When traveling abroad or staying at a hotel, many people focus on comfort, amenities, and getting a good night’s rest. However, safety experts suggest one often-overlooked tip that could make your nights safer and more relaxing: keep the bathroom light on during your stay — especially overnight.

For travelers who often feel uneasy sleeping in unfamiliar environments, a softly lit bathroom can help reduce anxiety by creating a sense of familiarity and calm. This dim, indirect glow acts as a comforting nightlight, making the room feel less intimidating in the middle of the night.

Beyond comfort, there are practical safety benefits. In the event of an emergency — such as a fire alarm, sudden building evacuation, or even an attempted break-in — the bathroom light can help you quickly orient yourself and find your way to safety without wasting precious seconds fumbling for a light switch or unlocking your phone flashlight.

Another overlooked reason is trip prevention. Many travelers, especially during short stays, leave their suitcases or belongings on the floor instead of unpacking. Navigating a pitch-black room filled with unfamiliar objects significantly increases the risk of tripping or injury. A dim bathroom light ensures you can move around safely without disturbing your rest too much.

There’s also a subtle deterrent factor. If someone with ill intent is lurking nearby, a visible light in your hotel room may suggest that you’re awake and alert, reducing the likelihood of them attempting to enter.

Of course, there are downsides. A Reddit user recently went viral after sharing a photo of his hotel bathroom with a glass door that allowed the light to flood into the bedroom. He humorously captioned it, “This hotel bathroom when you turn the bathroom light on at night.”

The post sparked mixed reactions. Some travelers said they loved having extra light at night, while others found it impossible to sleep with light spilling into the room. “I stayed in one recently with a motion-activated bathroom light — no way to turn it off,” one person shared. “As someone who can’t sleep unless it’s completely dark, it was torture.”

Whether you love or hate the glow, keeping the bathroom light on in a hotel can be more than just a matter of personal preference — it can be a small yet powerful safety strategy.