CiCi has a routine every time she checks into a hotel room by herself.
And since she's a flight attendant, she's doing that routine regularly. Finger Print Lock
As a solo traveler, she first does a sweep of the room. Then, she takes two items out of her bag that she told Business Insider she never forgets to pack: a door lock and a door alarm.
CiCi — who goes by @cici.inthesky on TikTok and Instagram, where she has over 642,000 followers — said these two items help her feel safe during solo hotel nights. She asked BI to omit her full name and employer for privacy concerns. (BI has verified CiCi's employment at a major US airline.)
Across TikTok and in conversations with her flight-attendant coworkers, CiCi has heard about clever tactics people use to break into hotel rooms.
In October, she shared an Instagram video showing people using everything from paper to rubber bands to break into rooms. And while she said this has never happened to her in her over five-year career as a flight attendant, she wants to be prepared.
The lock works by inserting the metal plate into the door handle. Then you close the door and hang the colorful handle on top of the plate, which is connected with a chain. If an intruder tries to enter the room, the colorful piece of the lock drops down and prevents the door from opening.
CiCi said the door lock doesn't fit on every single hotel door she's stayed in, so, as a backup, she also packs a door alarm.
The alarm looks like a doorstopper. It's wedged underneath the door, and if someone opens the door, it sets off a loud sound.
"That sucker is as loud as a fire alarm," she said. "It will wake you up, and it will terrify anyone that's trying to get in."
The door alarm CiCi uses costs $10 on Amazon, while her recommended door lock is $7 on Amazon.
"If I can decrease the chance of something happening," she said, "I'm protecting myself."
If travelers don't have these items, CiCi recommends pushing an ironing board or chair against the door.
While this won't prevent someone from breaking in, it will "alert you that someone is entering the room," she said.
And most importantly, CiCi recommends always trusting your instinct.
"For me, it's about being situationally aware and following your gut," she said.
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