A flight attendant has taken to social media to share some of her tips on how travellers can stay safe. The crew member who works for an American airline said that safety is her number one priority when staying in hotels - whether it be abroad or in the US.
Taking to TikTok, Cici said she has created a checklist, detailing all of the steps she takes after checking into a hotel. According to the travel expert, it is essential to "always count the number of doors to the exit stairwell".
She takes this precaution in case there is a fire and it is too "it is too dark or smokey" for you to see where the exits are. As well as this, she also familiarises herself with the security and evacuation maps often displayed on the corridors - she says this is key to staying safe in case of an emergency.
She also advised travellers to make sure the door is fully shut whenever they leave their room. Cici says hotel doors are often heavier than regular ones and need a 'final push' to ensure they are fully closed.
Then, she makes sure the peephole is closed and "if there is no cover, just take some tissue and shove it in there so nobody can see inside your room," the Express reports.
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She always takes a small towel from the bathroom and wraps it around the safety latch as an extra security measure. The flight attendant then closes the latch lock with the hand towel, which will make it harder to open.
The flight attendant explained that she uses "a personal safety alarm like the Birdie". Birdie is a personal safety alarm "made for women".
This colourful device has "a loud alarm and flashing strobe light designed to deter an attack" and can be purchased online for less than £20. "I bought one for all the women in my life," Cici said.
The flight attendant continued: "If someone knocks at the room and says they are housekeeping, but you didn't order anything, call the front desk. She added that ideally, hotel guests should request the room they want in advance which should be one without "an adjoining room".
