Most people walk into a hotel room, drop their bags, and jump straight onto the bed without giving it a second thought. But for those who spend a significant portion of their lives living out of hotel rooms, the routine looks quite different. Esther Sturrus, a flight attendant with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, has made it her mission to share the kind of insider knowledge that only comes from years of constant travel. Her tips have resonated with millions of people around the world, and for good reason.
Sturrus first went viral on TikTok with a video that has since racked up an astonishing 39 million views, in which she walks viewers through the very first things she does upon arriving in a new hotel room. The checklist she goes through is surprisingly thorough and speaks to a level of situational awareness that most casual travelers simply don’t think about. She starts by changing out of her travel clothes and taking a shower, which helps her reset after a long flight and keeps any outside contaminants from spreading around the room. She also carefully inspects the mattress for bed bugs, a step that is easy to skip but can save you from a genuinely miserable experience.
One of the most talked-about tips from her follow-up video is the water bottle trick, and once you hear the reasoning behind it, you will likely never skip it again. The idea is straightforward: when you first enter your hotel room, slide or toss a water bottle under the bed before you settle in. If it rolls all the way to the other side without hitting anything, you can rest easy knowing that no one and nothing unexpected is lurking beneath you. It is a quick, low-effort way to perform a safety check without having to get down on your hands and knees.
Sturrus also shared a couple of clever improvisational hacks that make extended hotel stays a little more comfortable without needing to pack extra gear. She demonstrated how a simple coffee mug can double as a makeshift speaker by placing your phone inside it to amplify the sound of music or a podcast. She also showed how a paper cup can be repurposed as a holder for your toothbrush, keeping it off the potentially unsanitary bathroom counter. These kinds of small, resourceful adjustments are hallmarks of someone who has spent years figuring out how to make any space feel a little more like home.
What makes Sturrus’s advice particularly compelling is that it comes from lived experience rather than theory. As cabin crew for KLM, she travels to destinations all over the world on a regular basis, meaning she has stayed in more hotel rooms than the average person could imagine. Her content has struck a chord because it treats hotel safety not as paranoia but as a practical habit, the same way you might buckle a seatbelt without thinking twice. Small precautions, done consistently, can make a real difference.
@esthersturrus What is the first thing you do? 😇 #myklmmoment #klm #klmcrew #crewklm #klmairlines #klmroyaldutchairlines #flightattendant #stewardess #cabincrew #cabincrewlife #cabincrewgirls flightattendantlife #aviationlife #aviation #uniform #royalbue ♬ girls like me don't cry (Sped Up) – thuy
It is also worth remembering that while the vast majority of hotels are perfectly safe, being a savvy traveler means being prepared regardless of the star rating on the door. Bed bugs, for instance, are found in luxury properties just as often as in budget ones, and a quick mattress inspection takes only a few seconds. Similarly, taking a moment to scan the room before fully unpacking is simply a smart habit that costs nothing but a little time. Esther Sturrus has essentially packaged years of hard-won road wisdom into short, digestible videos that anyone can apply on their very next trip.
For some general context, bed bugs are small parasitic insects that feed on human blood and are notoriously difficult to eradicate once they infest a space. They are not considered dangerous in terms of transmitting disease, but their bites can cause significant itching and discomfort, and bringing them home in your luggage is a nightmare scenario. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends inspecting the mattress seams, headboard, and box spring whenever you check into a new room. Hotels are required by law in most U.S. states to disclose known infestations, but proactive checking is always a better strategy than relying solely on disclosure.
@esthersturrus After much asking Part 2! 💙 #hotelhacks #hotel #hacks #blowthisup #myklmmoment #klm #klmcrew #crewklm #klmairlines #klmroyaldutchairlines #flightattendant #stewardess #workingmode #cabincrew #cabincrewlife #cabincrewgirls #flightattendantlife #aviationlife #aviation #uniform #royalbue #tiktok #viralvideo #viral ♬ Players – DJ Smallz 732 – Jersey Club Remix – Coi Leray
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, the carrier Esther Sturrus works for, is one of the oldest airlines in the world, having been founded in 1919 and currently operating as part of the Air France-KLM group. Flight attendants with major international carriers like KLM typically undergo extensive training that goes well beyond hospitality, including safety procedures, first aid, and emergency response. The nature of the job means they are constantly navigating unfamiliar environments, which likely explains why so many experienced cabin crew members develop a sharp eye for potential hazards that most passengers would never notice.
If you have your own hotel safety hacks or travel tips you swear by, share them in the comments.
