CHECKING into a hotel can be an exciting start to a long-awaited holiday.
But a hotel and travel security expert has revealed the mistake Brit holidaymakers fall foul of when they're staying at a hotel.
Carolyn Pearson is the CEO and Founder of Maiden Voyage – a business dedicated to making travel safer.
Maiden Voyage, which launched 16 years ago, educates businesses and industry professionals on safety and security in the travel sector.
In addition to providing training to hotel staff members, Carolyn also shares safety tips, tricks, hacks, and advice with holidaymakers.
And one of the most dangerous things happens right at the check-in desk.
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Carolyn told Sun Online Travel: "Very often the hotel receptionist will announce a guest's room number out loud."
"Once they've read out the room number, reception staff will give guests directions to their room."
While this may seem friendly and helpful, reading this information out loud can actually be quite dangerous.
This is because other hotel guests will know exactly where you're staying.
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Carolyn added: "I've known people [with bad intentions] to make room-to-room personal calls.
"If they know that you're in the room by yourself, they may knock at the door and pretend to be a member of staff because they've overheard your room number in the reception area."
Hotel staff may also read out a room number when a guest tries to check in for breakfast.
Instead of having the room number read out loud in either situation, Carolyn recommended asking for the number to be written down.
She added: "Point out your room number on the list, or write it down for the staff member to see.
"Just never announce your room number, and explain why you want it kept private to hotel staff."
According to Carolyn, if a room number is read out, guests may be able to request a room change – particularly if they feel unsafe.
In a previous article in Sun Online Travel, Carolyn revealed the two popular safety hacks she’d never use & the £1 item she always has in her suitcase.
She added: "If your hotel room doesn't have a second lock, or a latch, then use a rubber door stop, an alarmed door stop, or a door jammer.
"I always travel with a door jammer because there are some hotels that I really like, but they don't have a second lock."
Meanwhile, a flight attendant recently shared her top safety hacks for travellers to prevent hotel break-ins.
In a video on TikTok, Cici In The Sky, from Florida, said room break-ins happen more often than people realise.
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She revealed how you can prop an ironing board against the door as a makeshift burglar deterrent.
Her other safety hacks include blocking the peephole on the hotel door with tissue paper to block any prying eyes.
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