Renting a room at a hotel or motel when traveling or on a business trip is a common practice. When staying in an unfamiliar place, ensuring your safety is paramount. Thus, many people share various methods to inspect the room for any abnormalities, one of which is throwing a water bottle under the bed.
What’s the Purpose of Throwing a Water Bottle Under the Hotel Bed?
Upon checking into your hotel or motel room, it’s essential to do a thorough inspection to identify any potential hazards or privacy concerns, such as hidden cameras. A often-overlooked area is the space under the bed.
A flight attendant from European Airlines KLM shared a tip on social media about how she checks for potential dangers in her room. Her method is straightforward: she grabs a water bottle and throws it under the bed. This way, she can detect if someone is hiding or if there’s something unusual underneath.
When you throw the bottle, observe if it rolls out to the other side. If it doesn’t, something might be blocking it. You can then cautiously inspect the area, preferably with a companion or hotel staff member, to ensure no one is holding the bottle in place.
If there’s nothing amiss, the bottle will easily roll to the other side. However, if you sense any danger or feel uneasy, don’t hesitate to leave the room and contact hotel security.
Alternatively, instead of throwing a bottle, you can directly inspect the area by crouching down and looking under the bed.

Additionally, checking under the bed can reveal leftover items from previous guests or an accumulation of dust, hair, food wrappers, etc. This area is a haven for insects and can impact your health, so it’s crucial to ensure it’s clean.
If you find the space under the bed untidy, contact the hotel’s housekeeping department to clean it or request a different room that meets your hygiene standards.
This simple act of throwing a water bottle under the bed, which only takes a few seconds, can significantly enhance your safety during your stay in an unfamiliar place.
Other Precautions When Renting a Hotel or Motel Room
In addition to checking under the bed, here are some other areas to inspect in your room:
- Room Key and Door Lock
Test the room key and door lock to ensure they’re functioning correctly. Try locking and unlocking the door from both inside and outside the room. When someone knocks on your door, use the peephole to identify the visitor before opening the door. If your door has a security chain, engage it when you’re inside the room.
If your room has windows or a balcony, make sure to lock them securely to prevent any unwanted incidents.
- Room Cleanliness
Typically, hotel staff should clean the room before a new guest’s arrival. However, sometimes, the room may not be up to standard. Therefore, it’s essential to inspect the room for any signs of dirt or unsanitary conditions and report them to the hotel staff as soon as possible.
- Check Hidden Areas
Pay close attention to hidden areas in the room, such as behind paintings, inside closets, or behind the TV. These spots are potential locations for hidden cameras or other privacy invasions. While the hotel management may not condone such actions, it’s better to be cautious and inspect all items in the room.
We hope that this tip about throwing a water bottle under the bed and the additional precautions will help ensure your safety and give you peace of mind during your travels or business trips.