Last reviewed: November 2026.
Where you sleep is the one place on a trip you need to trust. Most hotel and rental stays go fine, but a few minutes of checks when you book and when you arrive cover the problems that do happen: a door that doesn’t lock properly, a rental that isn’t what the listing said, or a fire alarm at 3 a.m. in a building you don’t know.
Here’s what I check, split into before booking, on arrival, and during the stay.
Before you book
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Hotels
- Location first. A cheaper room on a dark side street can cost more in taxis and stress. Check the walk from the nearest station on street view.
- Read recent reviews for safety words: “lock,” “door,” “street,” “noise,” “felt safe.” Solo travelers’ reviews are especially useful.
- A 24-hour front desk is worth paying for, particularly if you arrive late.
Airbnb and other rentals
- Book and pay only through the platform. A host who asks you to pay by bank transfer or message outside the app is a classic scam sign, and it removes the platform’s protections.
- Check how you’ll get in. Keypad locks with a code that changes for each guest, a lockbox, or meeting the host in person are all normal. A key “under the mat” isn’t great.
- Look for safety features in the listing: smoke alarm, carbon monoxide alarm, first aid kit, fire extinguisher.
- Read the camera rules. Airbnb banned indoor security cameras in listings worldwide in 2024. Hosts must disclose doorbell cameras and other outdoor devices, and cameras can’t monitor indoor spaces or certain outdoor areas such as showers or saunas.
Scams around rentals are common enough that they deserve their own guide; the booking ones are in my roundup of common travel scams around the world.
When you arrive: the five-minute room check
- Lock test. Close the door and check the main lock, deadbolt and chain or swing latch all work. Use them every time you’re in the room, including during the day.
- Windows and balcony. On lower floors, check they lock. Check connecting doors to the next room are locked too.
- Exits. Read the evacuation map on the door, then walk to the nearest two stairwells. Count the doors between your room and each exit, so you could find them in smoke.
- Alarms. In a rental, look for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. If there aren’t any, tell the platform. A small travel CO alarm is cheap and light.
- Phone and Wi-Fi. Check the room phone reaches reception, and save the hotel’s number and address in your phone.
If anything is wrong (a broken lock, a door that doesn’t close, a balcony door that won’t latch), ask for another room straight away. In a rental, message the host and the platform so there’s a record.
Checking for hidden cameras
Hidden cameras are rare, but it’s reasonable to look, especially in rentals. Turn off the lights and slowly scan the room with your phone’s flashlight; a lens reflects a small, sharp glint. Pay attention to anything that faces the bed or bathroom: smoke detectors, clocks, chargers, air fresheners, picture frames.
If you find a device that wasn’t disclosed, don’t touch it. Take photos, leave, and report it to the platform and, if you feel it’s needed, the police.
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Fire safety
Fire is a bigger risk than intruders in most places. A common rule of thumb is to avoid the ground floor for security and stay low enough for fire service ladders, often quoted as the third to sixth floors. Ladder reach varies a lot by country and city, so working sprinklers and alarms, and knowing your exits, matter more than the floor number.
- Keep your room key, phone and shoes near the bed at night.
- If an alarm sounds, leave. Feel the door with the back of your hand before opening it; if it’s hot, stay in and call for help.
- Use the stairs, never the lift.
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Check in steps ask guests to read the evacuation plan, find two exits and count doors from the room to each one.
Valuables and the room safe
An in-room safe stops opportunistic theft, but staff can open it with an override, so it isn’t a vault. It’s fine for your passport, backup card and some cash. For something truly valuable, ask whether the hotel has a safe-deposit box at reception, or don’t bring it. In a rental with no safe, keep valuables out of sight in a locked bag rather than on the table.
Leaving bags at reception before check-in or after checkout is normal and usually free. Hand them to staff rather than leaving them in an open lobby corner, get a tag or ticket, and keep your passport, medicines and electronics with you. That matters if you have a long gap before an evening flight, like the one I cover in how early you can drop bags with United.
During your stay
- Don’t say your room number out loud at reception, and keep the key card sleeve (which often shows the number) separate from the card.
- Use “Do Not Disturb” when you’re out if you’d rather nobody enters, but let housekeeping in every few days on a long stay.
- Check who’s at the door. If someone says they’re from maintenance or room service and you didn’t ask for them, call reception to check before you open up.
- Be careful on hotel Wi-Fi. Use your phone’s data or a VPN for banking.
Traveling alone? My guide to staying safe while traveling alone has more on choosing accommodation, and the family travel safety checklist covers pools, balconies and cribs if you’re bringing kids.
Frequently asked questions
Are Airbnbs less safe than hotels?
Not necessarily, but there’s less standardization. Hotels have staff on site and fire systems built to commercial codes. With rentals, the listing, the reviews and your own arrival checks do more of the work.
Should I use a portable door lock?
Some travelers like them for peace of mind, especially in rentals. Check they can be removed quickly, because you need to be able to get out fast in a fire.
What should I do if my rental isn’t safe?
Leave if you feel unsafe, document the problem with photos, and contact the platform’s support line. Most platforms have a process for rebooking guests.
Is it safe to leave my passport in the room?
In the in-room safe, generally yes, unless local law says you must carry it. Carry a copy with you.
