Retired FBI agent shares hotel safety tips most travelers never think about, and it starts before you even check in

Former FBI agent Steve Lazarus posted a video with important hotel safety tips. He says staying safe begins the moment you arrive at the parking lot. This advice matters most for people traveling alone, especially women. Lazarus warns that “predators love hotels – especially when it comes to women traveling alone.”

Always park at the front of the hotel where the lights are bright, and cameras can see you better. Never use side doors or stairwells when checking in. According to Bro Bible, Lazarus suggests in his TikTok video that the main entrance is the safest option every single time you enter or leave. At the front desk, keep your room number private. Staff shouldn’t say it out loud, but they write it on your key envelope.

Don’t let anyone see that number. Put the envelope away right away. Take the elevator alone when possible. If someone else gets in, wait for them to press their floor button first before you press yours. Stand close to the control panel and know where the alarm button is. If someone follows you to your floor, stay in the elevator and go back to the lobby immediately.

Simple elevator rules can keep you safer than you think

When you reach your room, put out the “Do Not Disturb” sign and lock the door. Spend two or three minutes checking everything. Look behind curtains and inside closets. Make sure the deadbolts, door locks, and peephole work properly and haven’t been messed with.

You can buy extra safety tools if you want more protection. A wedge alarm makes a loud noise if someone opens your door. Special scanners can find hidden cameras and microphones that use radio frequencies, infrared, or magnets. Privacy concerns are real, especially with questionable hotel bathroom design choices that some travelers have exposed.

Hotels are generally safe places. Only 0.3 percent of violent crimes happen in hotels each year, according to the National Crime Victimization Survey. 

However, theft is the most common hotel crime. One survey found that about 25 percent of frequent travelers had experienced crime at a hotel, mostly theft. Some travelers have faced unexpected problems with their bookings that ruined their entire trip.

Many people reacted strongly to Lazarus’s video. Some said it’s unfair that women need to take so many precautions just to travel safely. 

One person commented: “Can’t go for a walk. Can’t go to a restaurant. Can’t go to the mall. Can’t go to the groceria. Can’t go to Walmart. Can’t drive. Can’t travel. So who are men protecting us from?” These safety steps take extra effort, but they work.