Flight attendant says never leave hotel without placing card ‘inside your shoe’

Joaquin, a Spanish flight attendant based in London Gatwick Airport, exclusively shared his best tips and tricks to stay safe in a hotel room.

The crew member’s top tip to be safe is “always leaving the TV on, even when you’re not in the room, so people think there is someone there”.

The best place to hide valuables, such as credit cards or money, is inside a shoe, according to Joaquin. “I always keep my credit cards or important IDs in strange places in the room, such as inside my shoes.”

According to travel experts at Hotels & Discounts, one of the best spots in the room to keep valuables safe is inside “the handle of a hairbrush”.

Other “great hiding spots” are “empty bottles,” such as the complimentary toiletries in the bathroom.

Travel experts at Skyscanner recommended: “If you’re worried about valuable stuff in your hotel room, hide it in an empty suntan lotion container. You could also use empty lip balm containers to hide rolled-up notes.”

If travellers don’t feel it is safe to leave their money or jewellery in the room, they can always take them to the front desk.

Another way to avoid having valuables stolen is always carrying them with you and hiding them in underwear or hidden pockets.

An effective hack to keep valuables safe while holidaying abroad is using a “money belt” which is a comfortable and discreet accessory designed to be carried at all times.

Travel site Gapyeartravelstore explained: “The money belt has certainly earned its place as a travel essential, offering a way to discreetly store cash and valuables while sightseeing.”

Speaking about his “best hotel secret that not many people know,” Joaquin said he always “hangs the shirts in the bathroom when having a shower”.

“This way, the steam from the shower gets rid of creases and I don’t have to iron my shirts in the morning before work!”

To “save money”, Joaquin recommended always carrying a bottle of water and bringing it back to the hotel every night.

Many hotels have a water dispenser for guests to use. Alternatively, holidaymakers can refill their bottle at the hotel gym, where “they will always find one”.