Here are 15 hotel habits I’ve picked up over years of travel (and why you may want to try them too).
We all develop our own hotel routines over time. Some make perfect sense, others might seem a little strange. After countless nights in hotels around the world, I’ve picked up these routines that keep me comfortable, safe, and even well-hydrated. Here are the rituals I swear by (and why you might want to adopt a few yourself).
1. Inspect for Bedbugs
Before unpacking anything, I conduct a thorough bedbug investigation that could save me weeks of itchy misery. I pull back the sheets and examine mattress seams near the headboard for small blood spots, dark stains, or tiny rust-colored bugs about the size of an apple seed. I check upholstered chairs, curtains, behind picture frames, and along baseboards—bedbugs love hiding in these spots. If I find any evidence, I document it with photos and request a room at least two doors away, since these pests easily spread between adjacent rooms.
2. Enter Every Room As Though Someone Is There
Years ago, I pushed open my hotel room door after a long flight only to find it occupied by another guest. Ever since that rather scary moment, I open doors slowly and call out “Hey!” before fully entering. It might feel silly, but I’d rather feel foolish for five seconds than experience that kind of encounter again.
3. Photograph the Room Number Immediately
The moment I reach my door, I snap a photo of either the room placard or key envelope, then immediately discard any paper with my room number on it. If I lose my key card, the last thing I want is for someone to find it along with written proof of exactly which room to target. A photo in my phone is much more secure than a piece of paper floating around.
4. Check the Alarm Clock
I’ve been jolted awake at 3 AM enough times by previous guests’ forgotten alarms to skip this step. The moment I enter a room, I check the bedside clock and digital display to make sure no alarms are set. Housekeeping does great work cleaning rooms, but they often forget to check the clock.
5. Test the AC and Shower
Nothing ruins a stay faster than discovering your air conditioning is broken during a heatwave, or that your shower only produces cold water when you’re rushing to catch a flight. I always test both systems the moment I arrive. If there’s a problem, I have time to get it fixed or switch rooms before it becomes a crisis at the worst possible moment.
6. Use the Deadbolt
Day or night, tired or alert, I always engage the deadbolt when I’m in my room. This isn’t paranoia; it’s basic safety protocol. Hotel security incidents happen more often than properties advertise, and most could be prevented by this simple two-second action. There are too many people who might have access to your room otherwise.
7. Keep the “Do Not Disturb” On When Inside
Rather than playing housekeeping roulette throughout the day, I prefer to control when my space gets serviced by keeping the sign up and communicating directly with the housekeeper or front desk when I leave. I only take it down if I’ve just arrived and I’m expecting a welcome amenity or special delivery.
8. Check Closets and Under the Bed
I admit this falls into the “strange” category, but I always inspect closets and look under beds when I arrive. I joke about checking for ghosts, but really I’m looking for anything the previous guest might have left behind. It’s better to discover surprises early than when you’re packing to leave. I know some people check for hidden cameras too, though that’s not part of my routine.
9. Master the Lighting
Modern hotels love their “sophisticated” lighting systems, but they often are neither intuitive nor straightforward. I test the switches and bedside control to figure out how to command of the room’s illumination. Nothing ruins getting to sleep (here’s looking at you, fancy Milan hotel) like discovering I can’t figure out how to turn off the indirect lighting because the designer prioritized looks over functionality.
10. Map Emergency Exit Routes
I don’t just glance at the fire escape map on my door—I read it like my life depends on it, because it might. I note how many doors are between my room and the nearest exit just like flight attendants do during safety demos. Especially when in countries where I don’t speak the language, I often snap a photo of the escape map too, knowing in a real emergency, smoke-filled hallways make wall signs impossible to read.
11. Block Light Gaps with Towels
Some hotel doors are cut so high, hallway light seeps under them at night (sometimes so brightly it feels as though it comes from a spotlight). If there’s a gap, I lay a bath towel along it to create a blackout effect.
12. Wipe High-Touch Surfaces
Long before sanitizing became mainstream, I was already giving my rooms the antibacterial treatment with disinfecting wipes. Light switches, remote controls, door handles, bathroom fixtures, and the phone all get wiped down. Housekeeping might change the sheets, but they’re not necessarily disinfecting every surface that previous guests touched repeatedly. A quick cleaning ritual gives me peace of mind and helps prevent picking up whatever bug the last guest might have left behind.
13. Block the Electronic Light Pollution
Modern hotel rooms glow like spaceship cockpits thanks to LED indicators on every device imaginable. I pack Light Dims or similar blackout stickers to cover those annoying lights on TVs, cable boxes, alarm clocks, and air conditioning units. These tiny stickers transform a room that resembles mission control into an sleeping environment. The difference is dramatic—once you start using them, you’ll wonder how you ever slept in a room full of blinking lights.
14. Test Sink Drainage
After the bedbug check, I turn the sink faucet on full force and watch how quickly the water drains. A slow-draining sink can be a pain when you’re trying to get ready quickly. If the drainage is poor, I know to be extra careful with water usage, or better yet, I call maintenance before it becomes a problem.
15. Hit the Gym for Free Hydration
I drink a lot of water, and I’m not picky about it—I’m happy with tap water anywhere it’s safe. But sometimes I end up places where it’s not safe to drink, and hotels often only provide a bottle per day. While some properties will send up more water for free, others charge premium prices. My solution? Head to the hotel gym, where complimentary water is almost always readily available. It’s a simple hack that keeps me hydrated without the expense.
Bonus tip: Never Let Hotel Doors Slam
Having been woken up countless times by thoughtless door-slammers in nearby rooms, I’m careful about closing my door manually and quietly. Hotel sound insulation is often terrible, and that satisfying slam at 2 AM becomes someone else’s rude awakening. Taking the extra second to gently close my door shows consideration (plus ensures it’s properly closed).
Twist’s Take: These habits might seem quirky, but they’re born from hard-earned experience, and they help create a better hotel stay.