Hotel rooms should have internal lock?

[TheNavygravy]

My newly turned 18 year old has just went to Rome with her best friend for a holiday. When they arrived they were greeted by a male Asian receptionist who had very little English or Italian. They checked in and discovered their bathroom was dirty (used soap, towels etc). On highlighting this 5 male cleaners arrived to clean the room. Then they discovered the internal lock to the hotel door doesn’t work (just turns around without engaging the bolt). The receptionist/manager is insisting there is no problem as you can only enter with an electronic key. They don’t feel safe but finding somewhere else will be expensive. They are exhausted and planning to stay at least tonight but my spidey senses aren’t happy. They have seen no female staff and no other guests. Am I unreasonable for thinking all hotel rooms should have working internal locks/deadbolts/chain?

Should I interfere in their first solo trip and bite the bullet with paying over the odds for new last minute accommodation?

Yes i agree about the lock
but I'm not sure why you said he was Asian

Defintitely - pay for a hotel....this doesn't sound safe

Probably to old lock on the door they have disabled when replacing electronic locks

There's always one. OP explained how he didn't speak much Italian or English

To explain he has little English or Italian so communication is difficult. He just keeps saying “no problem” to all our concerns.

Thanks, that makes sense and makes me feel a little better.

How many stars and how much did the hotel cost?

not being able to lock their door would concern me, id pay for them to move somewhere else

for future trips they can buy alarmed door wedges which would stop someone being able to get into their room
and make a hell of racket when they tried

She and her friend need to travel with a rubber doorstop. Old backpacker here.

7.3 on Booking.com, no mention of security issues. Close to train station so central-ish. Paid about £80 per night so definitely economy but not the cheapest place.

They could go out and buy a cheap doorstop to block the door and put furniture behind the door if they are nervous. When I was younger I stayed at a hostel/hotel where the door looked like it could be kicked in super easily and remember I couldn’t sleep well.

Then just say that instead of superfluously including his ethnicity.

As a mum I’d pay the extra for my child’s safety. Doesn’t seem a risk worth taking.

This may be helpful for the future:

https://www.lifesystems.co.uk/products/travel-door-lock?_pos=1&_sid=89ce5a083&_ss=r

I stayed in some absolute shit holes as a teen/in my 20’s to save ££ when travelling including some very questionable hostels, but I can understand if they’re personally not feeling safe. Agree on the doorstop, failing that even shoving something against the door. They might feel a lot better tomorrow, bound to see more guests milling about the place. If the hotel has moved to an electronic key system the current internal door lock will be useless anyway.

Your first solo trip away is a huge step for their independence so kindly, try and let her use her own judgement here and step in only if really needed. The high likelihood is they’ll be absolutely fine!

Put a chair and their luggage in front of the door so they'll hear if anyone tries to get in. Buy some doorstops for future. Be glad your DD is travelling with a friend and try not to let her know you're anxious. Some countries standards will be lower (or higher) than you are used to.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mengshen-Wireless-Vibration-Triggered-Security/dp/B01MF5FLIY/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=2ZGLMU5R92Q5Z&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jgnUVeuKmlw-m-bXSWm0x4nbCoQ56Vo22eiJtyvNcgl2H1TC4em15aXEg23IOZ2vwa82gujWg-WSsPD0xzYJ1LLcpcxi1eDKIrDoAgAT5DxZvtwsv6EauwayR8wvStP0DPKMTba5Z32t3wGz6vwRQkOPeNcD1LXuHQ2p4BLkExQ7PlwScucqaRsj6aTGMLtJ780R_yJMyTvdAlLrNYOwzQ.FanA9E4ce-n7r3zlCNl7qJqU4tPUtlilMmEBZ-UJkQE&dib_tag=se&keywords=travel+doorstop&qid=1750089714&sprefix=travel+doors%2Caps%2C104&sr=8-3

This is what she needs. It's a must for a solo female traveller.

Does your daughter speak Italian?
Has she checked from the other side with one of them in the room?

No but her friend is Italian who tried to explain their concerns. Yes they tried this, the door only has the keycard lock so anyone with a key could gain entry.

There’s also the rolled up towel trick, OP.

Isn't that standard though?

Usually there would be a chain or something on the inside, or staff could come in at any time.

I guess that this was a cheap hotel.

I always travel with a plastic wedge so that I can wedge the door shut. Probably not the best in the event of a fire or medical emergency, but I'm happy to take the risk.

I travelled around Europe & Asia as a youngster, and once I came out of the shower to find some hotel worker in my locked room! I'm more concerned about someone letting themselves into my room that I thought it was locked & can easily kick the wedge away from the door in an emergency. Pass keys are always available to staff and not all hotels are careful about security.

I always roll a towel and wedge it at the bottom of the door. Extra security!

my spidey senses aren’t happy

don't add your anxiety to their holiday, they don't need it. They're together in the room aren't they.

Or book them a better hotel yourself?