Why You Should Slide a Water Bottle Under the Bed When Checking Into a Hotel Room

Booking a hotel or guesthouse has become a normal part of modern travel—whether for a vacation, a business trip, or a short getaway. While travelers often focus on comfort, convenience, and price, personal safety should always remain a top priority, especially in an unfamiliar environment.

A Simple Water Bottle Trick That Enhances Safety

When entering a hotel room, most people perform basic checks: inspecting the bathroom, checking the closet, and scanning the room for anything unusual such as hidden cameras or suspicious devices. These steps are essential, but many travelers tend to overlook one area that can potentially hide risks: the space underneath the bed.

Esther, a seasoned flight attendant for KLM Airlines in the Netherlands, shared a unique safety practice she performs every time she checks into a hotel. Instead of bending down to look, she slides or tosses a water bottle under the bed immediately after entering the room. If the bottle rolls smoothly from one side to the other, it suggests that the space beneath the bed is clear and unobstructed.

This seemingly simple action serves an important purpose:

• It gives you distance and reaction time.
  Bending down to check under the bed right away may put you in a vulnerable position if someone—or something dangerous—were hiding underneath. The bottle test allows you to assess the area from a safer distance.

If the bottle fails to roll or seems to hit an unexpected object, it could be a warning sign. In such cases, it is advisable to leave the room immediately and contact hotel security or the front desk to investigate.

Trust Your Instincts When Something Feels Off

Safety experts often emphasize the importance of listening to your intuition. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, travelers should “trust their instincts and leave situations that feel unsafe” (DHS, Travel Safety Guidance). If anything in the room seems unusual—strange sounds, misplaced items, or unexplained obstructions—trust your gut and report it to hotel staff.

Most reputable hotels have trained security teams who can conduct a thorough inspection to ensure guest safety.

It’s Not Just About Safety — It’s Also About Cleanliness

Checking the space under the bed can also reveal whether the room meets basic hygiene standards. Studies have shown that hotel rooms often harbor dust, debris, or leftover items in hard-to-reach areas, especially those not cleaned regularly. The American Hotel & Lodging Association notes that “under-bed spaces are among the commonly overlooked areas during the cleaning process” (AHLA, Housekeeping Standards Report).

By using a water bottle as a quick test, you can detect:

• Dust buildup or accumulated dirt

• Trash left by previous guests

• Items that attract pests such as insects or rodents

If the area appears poorly maintained, you may want to request a different room.

A Small Habit That Can Make a Big Difference

Travel safety specialists, including those at the International Association of Hotel Security (IAHS), recommend conducting a brief room inspection as part of every hotel check-in. This includes checking locks, windows, emergency exits, and blind spots such as behind curtains and beneath the bed.

The water-bottle-under-the-bed method is a fast, simple addition to your routine. It takes only a few seconds, yet it can help you:

• Detect potential hidden threats

• Maintain a safe distance during inspection

• Assess cleanliness

• Gain peace of mind during your stay

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Final Takeaway

The next time you check into a hotel or guesthouse, try sliding a water bottle under the bed as part of your room-inspection routine. This quick and easy step can give you valuable insight into both the safety and cleanliness of the room—helping ensure that your trip remains comfortable, secure, and worry-free.