A hotel room may be a home away from home for most travelers—but like any place, it’s not immune to theft. While hotels rarely publicize incidents—and high-profile heists such as the 2016 robbery of Kim Kardashian’s jewelry at a Paris hotel are unusual—thefts do occur. More commonly, they involve stolen wallets, electronics, and even luggage. This underscores the need for travelers to take proper precautions.
To protect your belongings and stay safe, follow these seven hotel room safety tips when checking in to your next hotel.
1. Choose your room location wisely
Theft is a crime of opportunity, which means thieves tend to target rooms at ground level and close to exits. “When you check in, request a room between the third and sixth floors,” explains Chris E. McGoey, a security consultant with McGoey Security Consulting in Jonesborough, Tennessee. “Most room burglaries happen on the first and second floors and next to elevators and stairwells because of the easy access.”
2. Inspect your room thoroughly upon arrival
Check the deadbolt on the door, window latches, and any sliding door locks to ensure they are functioning properly, McGoey suggests. If they’re damaged or faulty, ask the front desk to assign you another room. Also make sure that no one is occupying the room upon entering.
3. Cover the peephole with tape or an adhesive bandage
“Although rare, hotel prowlers can use a special device to peer inside a room through the door viewer from the outside to see if it’s occupied,” McGoey says. Applying a piece of opaque tape or an adhesive bandage over the peephole can easily block any peeping Toms.
4. Make your room seem occupied
An empty room is more inviting to thieves. Leave the television and a light on or play music (on low volume) in your room so that it appears somebody is in there. When you’re out, also hang the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on your door to dissuade people from entering.
5. Pack a couple of inexpensive safety gadgets
When you’re fast asleep, the last thing you want is an unexpected disturbance. A little added security can go a long way. A small wedge doorstop alarm can be tucked under your hotel door to make it harder to open from the outside and emits a loud noise if someone tries to open the door. A door handle alarm can also deter thieves and other bad actors. Simply hang the alarm on the inside door handle, and it’ll vibrate or sound an audible alarm if someone touches it from the outside.
6. Secure your cash, jewelry, and electronic devices
“If you have valuables, don't leave them in the room,” suggests Christopher Elliott, a consumer advocate, travel journalist, and publisher of the Elliott Report. “Either take them with you or put them in the hotel's main safe. Most thieves are opportunists, so leave nothing tempting in plain view, like a charging tablet or phone.”
Some travelers try creative hiding spots—such as stashing valuables in dirty socks or locking them in their suitcases—but remember, in-room safes aren’t completely secure. They can often be opened with master keys or override codes, so don’t rely on them for high-value items.
7. Skip the hotel’s public Wi-Fi
It may be okay for casual browsing, but steer clear of the hotel’s public Wi-Fi—especially when banking or shopping online, advises Tony Anscombe, chief security evangelist at ESET, a global digital security company. Some hotels’ Wi-Fi providers don’t use encryption technology, putting sensitive information such as credit card numbers at risk of being stolen.
Anscombe recommends using a virtual private network (VPN), which encrypts your data and makes public hotspots safer. He also suggests packing an HDMI cable to connect your laptop to the room’s smart TV for streaming. It’s a safer option than pairing your devices wirelessly.
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Staying safe while traveling doesn’t have to be complicated. Keeping these hotel room safety tips in mind, you can enjoy your stay and get a better night’s rest.