20+ Essential Hotel Safety Tips for Solo Travelers

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Staying in a hotel alone and want to be safe?

As a solo traveler, safety is your number-one priority — especially if you’re a woman or POC traveler.

You don’t want to wake up and see a scary man standing next to your bed. That’d be a really scary experience, wouldn’t it?

In this post, I’m sharing 26 things I — a solo POC traveler — personally do to feel safe when staying at a hotel on my own.

These things make me feel MUCH more confident and ever since I started implementing these things, I haven’t had a strange encounter at a hotel.

Ready, friend? Let’s go!

THIS POST IS ALL ABOUT HOTEL SAFETY TIPS.

BEFORE WE CONTINUE

When I was doing research for this post (specifically on TikTok and Reddit), I noticed many people saying one common thing:

“All of this is so unnecessary, and is rooted in fear and anxiety! Who’s ACTUALLY going to do all of this?”

I agree that the average person likely wouldn’t even think about this kind of stuff. Some of the tips and protocols in this post do, admittedly, seem a bit extreme.

But I’m here to tell you that this is NOT being extra. We’re talking about your safety here — and there’s no such thing as playing it too safe!

So if you see these kinds of comments online, don’t let them discourage you or make you feel “extra” for simply wanting to protect yourself.

HOTEL SAFETY TIPS

BEFORE YOUR STAY

STAY IN A HOTEL INSTEAD OF A SHORT-TERM RENTAL

Stay in a hotel instead of a short-term rental. This is the number-one piece of advice I tell every solo traveler.

A hotel will always be safer than a guesthouse because there’s 24/7 staff and security there to keep you safe in the (unlikely) event of an emergency.

Plus, hotels tend to be in safer areas compared to Airbnbs or VRBOs.

Yes, these short-term rentals can often be cheaper and give you a bit more of a “local” feel, but I’d personally prefer to pay more to ensure my safety.

RESEARCH THE AREA YOU’RE STAYING IN

Research the area you’re staying in.

Staying safe in a hotel alone starts with choosing a safe property. When looking for a hotel for your solo trip, you’ll need to consider things like:

• the crime rate in the area
• how busy the area is at nighttime/outside of business hours
• recent events that have happened in the area

Sometimes, the less expensive a property is, the more dangerous the area is. And I’m talking, like, a LARGE difference in price.

Why? Because those really cheap properties are sometimes a bit farther from the touristy areas.

I know the price seems intriguing, but again, sometimes you have to pay a bit more to stay safe.

LOOK FOR A HOTEL THAT REQUIRES KEYCARD ACCESS TO EVERY FLOOR

Look for a hotel that requires keycard access to every floor.

Having this feature makes the property safer because it’s not like anyone can just sneak in and wander around the hotel.

Nowadays, it seems like every hotel has this, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding one that does. But it’s definitely something to keep in mind when researching properties.

ASK FOR A ROOM FAR FROM THE ELEVATOR

Ask for a room far from the elevator.

Intruders are more likely to search for suspects whose rooms are closer to the elevator. So, by staying far from one, you’re decreasing the chance of a criminal threatening you.

REQUEST A DIFFERENT ROOM IF YOU SUSPECT SOMEONE KNOWS

Request a different room if you suspect someone knows where you’re staying.

Even if you’re not entirely sure whether they know, it doesn’t hurt to ask for a different room — potentially one on a different floor as well.

You never know what could happen if someone knows where you’re staying!

Just be nice about it, as kindness goes a long way.

REQUEST A ROOM WITH NO CONNECTING DOORS

Request a room with no connecting doors.

When I was doing research for this post, I came across this tip several times. You’ll want to avoid this in case someone is staying in the connecting room and they’re able to open the door.

Usually if you’re staying in the room alone, you won’t be placed in a room with a connecting door. But, if that happens, you can politely ask the hotel staff to change rooms!

DO A FULL SECURITY CHECK BEFORE YOU GET SETTLED IN

Do a full security check before you get settled in.

You’ve like had a long travel day and all you want to do is jump in your bed. But before you do that, do a 3-minute security sweep.

Check things like the bathroom, curtains, bed (including underneath it), and behind the curtains.

This will allow you to catch anyone who might be hiding in your room waiting to threaten you. Of course, this is HIGHLY unlikely, but it only takes a few minutes, so I think it’s worth it.

ASK FOR TWO KEYCARDS

Ask for two keycards. Not only does this give the idea that you aren’t staying alone, but it also comes in clutch if you lose your other keycard.

Many hotels have mobile keycards, but there’s still a good number of properties that haven’t integrated them yet.

DON’T TELL ANYONE WHERE YOU’RE STAYING

Don’t tell anyone where you’re staying. If, at any point during your trip, someone asks you what hotel you’re staying, tell them one of three things:

• “I don’t feel comfortable sharing that information with you.”
• Be extremely vague with your description, i.e. “Oh, it’s not too far from here!”
• Come up with a lie and tell them you’re staying at a completely different hotel than where you’re actually staying

DURING YOUR STAY

MAKE SURE YOUR DOOR CLOSES AND LOCKS PROPERLY

Make sure your door closes and locks properly.

Listen, I know this one sounds obvious, but it seriously doesn’t hurt to check twice.

I wanted to write this tip because I recently stayed at Hotel Riu Plaza Chicago — one of my favorite hotels — and, um, the hotel staff opened my door. I didn’t realize it was open and, to say the least, it startled me.

I’m sure they were just curious why the door was open, but that could’ve ended worse. So after they left, I walked to the door and make sure it was COMPLETELY shut and locked.

If you want to avoid this kind of interaction, take literally TWO seconds to make sure the door is securely shut and locked.

USE A VPN

Use a VPN, or virtual private network.

I know that when you think about staying safe in a hotel, you don’t really imagine using a VPN. But staying safe is more of an all-encompassing concept than just physical safety.

So, to protect yourself digitally, download a VPN for all of your devices. This includes your phone, tablet, laptop, and any other devices that can be used to browse the internet.

I personally use ProtonVPN and it works quite well! It costs around $72 for the first 24 months and renews around $85 every twelve months.

And remember: it’s not just some other expense. It keeps you digitally protected which, in turn, keeps you secure as a whole!

CALL THE FRONT DESK IF YOU SUSPECT SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS

Call the front desk if you suspect something suspicious.

Whether you believe someone’s been following you or see someone lingering around your door, don’t hesitate to call for assistance. They’ll be able to send security to deal with the issue.

DON’T STAY ON THE GROUND FLOOR

Don’t stay on the ground floor.

Criminals can be lazy at times, and will likely only bother scouting the ground floor of a hotel. Meaning if you request a room on a higher floor, you greatly reduce the risk of an intruder threatening you.

DON’T LINGER AROUND YOUR DOOR

Don’t linger around your door.

Whether you’re just checking in and are heading to your room for the first time or are headed out for a solo dinner, don’t spend too much time near your door.

This will give people an idea of where you’re staying, and they could try to break into your room while you’re in there (or even when you aren’t there!).

USE A PORTABLE DOOR LOCK OR SECURITY BAR

Use a portable door lock or security bar.

If you really want to take things to the next level, you can buy one of these portable door locks from Amazon.

They’re designed to add an extra layer of security to your door when staying somewhere like a hotel or guesthouse.

You can also opt for a security bar, which you can use for the main door and/or the sliding glass door!

REFUSE HOUSEKEEPING SERVICE

Refuse housekeeping service.

I know a major perk of staying in a hotel is that you don’t really have to clean up after yourself. As long as you keep the room from looking like a middle school boy’s locker room, you don’t have much to worry about.

But for safety purposes, I’d actually advise against accepting housekeeping service. Why? Because you don’t want anyone walking in on you!

…OR REQUEST A FEMALE HOUSEKEEPER

Request a female housekeeper.

If you don’t feel comfortable with a male doing your housekeeping services, you can request a female housekeeper.

Do this by asking the hotel staff during check-in or use the hotel’s mobile app to submit your request.

Due to staff schedules and floor assignments, hotels can’t guarantee a specific gender for housekeeping services. However, if you ask politely and as far in advance as possible, they’ll be more likely to accommodate you.

…OR ASK FOR ADVANCE NOTICE

One more tip if you don’t want to refuse housekeeping service altogether: ask for advance notice.

Basically, you can ask for the housekeepers to let you know when they’re coming. I think this is a great idea so they’re not just surprising you and your room will still stay neat during your stay.

LEAVE THE “DO NOT DISTURB” SIGN ON YOUR DOOR

Leave the “Do Not Disturb” sign on your door for the duration of your stay.

I know this tip is slightly controversial because, in retrospect, you’re unintentionally letting people know someone’s in the room.

But at the same time, you’re signaling that you don’t want to be disturbed.

So this is one of those tips that you’ll have to use at your own discretion. If you want to do it, great! I personally do it all the time and I’ve never had any issues.

But if you don’t feel comfortable doing it, that’s fine, too! Just follow the previous tip and refuse housekeeping service via your hotel’s mobile app or during check-in.

COVER THE PEEPHOLE

Cover the peephole.

If you’re concerned about someone lurking in your room, consider covering the peephole. This will give you peace of mind knowing that nobody can see anything happening in your room.

Many people use a bandaid for this, which I think is a smart idea. You can also use a piece of dark tape, some kind of sticker, a post-it note if you have one, or even the notepad the hotel usually gives you.

UTILIZE THE SAFE

Utilize the safe.

If you have any important documents or expensive items, place them in the safe. This ensures that if someone happens to gain access to your room, all of your personal belongings will be protected.

LEAVE THE TV AND LIGHTS ON WHILE YOU’RE GONE

Leave the TV and lights on while you’re gone. I saw someone mention this on a Reddit thread and I think it’s a genius idea. This gives the idea that someone is in the room, which can reduce the risk of someone breaking in.

I must say, again, that this is unlikely. But I suggest doing anything you can to feel safe when staying at a hotel alone!

DON’T USE THE CHARGER OUTLETS

Don’t use the charger outlets.

Similar to airports, you’ll want to avoid using these outlets because hackers can steal your personal information from them. Instead, use your charging adapter to prevent this from happening.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, refer to the photo below. It’s this charger outlet that allows you to plug in your charger without an adapter. It’s useful, but increases the risk of someone hacking your data.

Stick to your regular power adapter instead!

AFTER YOUR STAY

MAKE SURE YOU DON’T LEAVE ANYTHING BEHIND

Make sure you don’t leave anything behind.

Before you leave, you’ll want to do a full room sweep to ensure you don’t forget anything. It’d probably be a hassle to try and get back in the room after check-out, so it’s important to do this before departure.

LOG OUT OF EVERYTHING

Log out of everything. If you signed in to any of your personal accounts like Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Prime Video, or Hulu… be sure to sign out of all these accounts.

You don’t want anyone taking advantage of the all the money you spend on these services — these things are expensive nowadays! Plus, they usually have sensitive personal information, like your email address, home address and phone number.

SECURE YOUR RIDE BEFORE YOU LEAVE

Secure your ride before you leave.

You don’t want to wait until you get outside to scramble and look for a ride. That’s not only stressful, but it also positions you as a naive target for criminals to attack.

To avoid this, simply get your ride details — whether it’s an Uber, Lyft, taxi, train, bus, or hotel shuttle — secured BEFORE you head outside.

SHOULD YOU STAY IN A HOTEL OR SHORT-TERM RENTAL?

As a solo traveler, I always recommend that you stay in a traditional hotel instead of a short-term rental like an Airbnb or VRBO property.

Not only do you have 24/7 staff and security on deck, but you also feel better knowing there’s hundreds of other people staying in the same building as you.

Whereas in a guesthouse, it’s only you, and unless it’s an apartment complex or the property is in a gated community, you likely don’t have security to keep you safe.

And some of these properties are in some sketchy areas — unlike hotels, which are generally in areas that are better for tourists.

Of course, a short-term rental could be cheaper sometimes, especially for longer stays. But in terms of safety, it’s almost always a better idea to stay in a hotel.

Read my hotel vs Airbnb guide for more information.

FINAL THOUGHTS: HOTEL SAFETY TIPS

In this post, I shared some of my top tips for staying safe in a hotel. I talk a great deal about solo travel, and I know safety is a major concern (rightfully so), so it was important that I shared my advice with you.

Hopefully now that you’ve finished this post, you can confidently book your hotel for your next solo adventure!

Now, friend, it’s your turn. I’m opening the floor for you to start a conversation in the comments. Here are some discussion topics:

• What was your favorite tip in this post?
• What do you usually do to feel safe when staying at a hotel?
• Are there any safety tips missing from this guide?

I’d love to hear your thoughts! If you feel more comfortable chatting with me directly, shoot me a DM on Instagram or email me at demarcus@thesolosolstice.com.

ABOUT DEMARCUS

DeMarcus is a Midwest-based travel content creator and the founder of the solo travel blog, The Solo Solstice. He began his solo travel journey in December 2025 and since has been creating practical, in-depth travel guides for a like-minded community of first-time solo adventurers.

Visit the About Page to learn more about DeMarcus, and visit the Ethical & Responsible Tourism Page to learn more about his efforts to promote responsible tourism.