Last summer when my family was road tripping to Montana we arrived in Great Falls late one night. The kids had fallen asleep in the car, so my husband went and checked-in while I stayed with the kids. When he returned with the room keys, we coaxed our groggy children out of the car, through the hotel, up the elevators and into our guest room. We kept the room dark, leaving only the entry light on, and quickly tucked the kids into bed hoping they’d drift back to sleep.
My husband went to put our waters in the mini-fridge only to notice some beers. That’s weird, he said and I agreed, but having discovered left-behind drinks in hotel fridges in the past I didn’t think much about it. I figured the housekeepers had forgotten to check it. In the meantime, my husband ran to the store and I went into the bathroom to get ready for bed. As I washed my face I look down to see cardboard beer containers in the trash. My spidey-senses kicked into gear as I felt my heart begin to pound.
We were in someone else’s room!
Now panicked, I checked the door lock to make sure no one could walk in (keep in mind, I was in my night clothes of silky shorts and tank-top). Next, I opened the closet. Nothing. I then went to the dresser drawers. Nothing. My eyes scanned the door room’s floor and there it was: A black bag that looked like one of ours. But it wasn’t!
I immediately called the front desk and they respond with an “OMG! This is not good!”
By now the kids were wide-awake, jumping on the beds as I was frantically trying to stuff all of our things back into our oversized suitcase.
A half-hour later we were settled into a new room without having the awkward encounter of meeting the other hotel guests assigned to the room.
This could have all been prevented had I followed my own advice of checking the room before settling in. After all, this isn’t the first time I’ve walked into someone else’s room. In fact, on more than one occasion I’ve had people walk into my room while I was in there. Sometimes the door has been double latched, other times it hasn’t.
But checking for an occupied room isn’t the only thing you should look for as I will explain below. Speaking from experience, here are the top things to check when you check-in your hotel room:
1. Under the bed, behind the drapes, in the closet and bathroom. When I first became a flight attendant I was taught to search my room, with my luggage holding the door open, to ensure no one was hiding in my room. Flight attendants and pilots have been targeted in hotel crimes so most airlines (but not all) insist crew members ensure everyone’s room is “clear” before retiring for the evening. You should do the same.
2. Dresser drawers. If your room is occupied by someone and there aren’t any obvious signs…this is where you find out for sure since some bags can be stored in a dresser drawer. You may also find a toiletry bag hanging on the bathroom door.
3. Alarm clock. This little piece of equipment can cause quite a bit of pain if it goes off at 4 am while you’re on vacation. Make sure the alarm is “off” every night of your stay since a housekeeper could accidentally set it to “on” while cleaning.
4. Toilet, sink and shower. During another family trip my son used the bathroom not long after arriving in our hotel room only to find the toilet didn’t flush. We had already unpacked and had to welcome a plumber into our room for an hour. But that’s not all, also check to make sure you have hot water. I’ve encountered rooms with cold water only which doesn’t make for a pleasant morning shower. And while you’re at it, ensure the drains actually drain. Standing in five inches of shower water is disgusting, especially when it’s not your own shower.
5. Door locks. The connecting room and balcony door need to be checked for two reasons: first you don’t want any intruders and, second, if you have young kids you don’t want them wandering out of the room when you’re not looking.
6. Phone. Another experience I’ve had was a phone that didn’t work. People were trying to call me and I wasn’t answering. This can be a bummer if you’re awaiting a phone call or relying on a wake-up call. Tip: Always have two or three options for wake-up calls.
7. TV and remote control. And finally, if you’re a television watcher, check to make sure your TV and remotes works. I don’t need to explain this if you watch TV before bed. I don’t, but I know there are some people who have to have the TV on to fall asleep. If this is you, press that button!
And those are some items to check when you check-in to your hotel room. Do you have any wild hotel stories to share?
Great information. I would have died. The hiding thing is a great thing to check especially if alone.
Good to know. I don’t think I’ve ever really checked. A friend just told me of an odd experience with a hotel, no lights on, lights in the room didn’t work. I think she might write a post about it (she’s a humor writer). I’ll send her over to your post.
Wow, good advice. I didn’t know that about pilots and flight attendants. I guess you are trained from the beginning to check your rooms. How many other people think to do that? If they are like me, not many. I tend to check after the fact and then call if something isn’t working. Definitely something I will keep in mind next time, especially making sure I am not in someone else’s room!
I always make sure my room has a safe, so I can stash an extra credit card in it in case I get robbed or lose my purse while I am out and about.
I never would have thought to do such a comprehensive search! I have come across a few of your items – the shower that doesn’t work, the tv that turns on but the cable is not connected. Once, at a wedding, the front desk gave my boyfriend’s brother the key to our room – same french last name in an english hotel – thankfully we had closed the chain on the door – when his brother tried to come in, the noise woke us up! Wan’t a big deal as it was his brother – but would not have been good if it was a total stranger!
I like Kim’s comment about the safe – all to often I know it is there and don’t use it! I trust that the staff won’t take my thinks but didn’t think about a stranger given accidental access. With all the camera/laptop/iPad goodies – I would certainly be a good target!
Good advice! Honestly I would never think about looking under the bed to see if someone is hiding there:)
I don’t know how you reacted, but that is a creepy situation
. Imagine if the other person came to the room, seeing a family settled in his room. Things like this happens once in a while, i know cause i work at a front desk in a hotel, so those tips may really help someone to avoid your situation 
I had no idea flight attendents where trained to check…but its a great idea! Flight attendents are usually the best (and safest) travelers, so it is certainly advice I am going to start following. Honestly I have never checked…I just assume no one is there (which sounds crazy in hindsight).
Funny thing is I am typing this in a hotel room, which I didn’t check when I got in today
Guess I’ll double-check now!
This is one of the reasons why I leave the TV on and the bathroom door closed with the light on (to show under the door) to make my room look occupied at all times. I also hang the Do Not Disturb unless I actually want the room serviced which if it is only a night or two I don’t bother with.
Have you given any consideration at all with converting your current webpage in to French? I know a couple of of translaters right here that will might help you do it for free if you want to get in touch with me.
Good to know! I couldn’t imagine unpacking and settling in and have someone else walk into the hotel room. Most people would understandably freak out, especially if you’re settled in for the night and sleeping. It pays to double check and to ask if the room you’re staying in is the ‘right’ one.
I am totally paranoid when it comes to checking in, especially after several nasty experiences in Europe. Most of the time, I’ll stay in serviced apartments (since I usually travel with my husband and kids) that impose several conditions, such as having a minimum 3 or 4-night stay. One of them is Fraser Residence, been to the one at London Bishopsgate several times. The minimum stay coupled with the nature of the serviced apartment makes the place safer, as most people that will stay in them are mostly families.
Thank you for this check list. I shall keep it in mind when I check in to a hotel. This must have been a pretty scary experience.
Very true, you can’t be too careful. I probably wouldn’t react the way you did.. Smart!