Hidden camera safety checks for hotel rooms

Travel creator Megan Gougeon, a former hotel employee, outlined seven practical steps to inspect hotel rooms and short‑term rentals for concealed cameras. She advises a quick visual sweep, especially around items with power sources such as chargers, alarm clocks, smoke detectors, and picture frames, using a flashlight to spot unusual reflections. Gougeon cautions that no phone app or simple trick can guarantee a camera‑free space and recommends reporting any suspicious devices to the platform.

Major booking services, including Airbnb and Vrbo, prohibit indoor surveillance devices in guest spaces, but incidents continue to be reported. Advice echoed in Bulgarian language sources emphasizes the same basic tools—a phone, a flashlight, and careful attention—to detect hidden lenses disguised as everyday objects. Both sources stress that while hidden cameras are a legitimate concern, guests should balance vigilance with realistic expectations of detection methods.