In recent years, solo travel has become increasingly popular. Traveling alone allows individuals to step outside their comfort zones, offering a sense of empowerment and independence. However, it also presents challenges, with safety being a primary concern. Brooklyn-based content creator Patrice J. Williams (@patricejwill) recently went viral on TikTok for sharing a simple, potentially life-saving hotel safety tip for solo travelers, especially women.
Patrice, a travel writer and on-air lifestyle expert, posted a 2-minute clip captioned, “Solo travel tip: if someone at the front desk does this, request a room change. Immediately. This might seem like no big deal, but it matters, especially for solo female travelers.” The video emphasized an important safety tip for hotel guests. She began by clarifying that she wasn’t trying to induce fear but felt it was essential to address.
“When you’re checking into your hotel, you’re at the front desk, and if the front desk clerk says, ‘Hey, here’s your key, here’s your room, you’re in Room 1125,’ change your room.”
As the video progressed, Patrice justified the tip, saying, “The reason behind that is that the front desk attendant should never say your room number out loud. Never. Never. Never.” She further explained that front desk employees should simply hand over your key with the room information, without sharing the number out loud. She added, “Anyone in earshot will know exactly where you’ll be resting your head, whether that’s for a single night or several days. This can especially be problematic for solo travelers.”
Patrice then recommended that one can politely request a room change. The hotel staff would do it without any issues. She said, “You don’t have to make a big deal out of it. You can ask them, ‘Hey, can I change my room? I would just prefer that my room number isn’t announced out loud.’ That is it.” She added that anyone who worked in hospitality would understand that they made a major mistake and would change the room without a problem.
The clip has been widely appreciated by users and has garnered over 5 million views. One user, Darlene Octavia (@darlene_octavia), took to TikTok to appreciate how Patrice’s video helped her avoid an awkward situation while traveling alone. She narrated, “I was staying in a random little inn in the middle of nowhere.” The woman mentioned that she met an old man in the lobby of her hotel and had a conversation while checking in. She revealed how the receptionist awkwardly announced her room number in front of the old man. Octavia later told in the clip that she had discreetly managed to get her room changed.
You can follow Patrice (@patricejwill) on TikTok for more tips and tricks on travel and fashion.
