Some people have excellent memories and can easily recall important information — such as hotel room numbers where they are staying.
And then there are people like me who take pictures of almost everything — especially because they learned something in a somewhat embarrassing situation. So, here’s why I always take pictures of my hotel room numbers.
How I Learned My Lesson
Approximately 11 years ago — several years before we were parents — my wife and I were on vacation in Las Vegas.
My wife was tired after our day at the pool, followed by a big dinner we enjoyed at the legendary Hugo’s Cellar in downtown Vegas. I was thirsty for a cocktail and some blackjack. So, while she hit the sack, I hit the casino!
A couple of hours — and a few beverages later — I took the elevator back to our floor.
At least, I thought it was our floor.
We ARE staying in room 15822 — right? I thought while I was meandering the hallway, unable to find 15822. Or is it 15228?
I called my wife. In her sleepy haze, she said we were in 12258.
Uh, whoops
Since then, I use my cell phone to photograph the room number scribbled down on my key packet before leaving the front desk. But besides your occasional tipsy night, there are a few more reasons to take pictures of your hotel room number.
1. Memory
Some of us bounce from city to city, hotel room to hotel room. (Road warriors, I see you nodding at your screen!)
For example, I used to work concerts for a client. We’d hit four cities in six days. The days, nights, and travel were fun — but also busy and exhausting. Flight numbers, hotel room numbers, call times, set times, and addresses became a jumble of, well, numbers.
Taking a picture of my hotel room number helped. It’s one less thing to remember.
I work several times a year in Las Vegas. My client usually puts me at one of the mega-resorts — you know, the ones with five-digit hotel room numbers and different towers. (MGM Grand Hotel & Casino has almost 6,900 rooms.) It’s easy to get lost.
“Well, idiot,” you might say, “why not just carry the key packet with you?”
I am glad you asked!
2. Security
Carrying your keycard in the packet invites trouble to your hotel room door. Almost literally.
Say you’re digging around in your pockets or purse, and the full key packet tumbles out without your recognizing it. If that room number information and key fall into the wrong hands, an uninvited visitor may help him- or herself to your hotel room and everything in it.
While this is a somewhat unlikely scenario, it certainly is possible. But why risk it?
“What an idiot!” you may say now. “Why doesn’t he just separate the key from the packet? Carry them in separate pockets or something?”
Well, this is the method I usually used before the whole Forgetting-My-Room-Number-After-Drinks-and-Blackjack incident.
But if you’re like me, you have a habit of misplacing things. That little envelope can easily get lost. (And I lost a few.) Or you may forget it all together back in your room — you know, inside the hotel room whose number you don’t remember.
Check-in kiosks print out little scraps of paper with your room number. (Like the below from my stay at Park MGM née Monte Carlo in Las Vegas a few years ago.)
These look a lot like receipts. Hence, they’re easy to lose in your clutter and accidentally throw away.
3. Makes Room Charges Easier
This is sort of related to the security issue above.
When taking advantage of a hotel’s restaurant and bar (which clearly I have done), I charge everything to my room so I can earn more points. But in crowded settings, I’m not a huge fan of announcing “ROOM 938, LAST NAME IS CARLEY!”
Many staff are good about checking photo ID to confirm this information. But I don’t need everyone around me hearing my room information and name. Next thing I know, I’ll be responsible for several bar tabs and gosh-knows-what-else from others charging their expenses to my room.
Instead, I show my ID and picture of my room number to the staff member. Never has one of them said, “Can you just say it instead?”
Is This a Key to Easier, Safer Travels?
Do you practice any of these tips? Or do I simply have a horrible memory and lose everything? 😉 Tell me in the Comment section below! — Chris
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Absolutely a great idea – I’m great at remembering numbers and my path to a room, even at a bigger hotel.
However, I learned the hard way after a grueling day of travel that included a 4:00 a.m. wake up. It was as if I was on a game show trying multiple doors to see which one would open – at that point I always take a picture of the key card jacket at check-in. Besides, you don’t want to be guessing on room number and have someone think you are trying to get into his or her room. For the confrontation, I guess or security.
I took a bump on an oversold Northwest connecting flight in Asia, years ago. They put me in a nice airside hotel. The only problem was that my name and the room number were actually printed on the card key. I wonder if the genius who came up with that still worls there?
The only suggestion that I follow is displaying name and room number instead of saying it out loud for restaurant charges after being charged for other people’s meals. That experience also made me look over my statement at checkout.
We were in a large resort in Phoenix,Az and I got up early (5am) to run before a meeting. I knew the room number but did not realize there were 2 towers both with my room number! Of course I went to the wrong tower and key would not work.. Got to the desk with no ID on me so they had to call out room and wake up the husband and kids to come identify me… embarrassing…..