The Do Not Disturb sign on a door handle is something guests are able to use when they are staying in a hotel for a bit of privacy.
It signals to cleaners and housekeeping that they are not to enter the room.
Those who use it a lot during a long stay at a hotel could actually be drawing more attention to themselves without realising.
It is mainly due to security reasons.
Most hotels have a ’72-hour’ rule, which means guests can leave the sign on before hotel staff are allowed to enter the room with security.
A report by KXAN states: “Currently, nearly all major hotels have a 72-hour do not disturb policy to ensure that no more than three days pass that activity within a hotel room is not visible by hotel staff.”
This is to prevent anything unlawful or dangerous happening in the room, and could make guests look suspicious to hotel staff if they never remove it from their door.
However, this is currently being discussed as to whether it should be shortened, after Stephen Paddock, the Las Vegas shooter, used the 72 hours to remain undisturbed and to keep hotel staff out from the room he used during the attack.
According to KXAN, Texas Hotel & Lodging Association has contacted hotels stating: “Hotels should consider how best to address DND [Do Not Disturb] policies during major city wide events in which there will be large crowds.”
There is something guests can do to avoid any suspicion when using the sign.
Instead of leaving it on for the entire duration of the holiday, removing it every now and then can make sure it looks normal.
Therefore those who just want some privacy when they are in the room can rest assured they won’t be disturbed.
Things to avoid doing at a hotel can often vary, but there is one item that all travellers should take with them.
A door stop costing just £1 could keep guests safe without them realising.
Holidaymakers should always pack one in their suitcase and put it under their hotel door when they are away from home.
This can then stop people from entering the room in the case of a burglary or something worse.
Quora user David Klain stated” ”You can put that door stop under the door preventing someone from breaking in.
“If they can’t get the door open, move on to other rooms before working their way back to the doors that wouldn’t open.
“This buys you time for you to get away or police to respond.”
