Travel Like a CIA Operative: Low-Tech Hotel Room Security Anyone Can Do

One suitcase, one toothpick, zero surprises: simple way to spot a hotel snooper

     When most people check into a hotel during a business trip or family vacation, they drop their bags, sigh like they just ran a marathon, and collapse on the bed as if someone unplugged them. But if you want to move through a hotel with the cool confidence of an intelligence officer, you need a different approach. Think less “tired traveler hunting pillows” and more “undercover operator determined not to be defeated by minibar yogurt.”

     The trick is simple. No gadgets, no secret lenses hidden in mints. Just your eyes, your memory, and a few subtle habits. Fans of the Corey Pearson CIA Spymaster Series already know how Corey and his elite teammates treat hotel rooms. They assume someone might take a peek, and they set things up so they will know the moment it happens.

     Here is how to borrow that mindset without an agency ID badge.

     When you enter your room, resist the urge to faceplant. Pause and scan. This is not paranoia. It is basic field awareness. Corey Pearson would never walk in blind. Check the closet, glance behind the curtains, and make sure no one is lurking behind the ironing board with opinions about your car warranty. Lock the door, latch the swing bar, wedge in a rubber doorstop if you have one. Simple, not dramatic.

     Then set up a low-tech alarm system. Start with your luggage. Place the zipper pulls in one exact spot, something memorable to you, like “four inches from the wheel.” If someone opens the suitcase, they will never match your precision. You, however, will catch it instantly.

     Add a little creative clutter. Put a bag on top of the suitcase so a patch points at the alarm clock. Angle a box so its corner lines up with a tile seam. It should look casual, not staged. Corey Pearson and his CIA team work in subtleties, not obstacle courses.

     Next, bait the curious. Drop a few “decoy” bills on the table, messy and natural. Note one tiny detail, like the top bill pointing toward the lamp. If you want to get fancy, balance a toothpick across the pile. Lift the money and the toothpick shifts. Almost no one will replace it perfectly. That tiny change is your signal.

     Remember, you are not trying to trap anyone. You just want to know if someone went through your things. That is why you never leave real valuables behind. Take your passport, laptop, and actual cash with you. Anything you leave out should be money you would not mind losing.

     Most travelers will never see anything disturbed except their toiletries, which housekeeping arranges with the precision of a competitive stacker. Still, these habits sharpen your awareness and add a little covert swagger to your trip. Adjusting a suitcase zipper becomes oddly satisfying when you imagine you are doing a quick security check.

     The basics still matter. Use your own hotspot instead of hotel Wi-Fi. If you have to use the hotel network, at least protect yourself with a VPN. And never log into your personal apps on the smart TV unless you enjoy leaving behind digital breadcrumbs. Keep electronics out of sight and valuables secured.   Former CIA officers like Jonna Mendez have publicly said they avoided hotel Wi-Fi overseas because it was often monitored, which tells you everything you need to know about how careful the pros are. And always trust your instincts. If something feels off, switch rooms or even switch hotels. You are not overreacting. You are paying attention.

     You do not need a handler or a secret code name to travel like a spy. You just need to be deliberate about how you treat your space. A little awareness goes a long way, whether you are in a boutique hotel in Paris or a roadside inn where the vending machine has displayed “Out of Order” since the Bush administration.

     Travel like Corey Pearson would. Notice the details. Trust your gut. Set quiet little clues only you understand. And enjoy the small, satisfying thrill of knowing that if someone tampers with your things, you will spot it instantly. That confidence is the real tradecraft. The rest is just zippers and toothpicks.

 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and writes about the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC). He also writes the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster Series, which blends his knowledge of real-life intelligence operations with gripping fictional storytelling. His thrillers reveal the shadowy world of covert missions and betrayal with striking realism.