and how to best contact them if needed.

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4. Sign up for STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program). 

The STEP program is a free service that allows U.S. citizens/nationals traveling abroad to enroll with the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate in a foreign country and receive email notifications when potential threats to travelers are detected. Lately, they’ve also started to send alerts about border closings or travel issues related to COVID-19.

I’m sure you’ve noticed that the world has gone a little NUTS lately. (if not, where are you hiding and HOW can I book an indefinite stay there?!)

Create a STEP account and enroll your trips to keep yourself informed (they send email alerts when issues arise). It also keeps the local consulate aware of your travels just in case anything goes seriously wrong while you’re abroad. I’ve found this particularly useful when traveling in places like Russia or the Middle East where it’s important to be aware of governmental issues that could pose a threat to my general safety.

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This post is definitely not meant to scare you out of traveling-
quite the opposite!

I just want you to have an appropriate awareness of your surroundings and encourage you to pay a little extra attention to security than you might otherwise- especially when traveling alone.

Awareness and preparedness are the most valuable travel tools a gal can have.

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