Travelers share a simple trick: hanging a coffee cup on the hotel room door handle.
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The idea is simple – if someone tries to open the door from the outside, the cup would fall and the noise could wake the person inside the room. And if you don’t hear anything during the night, a fallen cup in the morning would show that someone might have tried to enter the room.
If the cup doesn’t have a handle, it can simply be placed on the handle so that pressing it down would cause the cup to fall.
What is better not to do?
Experts warn against more dangerous “do-it-yourself” solutions – for example, tying the door with a belt, rope, or other object.
Although it may seem like extra protection, in extreme situations – such as a fire or earthquake – stuck doors can pose a life-threatening danger.
A safer alternative
Instead of improvised means, it is recommended to use a travel door stopper with an alarm. When trying to open the door, such a device emits a loud signal and can wake you up immediately.
However, it is important to place it so that you can quickly exit the room if needed – especially in case of an emergency.
