### 1. Don’t place your suitcase on the wooden stand If the room has a beautiful wooden luggage rack, it’s better to avoid using it. The fact is that wood can become a hiding place for bedbugs. These insects most often travel not with people, but with luggage that has been in infested hotels. Experts recommend using metal racks or temporarily placing the suitcase on the tiled bathroom floor, after ensuring it is clean. After unpacking, it’s best to close the luggage immediately. ### 2. Be cautious with bedspreads and blankets Experts advise removing the decorative bedspread from the bed immediately and using the warm blanket or duvet only over the sheet. Although bed linens in hotels are usually washed after each guest, bedspreads and extra blankets in many hotels are sent to the dry cleaners much less frequently — sometimes only when visible stains appear. In modern hotels, decorative bedspreads are increasingly not spread over the entire bed but neatly folded at the foot, which is considered more hygienic. ### 3. Be careful with small towels According to the specialist, small towels are among the items that should be treated with the most caution, especially in budget hotels. The reason is that some guests use them for unintended purposes, and staff cannot always guarantee the impeccable treatment of each item. At the same time, a small dense terry towel placed near the shower should be used exclusively as a foot mat after showering, not for drying the body. ### 4. Don’t ignore the peephole The expert recommends carefully inspecting the peephole immediately after checking in. If there are signs of repair, damage, or tampering, it’s worth asking for a room change. In rare cases, criminals install hidden cameras instead of regular peepholes. For additional security, some travelers cover the peephole from the inside with a piece of paper, especially if they spend a lot of time in the room. Also, do not open the door if someone knocks and you cannot see anyone in the peephole. It’s better to contact the reception first to confirm whether a hotel staff member is indeed coming to your room. ### 5. Don’t touch the remote while eating The TV remote, telephone handset, and light switches are considered some of the most contaminated items in a hotel room. During cleaning, staff are time-limited, so they may not always thoroughly disinfect every surface. Whenever possible, experts advise wiping such items with antiseptic wipes immediately after checking in or using them only after cleaning. ### What else to pay attention to Experts remind that glass cups in some hotels may simply be rinsed quickly under the tap, and coffee makers are not always fully cleaned after each guest. When choosing a hotel, it’s also important not to rely solely on the number of stars. The international classification system primarily reflects the level of comfort and range of services, not the quality of cleaning or service. Most hotels adhere to sanitary standards; however, the human factor and high workload on staff can affect the quality of cleaning. Simple precautions — treating the most frequently used surfaces, carefully inspecting the room, and maintaining basic hygiene — will help make your stay more comfortable and safe. When choosing a hotel, paying attention to recent guest reviews is just as important as its star rating.