A flight attendant has revealed her top tips on safety and security when staying in hotels. Cici, an American cabin crew member, says she has a list of rules she always follows when staying in a hotel on her travels, especially for when she first arrives.
She says that safety is the most important thing when she spends a night away for work, so she always follows a strict security routine after checking in, the Express reports. In a recent TikTok video, she told holidaymakers it is essential to “always count the number of doors to the exit stairwell” in case there is a fire and “it is too dark and smoky” for hotel guests to see where the exits are.
Cici said it is important to be prepared and look at the security and evacuation maps that are often displayed on the corridors, in case there is an emergency. And she said she always checks to see that the room's phone works as soon as she arrives.
READ MORE: Cyprus travel warning issued by UK Foreign Office as holidaymakers and travellers updated
The flight attendant also said travellers should ensure they have fully shut the door to their room whenever they head out, as doors can be heavy and may need an extra final push. “I see doors not fully shut all the time walking through the hallway,” she said.
Cici says she also always checks to make sure the peephole is closed. If there is no cover, “just take some tissue and shove it in there so nobody can see inside your room,” she advises.
She says she also always takes a small towel from the bathroom and wraps it around the safety latch as an extra security measure. When someone in the comments of her video asked Cici why she does this, she replied: “To prevent anyone from using a tool to un latch the security latch.”
The travel expert also said she uses a personal safety alarm, called a Birdie. The colourful device has a “loud alarm and flashing strobe light designed to deter an attack” and can be bought for as little as £20. “I bought one for all the women in my life,” Cici said.
She also said she is very cautious about letting strangers into her room. “If someone knocks at the room and says they are housekeeping, but you didn't order anything, call the front desk,” she warned. “This could also be room service, security or anything you weren't expecting.”
Finally, for “added protection at night”, Cici recommends using door safety alarms, which go off if someone enters the room. “Always bring two door wedges or door stop alarms just in case you have an adjoining room and they weren't able to accommodate your room request,” she said.
READ NEXT:
