Airbnb and Hotel Safety Checklist for Every Stay

What to review before booking

A useful safety check begins before arrival. Review the area, transport options, recent guest feedback and whether the property offers a reliable support contact. Look for repeated, dated and specific observations rather than treating one review as definitive proof.

Check the listing for smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire equipment and accessibility information. For a short-term rental, save the address, host contact method and a realistic backup accommodation option before you travel.

Airbnb’s home policy prohibits cameras or recording devices that monitor indoor spaces, even when switched off or disconnected. Permitted exterior cameras must be disclosed with their location. That is a platform policy; hotel common areas and local law may follow different rules.

• Read safety-device and exterior-camera disclosures.
• Check smoke and carbon monoxide alarm information.
• Save the address, official contact route and a backup plan.

A calm check during the first 10 minutes

After entering, check that the main door, windows and any balcony door close and lock correctly. Make sure the curtains close fully, the room phone works and your room key can be kept separate from anything showing the room number.

Read the evacuation plan and identify the two nearest exits. Remembering the number of doors between your room and an exit can help with orientation in darkness or smoke. Visually locate smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, alarm points and fire extinguishers; report missing equipment instead of testing or dismantling it yourself.

• Door, window, balcony and bathroom locks
• Curtains, room phone and emergency contact details
• The two nearest exits and evacuation route
• Visible condition of smoke/CO alarms and fire equipment

Smart devices and privacy disclosures

Televisions, smart speakers, thermostats, doorbells, routers and sensors are common in modern accommodation. An unfamiliar device is not evidence of malicious intent or recording. First check whether it appears in the listing, room guide or the property’s device information.

If you notice unusual electronics, do not open, dismantle, block or damage the device, and do not confront anyone. If it is safe to do so, note only its visible location and features, then ask the host or front desk through an official channel.

• Consider a disclosed exterior camera together with its stated location and field of view.
• Ask whether smart speakers or displays can be disabled during the stay.
• Assess your safety before seeking an explanation for an undisclosed device.

A digital check on accommodation Wi-Fi

Confirm the network name and sign-in method with the host or front desk. If several similar names appear, ask instead of guessing. Keeping devices updated, enabling two-factor authentication and using HTTPS websites remain useful account-safety habits on any connection.

A local network scan can add context about devices currently reachable on the same network and some standard services they advertise. It cannot prove that an unseen device does not exist or that an unfamiliar device is a camera. A Böcekto result is an explainable signal to read alongside the physical room and listing information.

• Connect to and scan only a network you are authorized to use.
• Confirm the network name with the property.
• Treat an unknown device as context to review, not definitive proof.

What to do when something does not feel right

If you feel an immediate risk, leave the room or property safely first. Do not put yourself at risk to pack everything, inspect a device or confront someone. Contact the local emergency service where you are staying; in Türkiye, the emergency number is 112.

For a non-emergency issue, and only when safe, preserve observable facts such as the listing, official messages and the visible situation. Contact property management, the host and the booking platform through their official channels. Local law varies, so seek local law enforcement or legal support when appropriate.