You walk into your hotel room after a ten-hour flight. You’re exhausted. The first thing you want to do is kick off your shoes, flop onto the bed, and maybe walk around in your underwear while you look for the minibar. But then that tiny, nagging thought hits you. You see a small black circle on the smoke detector. Or a weirdly placed alarm clock. Do hotel rooms have cameras? It’s a question that sounds like a conspiracy theory until you see the headlines.
Let's get the big answer out of the way immediately. No, legitimate hotels do not put cameras in your room. It’s illegal. It’s a massive liability. If a major chain like Marriott or Hilton were caught spying on guests, the lawsuits would be astronomical, and their brand would be toasted. Honestly, they have way more to lose than they could ever gain by watching you sleep.
But—and this is a big "but"—that doesn't mean it never happens. We’ve all seen the news stories about "rogue" employees or creepy Airbnb hosts. In 2024 and 2025, the conversation around digital privacy reached a fever pitch as lenses got smaller and cheaper. While you shouldn't be paranoid, being a little bit skeptical is just smart travel.
The legal reality of do hotel rooms have cameras
Privacy laws in the United States and most of Europe are incredibly strict about "reasonable expectations of privacy." A hotel room is the definition of that. While a hotel can (and will) have cameras in the lobby, the hallways, the elevators, and the parking lot, the moment you cross that threshold into your room, you are in a legally protected zone.
If a camera is found in a bedroom or a bathroom, it’s a criminal offense. We aren't just talking about a refund here; we are talking about "go to jail" territory. According to security experts like Kenneth Bombace, CEO of Global Threat Solutions, the risk usually doesn't come from the hotel corporation itself. It comes from a third party—a previous guest with a voyeurism fetish or a maintenance worker acting alone.
Where they usually hide (if they exist)
If someone is going to hide a camera, they need two things: a power source and a clear view. They aren't going to stick a camera in the middle of a blank wall. That would be stupid. Instead, they hide them in plain sight.
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Think about common electronic items. An alarm clock is the classic "trojan horse" for a hidden lens. It’s already plugged into the wall, so the camera never runs out of battery. It’s usually pointed directly at the bed. Other culprits include:
- Smoke detectors: This is the big one. Most people don't look closely at the ceiling.
- USB wall chargers: You can buy these on Amazon for twenty bucks. They look like a standard power brick, but there’s a pinhole lens between the "fast charge" text.
- Electronic "junk": Digital TV boxes, mesh Wi-Fi routers, or even smart speakers.
- Air purifiers: These became common in rooms post-pandemic and provide plenty of vents to hide a lens.
Why the "Red Light" myth is mostly wrong
You’ve probably heard the advice to turn off the lights and look for a red glow. While that works for some older or cheaper models that use Infrared (IR) for night vision, modern "spy" cameras are getting much better at staying invisible. Some don't use IR at all if the room is naturally lit. Others have filters that hide the glow.
Don't rely on just your eyes.
I once spoke with a digital forensics specialist who pointed out that the most effective way to find a camera isn't looking for a light, but looking for a "glint." All camera lenses, no matter how tiny, are made of glass. Glass reflects light differently than plastic. If you shine a bright flashlight (the one on your phone is perfect) at a suspected object, you might see a tiny, sharp reflection that looks out of place.
The tech-savvy way to check
Check the Wi-Fi. Seriously. Almost any hidden camera these days needs a way to send the footage to the person watching. Unless they’re coming back later to swap an SD card, that camera is likely connected to the hotel’s guest Wi-Fi.
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You can download apps like Fing or WiFiman. When you connect to the hotel network, run a scan. If you see a device listed as "IP Camera," "Cam," or a brand name like "Hikvision" or "Arlo" that isn't the hotel's equipment, you've got a problem. However, smart creeps are getting better at this too. They might use a hidden SSID or a separate cellular hotspot, so a clean Wi-Fi scan isn't a 100% guarantee of privacy. It’s just one layer of the onion.
What to do if you actually find something
First: Don't touch it. If you find a suspicious device, your instinct might be to rip it out of the wall. Stop. This is a crime scene. If you touch it, you’re smudging fingerprints.
Take a photo of it. Take a video of it. Then, cover it with a piece of luggage or a towel. Do not call the front desk first. Call the police. If you call the front desk, the hotel might try to "manage" the situation to avoid bad PR. You want an official police report. This is your only real protection and the only way to ensure the person responsible is actually caught.
Once the police are on their way, then you call the hotel management. At that point, you aren't asking for a different room; you're likely looking for a different hotel.
The Airbnb vs. Hotel debate
It’s worth mentioning that the risk profile changes depending on where you stay. Major hotel chains have strict protocols and regular sweeps. They have a brand to protect.
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Airbnb, however, recently changed its global policy. As of early 2024, Airbnb officially banned all indoor security cameras, regardless of their location, purpose, or whether they were disclosed in the listing. Previously, they allowed cameras in "common areas" like living rooms. Not anymore. If you find any camera inside an Airbnb today, they are in violation of platform policy and the law in most jurisdictions.
Practical steps for your next check-in
Don't let this ruin your vacation. The odds are massively in your favor that you are alone. But for peace of mind, make this a 30-second routine when you enter a new room:
- The "Sweep": Walk around and look for things that look "off." Why is there an alarm clock on the nightstand and another one on the desk? Why is the smoke detector located directly above the bed instead of in the center of the room?
- The Flashlight Test: Turn off the lights, close the curtains, and use your phone's flashlight to scan the room. Look for that tiny pinprick of light reflecting off a glass lens. Pay special attention to mirrors.
- The Mirror Trick: The old "fingernail test" for two-way mirrors is mostly a myth, but it doesn't hurt. If you put your fingernail against the glass and there is a gap between your nail and the reflection, it’s a normal mirror. If the reflection touches your nail directly, it might be a two-way mirror. But honestly? Just look at how the mirror is mounted. If it's hanging on the wall like a picture, it’s fine. If it’s built into the wall, maybe take a closer look.
- Cover it up: If a device makes you nervous—like a smart TV with a built-in camera or a bedside clock—just throw a shirt over it. Problem solved.
Trusting your gut
At the end of the day, do hotel rooms have cameras in them as a standard practice? No. It’s expensive, it’s illegal, and it’s bad business. But humans are weird, and tech is cheap.
If you feel like something is wrong, trust that instinct. It’s better to feel a little silly covering an alarm clock with a sock than to spend your trip wondering if someone is watching you. Most travelers will go their entire lives without ever seeing a hidden camera. But being the person who knows how to spot one makes you a smarter, safer traveler.
Next time you check in, do a quick lap of the room, check the Wi-Fi devices, and then relax. Once you've done your "30-second security sweep," you can actually enjoy the stay. Take the extra minute to inspect the bathroom vents and the area around the bed. If everything looks standard, put your phone away and enjoy the amenities. Your privacy is largely in your own hands, and a little bit of situational awareness goes a long way in the modern world.