Picture this: you’ve just stepped into your hotel room after a long, exhausting journey. You set your bags down, take a deep breath, and start to unwind. But before you fully relax, have you taken a moment to really look around? Behind that pristine-looking room, some shady hotels may be hiding serious red flags. Here are three things you should check right away—any of which might have you packing up again just as fast.
You glance in the mirror, maybe fix your hair or outfit, and move on. But what if someone’s on the other side, watching you? Believe it or not, some less-than-honest places install one-way mirrors that allow someone hidden behind them to observe the room without being seen.
Luckily, there’s a simple trick to check if the mirror is legit or a potential privacy threat: Press your fingertip against the glass.
- If you see a small gap between your finger and the reflection, the mirror is normal.
- But if your finger seems to touch its reflection directly, that’s a red flag—it might be a two-way mirror.
In that case, don’t risk it: “change hotels immediately” to keep your privacy intact.
2. Dirty bathroom? It might mean more than just bad housekeeping
Nobody likes a grimy bathroom—but if you spot one, it could signal much deeper issues than just laziness. Unclean faucets, moldy showerheads, or hair in the drain suggest poor overall hygiene.
Because if a hotel isn’t bothering to clean the bathroom properly, chances are they’re also cutting corners on things like laundered sheets, clean towels, or even air conditioning filters
Here’s what to check:
- Faucets and showers: Limescale buildup? Stray hairs? Mold? That’s not a good sign.
- Shower head: If it’s gunked up, that means the pipes aren’t getting cleaned either.
Pro tip: try gently unscrewing the shower head. If it’s full of grime inside, that’s your cue to leave.
3. Hidden cameras – a serious invasion of your privacy
If you see these 3 things at a hotel, check out immediately
An employee with 20 years of experience in the hotel service industry advises that when entering a hotel, you should check to see if there are these 3 things. If so, check out immediately.
Whether you are on a business trip or traveling, we basically stay in hotels and motels. Many people think that when staying in a hotel or motel, they don’t have to worry about anything, after checking in, they can just go straight to their room and rest.
If you think so, it is a mistake. After checking in, you should check the room to see if there is anything unusual. And if you see these 3 things in a hotel or motel, check out immediately, don’t stay there anymore.
1. 2-way mirror
A staff with 20 years of experience in the hotel service industry said that many people prepare a lot of disposable towels when staying at hotels and motels. But besides hygiene issues, the most important thing to pay attention to when staying at a hotel is actually the mirrors inside the hotel.
Although the mirrors in hotels are usually one-way mirrors, everyone must check carefully before staying at the hotel. Because some hotels, motels and sanatoriums can install 2-way mirrors to monitor us.
A one-way mirror is a type of mirror that has only one layer of mirror. We look in the mirror and see our reflection, no one on the opposite side can see us in the mirror.
A two-way mirror is different from a one-way mirror. When we look in a two-way mirror, we can see ourselves in the mirror and the person on the other side of the mirror can also see us. Therefore, every move of yours will be in the sight of the person on the other side of the mirror. Therefore, if you see a two-way mirror, you should check out immediately.
The way to check a two-way mirror is very simple. You just need to poke the mirror with your finger. If there is a gap between your finger and the reflection, it is a one-way mirror.
But if there is no space between your fingertips, you may be looking at a two-way mirror.
2. Dirty showerheads and faucets
After checking in to a hotel, you should also check the showerheads and faucets in the hotel.
When checking the showerheads and faucets, not only should you check for dirt, but you should also check the water pipes of the showerhead. You should disassemble the showerhead and check the water pipes.
If there is hair or other dirt in the showerhead, you should not use it. Please contact the front desk immediately to replace the showerhead or check out.
3. Hidden Camera
When staying at a hotel, in addition to paying attention to hygiene issues, you also need to check whether there is any privacy leakage in the hotel.
When you have just checked in, do not change clothes when entering the room, or insert the power card directly. In the room, first check whether there is infrared light or not.
The way to check is also very simple. If there is a red light in the socket or TV hole or any other corner of the room, pay attention. If there is infrared light, there is usually a hidden camera.
If you find a device that leaks privacy in the hotel room, it is best not to check in but contact the front desk and check out immediately.
When staying at a hotel, for your own safety, we must not ignore these details. If you find these 3 items while staying at a hotel, check out as soon as possible.