Brits urged to do one thing when they enter hotel room and it's not unpacking

Daily Mirror

11-07-2025

A seasoned traveller from Birmingham is sharing her checklist of the five things everyone staying in a hotel should do immediately upon arrival to ensure a safe and comfortable stay
A veteran traveller has revealed a checklist of all the tasks travellers should complete before settling into their hotel room. While you may be tempted to dive into bed after a long travel day or race to unpack, there's one critical thing you should do before anything else.
An experienced traveller hailing from Birmingham, Dimple Chudasama-Adams, shares tested travel advice with her extensive Instagram following. On her account, @escape_the_ordinary_by_dimple, Dimple shared a list of tasks to ensure a safe and comfortable hotel stay.
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'What's the first thing seasoned travellers do when they enter a hotel room?' Dimple writes in the caption. 'Not admire the view. Not unpack. They check for hidden issues before settling in.'
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The first item on her five-bullet checklist is to check for bedbugs. To do this she says you should pull back sheets and inspect mattress corners. While a pain, this can help prevent an infestation in your own home.
The second item on her checklist is to wipe down high-touch surfaces, including remotes, light switches and door handles. These surfaces can often be overlooked by cleaning staff despite being used by every guest.
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Dimple's third tip focuses on ensuring your safety and is particularly important if you are travelling solo. She advises her followers to ensure the door lock and safe are functional.
The penultimate item on her checklist is to 'check the minibar and take photos'. While this may seem like an odd measure to some, she explains that it can help combat ' surprise charges ' that could appear on your bill.
Dimple's fifth and final travel tip is another safety-focused measure. She advised travellers - especially solo travellers - to block their hotel door with a wedge or lock.
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This provides an extra layer of protection beyond the simple chain lock on most hotel doors. If you don't have a door wedge or lock, there are other common items you can use to make your hotel room safer, including a wash cloth .
Dimple's advice was met with mixed reviews in the comment section, particularly her security tips. While some users shared their own safety hacks and advice, others said that Dimple was 'paranoid'.
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One commenter wrote: 'Paranoid much?' while another added: 'Maybe umm, don't travel? Geez.' Contrastingly, one user shared an important addition to the checklist: 'Perhaps check the fire exit routes first.'
Ensuring your safety in a hotel begins even before you enter your hotel room according to one security expert. The team at ADT security alarms warned hotel guests of a common check-in mistake that could ultimately make it easier for thieves to target victims.
They explained: "When checking into your hotel, ask the receptionist to write down your room number instead of telling you out loud. This stops nearby guests from knowing which room you are staying in. It is also a good idea to check your surroundings when entering and leaving your room, to ensure that no one knows which room you are staying in."