When you're traveling abroad—especially alone—your hotel room should feel like a safe haven, not a vulnerability. For many women, solo travelers, and safety-conscious adventurers in general, true peace of mind means going beyond simply locking the door.

Recently, a U.S.-based flight attendant named Cici took to TikTok to share her personal hotel safety routine, and her practical advice has struck a chord with thousands of travelers around the world. Her go-to checklist is simple, effective, and easy to adopt—whether you’re a seasoned globetrotter or just embarking on your very first solo trip.

Here are her top hotel safety tips, starting with a creative hack that may change the way you secure your room forever.

---

1. Reinforce the Safety Latch With a Towel

Most travelers know to use the hotel’s swing bar lock or latch, but Cici adds an extra layer of security by wrapping a towel around the latch before locking it.

Why it works:
The towel creates friction and tension, making it significantly more difficult for anyone to tamper with the latch using common break-in tools. It’s a clever, low-tech trick that adds real resistance without costing a dime.

How to do it:

• Grab a clean hand towel from the bathroom.

• Wrap it tightly around the swing bar of the latch.

• Close the latch over the towel.

• Press the towel snugly into place.

💡 Pro Tip: Keep an extra hand towel near the door so you always remember to secure it—especially when you're coming back in for the night.

---

2. Count the Doors Between Your Room and the Nearest Exit

Before you settle in, take a moment to familiarize yourself with your surroundings—particularly the hallway.

What to do:
Walk from your room to the nearest emergency exit and count the number of doors between yours and the stairwell.

Why this matters:
In case of a fire, blackout, or emergency evacuation, the hallways might be dark or filled with smoke. If visibility is reduced, knowing the number of doors to pass can guide you to safety by feel alone, potentially saving crucial seconds.

This trick, often used by flight crews and military personnel, is especially valuable when traveling in high-rise hotels or unfamiliar cities.

---

3. Actually Read the Emergency Exit Map on the Door

You know that laminated map on the back of your hotel room door that most guests ignore? Don’t be one of them.

Why you should read it:
That small map gives you the official emergency evacuation routes, stairwell locations, and alternate exits. Studying it takes less than 30 seconds and helps you mentally orient yourself to the layout of the floor.

Bonus tip: Walk to the nearest stairwell once, so you’re not figuring it out for the first time in an emergency.

---

4. Use Extra Layers of Security While You Sleep

While hotel locks are usually reliable, adding your own barriers can give you extra peace of mind.

Seasoned travelers recommend:

• Bringing a portable door lock or wedge alarm.

• Using a rubber door stopper from a hardware store.

• Hanging the “Do Not Disturb” sign outside even when you're not in.

These tools are lightweight, inexpensive, and offer a surprising amount of extra protection.

---

5. Be Discreet With Your Room Number

When checking in, avoid announcing your room number out loud—and if the front desk staff does, consider politely asking them to write it down instead.

Why this is important:
Anyone nearby could overhear and potentially misuse that information. Discretion helps prevent targeted scams or unwanted attention.

Also, avoid sharing your hotel location or room number in public areas or on social media in real-time.

---

6. Check the Room Thoroughly When You First Arrive

Before you get too comfortable, give the room a quick sweep:

• Open the closet and check behind curtains.

• Look under the bed.

• Check the shower and bathroom.

• Ensure windows are locked, especially if you’re on a lower floor.

It might feel overly cautious, but a two-minute scan can bring a lot of mental ease.

---

7. Cover the Peephole

Many hotel peepholes can be reversed with inexpensive tools, allowing someone outside to see in. If your room doesn't have a peephole cover, use a tissue, band-aid, or small piece of paper to cover it from the inside.

---

Final Thoughts: Confidence Comes From Preparation

Travel is meant to be a joyful, expansive experience—not something shadowed by fear. While you can’t control everything that happens on the road, you can control how prepared you are.

Thanks to smart, practical advice from travelers like Cici, more people—especially women and solo adventurers—are learning how to take charge of their safety without becoming paranoid.

So next time you enter a hotel room:

• Wrap that towel around the latch.

• Count the doors to the exit.

• Scan the emergency map on the back of the door.

• Use those extra precautions that turn your room into a sanctuary.

You might never need them—but if you do, you’ll be ready.