Things to do on First Entering your Hotel Room
Arriving at your hotel after a long journey usually means one thing: you want to drop your bags, kick off your shoes and relax. But before you unpack, there are nine things to do when you arrive at a hotel that can make the rest of your stay safer, easier and much more comfortable.
Most of them take only a minute or two. A quick check of your room, knowing where the emergency exit is and making sure everything works can save you from discovering a problem when you’re already in your pyjamas.
So leave that suitcase closed for just a few more minutes. Here are 9 things you should always do as soon as you arrive at your hotel — and then you can put the kettle on and properly start your holiday.
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1. Check the Room Before You Unpack
One of the first things to do when you arrive at a hotel is to quickly check the room before you open your suitcase and make yourself at home.
You don’t need to conduct a full inspection — just take a couple of minutes to look around. Check that the room appears clean, the bedding looks fresh and everything you expect to be there actually is.
It’s also worth checking a few basics:
- Make sure the lights and sockets work.
- Check the heating or air conditioning.
- Have a quick look around the bed and bedding.
- Check the bathroom is clean and has enough towels.
- Look for any obvious damage to furniture or fittings.
If something isn’t right, tell reception straight away. It’s much easier to change rooms or have a problem sorted before you’ve unpacked your clothes, toiletries and half the contents of your handbag.
Once you’re happy, you can start settling in — but don’t unpack just yet. There’s one more important check to make first.
2. Check the Door, Windows and Locks is one of the First Things to do when you arrive at a hotel
Before you properly settle in, take a moment to check that your hotel room feels secure.
Make sure the main door closes and locks properly, and check any windows or balcony doors too. If your room has an adjoining door to the next room, make sure that is locked from your side.
For a little extra reassurance, some travellers like to take a portable door alarm with them. These small devices can be useful in hotels because they’re easy to pack and don’t require any permanent fitting.
Simply having that extra layer of security can help you relax, particularly if you’re travelling alone or staying somewhere unfamiliar.
Smart Buy Guide tip: Keep your door alarm somewhere easy to reach rather than buried at the bottom of your suitcase. It isn’t much use if you have to excavate three pairs of shoes and your emergency chocolate supply to find it.
Once the room is secure, there’s another thing worth locating before you start unpacking — your emergency exit.
3. Find Your Emergency Exit
It’s one of those things to do when you arrive at a hotel that takes less than a minute, but it’s easily forgotten: find your nearest emergency exit.
There will usually be an evacuation plan on or near your hotel room door. Have a proper look at it rather than assuming you’ll work everything out if you ever need to.
Check:
- Which direction you need to turn when you leave your room.
- Roughly how many doors you’ll pass before reaching the exit.
- Where the nearest staircase is.
- Whether there is an alternative exit nearby.
The UK Foreign Office also recommends checking that your accommodation meets basic health and safety standards, including fire safety.
This is particularly useful in a large hotel where corridors can all start looking remarkably similar.
You’re extremely unlikely to need the information, but knowing your way out means there’s one less thing to think about in an emergency.
Then, with that little job done, turn your attention back to the room itself — because now is the perfect time to photograph anything that’s already damaged.
4. Photograph Any Existing Damage
Before you unpack, take a quick look around for anything that appears damaged or broken.
You’re not looking for tiny imperfections, but if you notice something obvious — a cracked fitting, damaged furniture, a large stain or something that simply doesn’t work — take a quick photo on your phone.
If the damage is significant, let reception know as well. That way there’s a record that the problem was already there when you arrived.
It only takes a few seconds and could save an awkward conversation when you check out.
This is also a good moment to check that anything supplied in the room is present and in reasonable condition, particularly if the hotel provides items that could potentially be charged to your bill.
Smart Buy Guide tip: You don’t need twenty photographs and a full forensic investigation. A couple of clear pictures of anything genuinely concerning should be plenty.
With the evidence safely stored — and no need to dust the bedside lamp for fingerprints — it’s finally time to start unpacking. But first, decide where your valuables are going to live during your stay.
5. Things to do when you arrive at a hotel is to Decide Where to Keep Your Valuables
Once you’re happy with the room, decide where you’re going to keep important items such as passports, spare cash, jewellery and travel documents.
Leaving valuables scattered around the room — or tucked into different pockets and bags — makes it surprisingly easy to forget something when you leave.
If your room has a safe, check that you understand how it works before using it. Whatever storage option you choose, try to keep your important belongings together and make a mental note of where you’ve put them.
For items you’ll need while you’re out, a small zipped travel wallet or secure bag can help keep passports, cards and cash organised rather than loose in a handbag or backpack.
Smart Buy Guide tip: Before checking out, have one designated “valuables check” — passport, wallet, phone, jewellery and anything in the hotel safe. It’s a simple habit that can prevent that horrible “Where’s my passport?” moment halfway to the airport.
6. Set Up a Charging Station
Before phones, watches, earbuds and other gadgets start appearing all over the room, choose one convenient place to use as your charging station.
“Check where the sockets are and, if you’re travelling abroad, get your travel adapter ready. A multi-device charger can be particularly handy in hotel rooms where accessible sockets are limited.”
Keeping everything together has another advantage: you’re less likely to leave a charger plugged into a socket behind the bedside table when you check out.
If you’re travelling with someone else, a single charging area can also prevent the nightly scramble for the last available socket.
Smart Buy Guide tip: Add “check the sockets” to your final sweep of the room. Chargers and adapters are surprisingly easy to leave behind — especially the ones hidden beside the bed.
Once everything is charging happily, it’s time to investigate somewhere else you’ll definitely be visiting during your stay — the bathroom.
7. Check the Bathroom Before You Need It
The bathroom deserves a quick check while you’re doing the other things to do when you arrive at a hotel. It’s much better to discover a problem now than when you’re tired and ready for bed.
Run the taps for a moment and check that you have hot water. Make sure there are enough towels, look for any toiletries you expected the hotel to provide and, if you’ll need a hairdryer, find out where it’s hiding.
It’s also worth checking that the shower works properly. Few things are more irritating than getting ready for your first morning away only to discover that the shower has other ideas.
Things to do when you arrive at a hotel is to check if anything important is missing or not working, contact reception while you’re still settling in. Problems are usually much easier to sort out before the hotel gets busy later in the evening.
Smart Buy Guide tip: If there’s something you absolutely rely on — a particular toiletry, medication or other essential — bring your own rather than assuming the hotel will provide it.
Bathroom inspected, hot water confirmed and towels accounted for? Excellent. Now we can finally make the room feel a little more like your space.
8. Make Your Hotel Room More Comfortable
Now that all the practical checks are done, you can finally start making the room feel comfortable.
Adjust the heating or air conditioning, close the curtains if you need some privacy and check whether the lighting suits you. If the pillows aren’t comfortable, don’t be afraid to ask reception if they have an alternative — many hotels have extras available.
This is also a good time to unpack the things you’ll actually use, put your suitcase somewhere it won’t become a trip hazard and make yourself a proper drink.
A few small touches can make an unfamiliar hotel room feel much more relaxing, particularly after a long journey.
If you’d like a few more ideas, have a look at our guide to How to Make a Hotel Room More Comfortable, where we share simple ways to make your stay cosier, safer and more convenient.
Smart Buy Guide tip: Don’t try to recreate your entire home. Concentrate on the little things that matter most to you — whether that’s a comfortable pillow, a decent-sized mug or being able to find the bathroom at night without switching on every light in the room.
Once you’re comfortable, there’s just one last job to do before you put your feet up — make tomorrow morning easier for yourself.
9. Get Tomorrow Morning Organised
Before you completely switch into holiday mode, spend a couple of minutes getting organised for the next morning.
Check what time breakfast is served, when you need to check out and whether you’ve arranged any transport, excursions or airport transfers. If you have an early start, set your alarm now rather than trusting your tired brain to remember later.
Put anything you’ll need first thing — glasses, medication, travel documents or your room key — somewhere easy to find. You could also lay out your clothes if you know you’ll be leaving in a hurry.
If you’re catching an early flight, a little preparation the night before can make the whole experience considerably less stressful. You might also like our guide to Why Morning Flights Can Be a Very Good Idea.
Smart Buy Guide tip: Before going to bed, check your alarm volume. Setting an alarm for 5.30am is considerably less useful if your phone is still on silent.
And that’s it. The important jobs are done, your room is comfortable and tomorrow is organised.
Now you may officially put your feet up, make that drink and raid the emergency chocolate.
A Few Minutes Now Can Make Your Stay Much Easier
Most of these things to do when you arrive at a hotel take only a few minutes, but they can make a real difference to the rest of your stay.
Check that the room is clean and secure, find your emergency exit, organise your valuables and chargers, and make sure everything you need is working before you unpack.
Then you can stop checking, organising and planning.
Put your feet up, make yourself comfortable and enjoy being away. And if you remembered to pack the emergency chocolate, this would be an excellent time to open it.
Just don’t tell anyone where you’ve hidden it.
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