Hotel Room Secret: Why should you throw a water bottle under the bed as soon as you enter the room? Knowing the reason you will also say- Thank you!

Whenever we go on a trip to another city or country, we choose a hotel or homestay to stay. As soon as we step into a hotel room, the first thing that catches our attention is its cleanliness, beautiful interior and comfortable bed. But do you know that in an unknown place your safety matters most? Nowadays, a strange but very useful safety trick is going viral on social media and among travel vloggers – “Throw a filled water bottle under the bed as soon as you enter the hotel room.” At first this may seem a bit strange or childish, but the hidden reason behind it is related to your safety. Let us know why experts recommend doing this.

What is the real secret behind this ‘water bottle trick’?

Actually, this trick is directly related to your privacy and personal security. When you throw a water bottle under a hotel bed, it should roll to the other side of the bed. If the bottle comes out clean on the other side without any obstruction, it means that everything is fine under the bed and there is no one hiding there.

Often hotel beds are quite large and dark at the bottom, where there is less light. In such a situation, any suspicious person or thief can easily hide there. When you come into the room, usually you don’t bend down and check directly under the bed. This small water bottle without any effort gives you the peace of mind that the area under the bed is completely empty and safe.

What to do if the bottle stops midway?

If the water bottle does not come out on the other side after being thrown under the bed or stops after hitting something in the middle, then be alert immediately. This could mean that there is something heavy underneath, or there could be some unwanted thing or person present there. In such a situation, instead of putting your hands or looking directly under the bed:

• Keep the main door of the room open so that you can run out immediately if needed.

• Immediately call the hotel front desk or reception and have the staff check the room.

• Close the door of the room from inside only after security is completely ensured.

Flight attendants and travel experts also give this advice

Many crew members (flight attendants) of Dutch and international airlines have revealed on the internet that whenever they stay in a new hotel, they definitely use this trick. For people who travel frequently, safety is the number one priority. Since flight attendants often have to stay alone in hotels in unfamiliar cities, to ensure their safety, the first thing they do when they enter the room is roll a bottle under the bed to make sure the room is completely ‘clear’ from inside.

Some more important tips to stay safe in hotel room

Apart from this water bottle trick, whenever you stay in a hotel, keep these things in mind:

• Check Hidden Camera: Turn off the lights in the room and check the reflections throughout the room (especially mirrors, clocks and smoke detectors) with your phone’s camera to see if there are any hidden cameras.

• Door Lock: Always install a ‘deadbolt’ or safety latch from inside the main door.

• Caution on bell ringing: If someone knocks on the door of your room and says he is from the hotel staff, first look through the peep hole and open the door only when you are sure.