How Rick Steves Avoids This Unnerving Hotel Scam

Travel expert Rick Steves is always looking for ways to save fellow globetrotters money when they embark on a vacation, adventure, or business trip. Steves also wants to make sure you avoid losing money while traveling, such as with ATM scams in Europe. Now, Steves wants to ensure that no one gets caught up in a hotel scam that is tricking guests with a fake hotel room inspector.

On his website, Rick Steves Europe, he summarized that this scam typically involves two "inspectors" who pose as hotel employees knocking on your room door and asking for entry. "One waits outside while the other comes in to take a look around," Steve described. "While you're distracted, the first thief slips in and takes valuables left on a dresser."

So, what should you do if this happens to you on your trip? Steves' advice could not be clearer: "Don't let people into your room if you weren't expecting them. Call the hotel desk if 'inspectors" suddenly turn up."

Scammers are getting clever with ways to take your money. When it comes to travel, it can start with a booking site that is fishing for your information and money and continue with travel insurance that ends up being worthless. The 2023 McAfee Safer Summer Holidays report showed that about 35% or one-in-three Americans were duped when booking travel arrangements, with 60% losing at least $1,000 and 40% reporting that amount or more lost to scammers before their trip even began.

TravelRight recommended that in order to avoid scams before and during a trip, do your homework about where you are going, as well as potential cons that could happen once you reach your destination. Other tips include only taking legitimate transportation methods and reserving accommodations that have verified reviews, as well as a customer service line that can help in the event of an emergency. Lastly, while traveling, protect your personal information, be cautious with where you place your money and valuables, and trust your instincts — if something feels too good to be true or off, it probably is some type of scam and should be avoided at all costs.

Lots of hotels offer great rewards and benefit programs, but not all of them are known for having the best security and reputation for safety. When it comes to your lodging and accommodations while on vacation, you'll want to be sure that you are booking a hotel where you don't have to worry about avoiding fake room inspectors or being victimized by criminals in another way.

Booking.com offered a few key insights to keep in mind as you start to reserve the place that will be your home away from home while traveling. First, check the property policies and know that any legitimate transaction, including deposits or changes to your reservation, will require you to give your payment information via phone, text, or email. Next, make sure you do a thorough combing through the reviews of the hotel, reading both good and bad ones to paint a full picture. At that point, look around at other hotels just to make sure you can't find a better deal on a safer lodging option to avoid any scams potentially occurring.