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.
1. The mirror that might be watching you
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
