Travellers urged to 'throw bottle under the bed' before entering hotel room

Entering a hotel room after a long should be the moment your holiday truly begins. But before you or flop onto the bed, one flight attendant recommends putting into practice a surprisingly simple safety ritual she never skips.

Flight attendant Esther Sturrus, who has clocked countless hours in rooms around the world, shared her go-to safety trick with followers on . Her advice is to always carry a bottle of water - not just for hydration, but as an unlikely safety tool. "Check that no one is hiding under the bed, without having to look," she said.

The method is as low-tech as it gets: "Throw a bottle under the bed" and watch what happens.

"It should come out on the other side," Esther explained. If it doesn't, that could be a red flag.

Her followers have praised the idea for its simplicity and practicality, particularly for solo travellers or those arriving at night.

And it doesn't have to be a water bottle. Anything with a bit of weight will do the job: a can of Coke, a toiletry bottle, or anything easy to slide across the floor.

It might seem like something out of a thriller film, but security professionals back up Esther's cautious approach.

Experts at Popalock, a firm specialising in lock and key services, recommend a full sweep of the room before you settle in.

"Once you are safely in your hotel room, it is time to do a security sweep of the space. There are a few things you should check, and a few extra precautions you might want to take," they advised.

Searching for hiding spots came at the top of the checklist, with "showers, closets, and behind curtains" all named as places worth checking - and the door should remain open while you do it.

Once you're confident no one else is sharing the space, it's time to lock up, after testing all the locks on the door, the windows, even drawers and wardrobes.

"Check any door that connects to another room and make sure that it is locked," the experts added.