A security expert has warned hotel guests of a common check-in mistake that could ultimately make it easier for thieves to target victims.
While flight attendants have revealed their safety checks when first arriving in a hotel room, security pros have warned that you should be vigilant long before you even step through your room's door.
The team at ADT security alarms have revealed their top tips for staying safe - and why you should never say your room number out loud.
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."
It wasn't the only tip they had for deterring potential thieves or intruders.
They warned that often as people head out, they leave a sign on their door to "please clean". However, the experts warn that this "can notify potential thieves that your room is empty".
Instead, they recommend that you discreetly tell the staff at hotel reception that you'd like your room to be cleaned.
It's not the first time that holidaymakers have been urged to be vigilant when spending the night away from home - but luckily, there are some easy tricks to check your room is safe when you arrive.
Cabin crew member Esther, who flies with KLM, regularly shares her insider tricks on TikTok and earlier this year she issued a stark warning for holidaymakers.
In the short clip, the Dutch flight attendant urged hotel guests to "always" throw a bottle of water under the bed when first entering a hotel room, to "check that no one is under the bed without looking".
If the bottle "doesn't come out of the other side", then you may want to investigate further, by getting a member of staff or a fellow traveller in your group to look into it with you.
Meanwhile cabin crew member @cici.inthesky gave a sneak peek into the rigorous safety checks she makes before settling into a room - and how she uses a washcloth as an extra security measure.
In a clip shared on TikTok, she tucks the washcloth inside the door lock, and then closing the latch to ensure it's jammed shut.
She also recommended using alarmed door wedges as an extra measure while sleeping, so if someone does manage to quietly open your door, you'll be alerted straight away.
Do you think the hotel security tips are helpful, or do you think they're over the top? Let us know in the comments below.
