If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable while in a hotel elevator, this retired federal agent has helpful advice—especially if you’re a woman traveling alone: Trust your gut.
As any solo female traveler will tell you, looking over your shoulder and being hyper aware of your surroundings becomes second nature. So whenever there is even a slight change in the “vibe” of your immediate environment, like an elevator, it’s best to follow your instincts.
And TikToker Scott Bryson (@scottbrysonbts) shares the perfect example of how to do so.
What happens if you get a ‘bad vibe’
A retired Secret Service agent, Bryson often shares tips on hotel safety and situational awareness to his 397,000 followers. In his latest clip, he films himself in front of a hotel elevator.
“You know what room you’re in, you know what floor you’re on, and you think everybody around you knows that you’re on the fifth floor. No, they don’t,” Bryson shares.
To keep any strangers from knowing your room number, Bryson recommends pushing different floor buttons.
“If you get a bad vibe, push 3, push 8,” he continues. “You don’t have to go to your floor. You don’t owe anyone an explanation.”
The former agent suggests pretending you forgot something on a different floor or that you need to go to the bathroom. He also says you can pretend to get a phone call, and if you get a “bad vibe,” just get off at a different floor.
He closes out the video by saying, “Trust your gut.”
Other ways to ‘trick’ strangers at hotels
Several viewers dropped comments sharing their own hotel safety tips. It appears a common gripe among hotel guests is having their room number announced. Several shared how they combat this safety concern.
“40 year veteran hotel manager here,” one user commented. “If the clerk says your room number out loud ask for a different room.”
Another shared a trick she does whenever she’s traveling by herself. “If I’m staying alone, I put a mans name down when they ask,” she commented. “When I arrive, I ask for a second key and say he’s coming later.”
One user recommended a discreet way hotel workers can tell you your room number.
“When the front desk ask you for your name, just hand them your driver license, and tell them to write down your room number,” they advised.
Safety challenges in hotels
Many TikTok content creators earn millions of views sharing safety “tips and tricks” at hotels. So much so that some wonder if these influencers are going too far. For instance, a 2024 TikTok of a woman going to elaborate lengths to ensure her hotel room is safe garnered concerns around fear-mongering.
“if I got to do all that I’m not going,” a top comment read.
Another wrote, “That’s called paranoia.”
Several users pointed out how these safety measures can backfire: “How can medics come inside if you had a stroke or fainted?”
Still, while it may seem a tad too much to some, the reality is that hotels still face challenges when it comes to protecting women. In August 2024, an Air India flight crew member was attacked in her room by an intruder, per the Telegraph. In another incident, some college students were drugged at a resort in Cancun in 2024. One woman even found a chilling message written on the bathroom mirror in her room, suggesting she was being watched.
What do safety experts recommend?
While some hotels do implement safety measures for their guests, not every establishment is created equal. Some safety tips experts recommend are:
- Requesting two room keys
- Conduct a room sweep so you can check for hidden cameras
- Maintain privacy by keeping your room number confidential
- Avoid giving personal info over the phone
While you may not have to go to extremes like putting tissue paper behind your locks or an ironing board against your door, these safety tips can mitigate any risks you face when staying alone.
Bryson checks in with TMS
In an email to The Mary Sue, Bryson said he worked as a Secret Service agent for 25 years and that there is no such thing as “too safe.”
@scottbrysonbts If You’re Uncertain About A Situation Trust Your Instincts… #hotelsafetytips #safetytips #awareness #observant #safety #instincts ♬ original sound – Scott Bryson
“Anyone who criticizes people for [taking safety measures] as that is either ignorant or nefarious,” he said. “Safety is just as important for men. However, it truly is something to be considered for women as well.”
He continued, “That’s not sexist or anything remotely similar. Men are bigger and stronger most of the time.”
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