inthesky, who travels frequently, you should take a small hand towel from your bathroom and put it around the door's safety latch when staying in a hotel room. This provides an additional layer of protection. Then, close the latch lock with the hand towel. Ultimately, this makes it more challenging to open the door.

Placing a washcloth or a small towel over the "latch" or "arm" of a hotel door's security swing-lock (also known as a U-bolt or swing bar) is a popular travel safety "hack" designed to prevent the door from being easily bypassed from the outside. Experienced travelers use this technique because many standard hotel locks have enough of a "gap" that a specialized tool or even a simple wire can be slid through to flip the latch and open the door. By stuffing a washcloth into the mechanism, you create tension and bulk that makes it significantly harder for an intruder to manipulate the latch from the exterior. Additionally, it serves as an extra layer of privacy, as it prevents the door from opening even the "two inches" that the swing-lock normally allows, which can stop people from peeking in or using a camera. In 2026, while many modern hotels have improved their door security, this "analog" solution remains a favorite among solo travelers and those staying in older properties, providing both a physical barrier and a greater sense of peace of mind during the night in an unfamiliar environment.