Hotel safety expert reveals scary reason why guests should never ask for one hotel room key
A TRAVEL security expert has revealed why Brit holidaymakers should always ask for two room keys when staying at a hotel.
Checking into a hotel is an exciting time; however, the holiday buzz can cause many travellers to drop their guard.
Security expert Carolyn Pearson is a businesswoman who is dedicated to making travel safer.
As the CEO and Founder of Maiden Voyage, she shares safety tips, tricks, hacks and advice with holidaymakers, including why travelling with two hotel room keys is important.
She told Sun Online Travel: “When you get to your hotel make sure to ask for two room keys at reception, especially if you’re travelling solo.
“This is so other holidaymakers will think you’re staying with somebody else, giving you an extra layer of safety.”
Carolyn has plenty of other advice to keep people safe when staying overnight in a hotel.
After guests have checked into their rooms, Carolyn previously recommended doing a “sweep of the room” before getting too comfortable.
She suggested casting a keen eye over areas like the bathroom, shower and under the bed.
If you are staying in a hotel room that only has key cards, you’ll want to make sure your door has a double lock.
Carolyn added: “This double lock is important because hotel key cards can be overridden by a master key.
“If your hotel room doesn’t have a second lock, or a latch, then use a rubber door stop, an alarmed door stop, or a door jammer.
“I always travel with a door jammer because there are some hotels that I really like, but they don’t have a second lock.”
The rubber door stop prevents unwanted visitors from entering your hotel room while you’re sleeping.
While some holidaymakers have recommended using items like towels and rubber bands to secure hotel room doors, Carolyn didn’t think these makeshift locks were as safe.
She added: “I personally wouldn’t use the towels or rubber bands, because you shouldn’t be relying on them to perfectly fit into and around doors.
“Just get a rubber doorstop for £3, I think that’s enough and it will secure the room.”
Sun Online Travel found rubber door wedges for as little as 97p at online retailer Vital Parts UK.
Despite the safety benefits of a door stop, Carolyn also noted other factors travellers should consider before firmly securing their room.
She said: “It’s important to do a personal risk assessment before you prepare your room for the evening.”
For example, if you have a heart condition, or are concerned about needing medical assistance during your hotel stay, then it’s best not to use a rubber door stop.
The dangerous mistake guests make at hotels
CAROLYN previously told Sun Online Travel why guests should stop hotel receptionists from reading their room number out loud.
After a room number has been said out loud, hotel staff at the reception desk will often give guests directions to their room.
While this may seem helpful, it can actually be quite dangerous because other guests will know exactly where you are staying.
Carolyn added: “I’ve known people with bad intentions to make room-to-room personal calls.
“If they know that you’re in your room by yourself, they may knock at the door and pretend to be a member of staff because they’ve overheard your room number in the reception area.”
Instead of having the room number read out loud, Carolyn recommended asking for the number to be written down.
You can read more about Carolyn’s hotel safety tips, here.
According to Carolyn, if a room number is read out, guests may be able to request a room change – particularly if they feel unsafe.
In a previous article in Sun Online Travel, Carolyn revealed the two popular safety hacks she’d never use.