A hotel key card is meant to be the simplest part of your stay. But what if we told you that the way you're handling it could put your safety at risk?
A small mistake can easily turn into a big problem if you're not careful, and the best part is that it's easy to avoid. Let’s discuss a common hotel key card blunder you may be making right now and how you can fix it before you end up locked out.
The Big Mistake of Storing Your Key Card with Your Phone
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Keeping your hotel key card in the same pocket as your phone is a recipe for disaster. Hotel key cards, which rely on magnetic strips or RFID chips to store your room details, are sensitive to magnetic fields. Your smartphone emits a small magnetic field, and if your key card is in the same pocket or close to your phone, it can demagnetize the card and render it useless.
But it’s not just your phone that can cause issues. Everyday items like credit cards, debit cards, or even your AirPod case can interfere with the data on your key card and lead to a corrupted card. This is an easy mistake that leaves you locked out of your room and facing unnecessary frustration.
What’s the Big Deal?
The real danger isn’t just being locked out. If your key is lost or stolen, and it’s still in its sleeve with your room number visible, it’s like handing someone the keys to your room and the address to use them.
Nicolas Bresch, managing director at Club Med, explains it well: “A card gets demagnetized when a magnetic field disrupts the alignment of the data on the strip, effectively erasing the stored information and leaving it unable to be used to enter your room.”
Security experts advise keeping your room number confidential. Most reputable hotels train their staff to write room numbers discreetly and avoid saying them out loud. A casual mention of your room number at the bar or in the lobby could be overheard by someone with bad intentions. Before you know it, they’re in your room helping themselves to your things.
How to Avoid This Mistake
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The good news is that this problem is easily avoidable. Always keep your hotel key card separate from anything that could interfere with its magnetic strip. This means keeping your phone, credit cards, and other items in a different pocket or bag. Investing in a wallet with RFID protection is also a smart move, especially if you’re concerned about key cards being cloned.
Another option to eliminate the risk altogether is opting for a mobile key if your hotel offers it. Many hotels now allow guests to use their smartphones or smartwatches as room keys through their apps. This is not only convenient but also eliminates the risk of demagnetization and is much easier to manage.
If you end up with a traditional key card, don’t keep it in its sleeve with your room number visible. And avoid taking a photo of the card’s details on your phone. Someone could easily access your room information if your phone is lost or hacked. Instead, memorize the room number or write it down somewhere secure.
Extra Tips for Staying Safe at Hotels
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While avoiding the key card mistake is a big step, there are other ways to stay safe during your hotel stay. Always lock all the door locks when you enter your room, including the secondary latch. Use the peephole to check who’s at the door before you open it. And when you leave the room, hang the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door to give the impression that someone is in the room.