Hidden cameras in hotel rooms are uncommon, but a quick check costs you five minutes and buys real peace of mind. Here's a simple routine you can do before you unpack, with or without a detector.
1. Look before you scan
Walk the room with the lights on and look at anything that faces the bed, the shower or the toilet. Pay attention to:
- Smoke detectors and sprinkler covers in odd places
- Alarm clocks, USB chargers and power strips
- TVs, speakers and set-top boxes
- Picture frames, plants, tissue boxes and decor with small holes
- Air vents and mirrors
Anything that seems out of place, is pointed at the bed, or has a tiny hole that doesn't need to be there is worth a closer look.
2. Cut down the noise
Your own devices transmit too. Switch your phone's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off, and note where the room's Wi-Fi router and TV are. Those will light up any signal detector, so you don't want to mistake them for something else.
3. Sweep slowly with a signal detector
Start on a high sensitivity and move a detector such as NotWatched a few inches from each object on your list. If the LED bar climbs and the beeps speed up, lower the sensitivity and keep moving toward the strongest point. That's where the signal is coming from.
Remember what a signal detector can't do: a camera that only records to a memory card doesn't transmit, so it stays silent. That's why step 4 matters.
4. Check for lenses
Turn off the lights and close the curtains. Look through a lens finder (or shine your phone's flashlight and look along the beam) while you slowly scan the room. A camera lens often shows up as a small, sharp glint that stays in place as you move your head.
5. If you find something
- Don't touch, open or remove it.
- Take photos and note where it is.
- Ask the front desk for a different room and report what you found. For rentals, report it to the host and the booking platform.
- If you feel unsafe, leave and call 911.
Most of the time you'll find nothing, and that's the point: you can stop wondering and enjoy your stay.