When staying overnight in a hotel or guesthouse, there’s a small but clever tip you should know to protect yourself while you sleep.

You’ll need two cups (you can use the ones from the hotel room or bring your own). In the evening, before you go to bed, do the following:

• Hang one cup horizontally on the door handle (so the handle is inside the cup).

• Place the second cup upright on top of the horizontal cup.

• Next, block the door from the inside by placing a heavy object (like a chair or suitcase) directly behind the door, against the jamb.

Why this works:

• If someone tries to open the door from the outside, the pressure on the handle will disturb the cup setup. The cups will fall or clatter, making a loud noise. This will wake you up, alert you to the intrusion, and may scare off the intruder because of the unexpected sound. According to one travel-hack article, this makes it harder for burglars who try to quietly slip in. blue News+1

• The heavy object behind the door makes it physically harder to push the door open quickly, giving you extra time to respond or call for help.

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✅ Extra Safety Tips for Your Hotel Room

• As soon as you check in, thoroughly inspect under the bed, behind furniture, and around the room for any suspicious items or hidden cameras.

• Cover or block the peephole (door viewer) to prevent anyone from looking in.

• Use the chain lock or the secondary lock on the door if one is available.

• Keep valuables in the hotel safe or with you rather than leaving them out in plain sight.

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📝 Summary

It takes just a couple of minutes and two simple cups to add a passive alarm system to your hotel room. Combined with the heavy object behind the door, you create a simple yet effective deterrent against unwanted intrusions. Add in the other safety checks and you’re staying much more securely.