It’s a familiar ritual: when checking in at a hotel, the guest receives their key card neatly tucked inside a paper packet, the perfect case to keep it in when traveling. The packet can even tell you exactly which room to return to if you forget. This provides the ultimate combination of conveniences.
That convenience, however, can also create a security problem if you lose them both—and it’s serious enough that the government is sounding the alarm.
In a Sept. 1 report, Travel + Leisure highlighted advice from the U.S. State Department recommending that travelers separate their room key from any packet showing their room number.
A State Department spokesperson explained this reasoning in an email to Travel + Leisure: “If those items are lost together, another person could identify the hotel and room associated with the key.”
Keep the Key and Room Number Separate
File Photo. Image Credit: Point3D Commercial Imaging Ltd.
Hotel-industry experts have also told The Washington Post that hotel key cards generally do not contain sensitive personal information such as your name or credit card number.
Travel + Leisure writer Lydia Mansel said she removes the card from its packet after reaching her room. If she needs to remember the room number, she keeps that information somewhere else instead.
Travelers can do the same by saving the number in a note on a password-protected phone or writing it down separately. The goal is simply to avoid keeping everything needed to identify and enter the room in one place.
If You Do Lose a Key, This Should Be Your First Step
Separating the two items doesn’t mean you shouldn’t worry about losing a hotel key. The State Department spokesperson told Travel + Leisure that anyone who loses a key should tell the hotel immediately and ask them to deactivate and replace the missing card.
The State Department’s broader hotel checklist also recommends making sure the room’s doors and windows lock properly. It is also recommended to check that curtains fully close, and the guest takes time to identify the nearest emergency exit shortly after arriving.
The State Department further advises guests to ensure the phone in their hotel room is properly connected and functioning.
By following these simple but impactful safety measures, travelers can ensure their latest getaway is spent forging nothing but fun memories.