WHILE a night away inside a hotel may be the perfect opportunity to unwind and relax, holidaymakers shouldn’t totally let their guard down.
One hotel and travel security expert has revealed the £1 item she uses to keep her safe inside her hotel room, and it’s easy to pack in a suitcase.
CAROLYN PEARSONCarolyn Pearson is the CEO and Founder of Maiden Voyage – a business dedicated to making travel safer[/caption]
AlamyCarolyn always travels with a rubber door stop or a door jammer to keep her hotel room secure[/caption]
Carolyn Pearson is the CEO and Founder of Maiden Voyage – a business dedicated to making travel safer.
The business was launched by Carolyn 16 years ago, and she aimed to educate businesses and industry professionals on how travel can be made safe.
In addition to training hotel employers and employees, Carolyn also shares safety tips, tricks, hacks, and advice with holidaymakers.
She recently explained how hotel guests can often feel “quite complacent” when they’re away on holiday.
Carolyn told Sun Online Travel: “This could be because they’re shattered or jet-lagged. It could also be because nothing bad has happened to them before, and they lock their hotel door and feel perfectly safe.
“It’s not that these holidaymakers are stupid, it’s just that they haven’t thought about the dangers.”
Once holidaymakers have checked in to their rooms, Carolyn 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.
Carolyn added: “The other thing to check is whether your hotel room has a double lock.
“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.
In recent months and years, other travel experts and frequent fliers have been sharing their own hotel safety hacks on TikTok.
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.
While other household brands like Wilkos were selling doorstops for just £1.
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.
This is to allow help to enter the room easily if you do need assistance during your stay.
Meanwhile, a flight attendant recently shared her top safety hacks for travellers to prevent hotel break-ins.
In a video on TikTok, Cici In The Sky, from Florida, said room break-ins happen more often than people realise.
She revealed how you can prop an ironing board against the door as a makeshift burglar deterrent.
Her other safety hacks include blocking the peephole on the hotel door with tissue paper to block any prying eyes.
Royal Marine Robin has revealed how you can stay safe in your hotel room using just a belt.
CAROLYN PEARSONCarolyn suggested casting a keen eye over areas like the bathroom, shower, and under the bed to make sure the room was safe[/caption]
GettyThe rubber door wedge stops unwanted visitors from entering a hotel room[/caption]