Haley Michelle Williams, a flight attendant, shared a safety tip that she regularly uses when staying in hotels. Her video has gained more than 13 million views and over 8,000 comments.

She said that on that particular day, she needed to stay a few nights in the city, so she booked a room at a budget hotel. Normally, she would place her suitcase by the door while checking the room, but that day, she locked the door immediately after entering.

After locking the door, she checked under the bed, then inspected the mirror to see if it was a two-way mirror.

Next, she looked around the room and placed the TV remote control on the door handle. She explained that placing the remote on the handle would ensure that if “someone tried to turn the handle” in the middle of the night, it would fall and wake her up.

She also shared other safety tips, including blocking the peephole with a towel or closing the curtains. Among them, she emphasized checking the mirror to identify two-way mirrors.

Two-way mirrors are used in various settings. However, they can pose serious risks when used to secretly observe others.

Criminals may install these mirrors in motels or hotels. Therefore, when you travel, you need to understand what a two-way mirror is and how to identify it to protect yourself.

How to identify a two-way mirror

Many people believe that touching the tip of your finger to the mirror is enough to determine whether it is two-way or not. If there is a gap between your real fingertip and the reflection, the mirror is genuine.

If the two fingertips meet with no gap, it may be a two-way mirror. But in reality, this method is not reliable enough.

First, you need to determine the position of the mirror relative to the wall surface. Normally, a two-way mirror is not hung on a wall but is flush with the wall or built into it. If the mirror protrudes clearly from the wall like a typical hanging mirror, it is likely just a regular mirror.

Next, check the lighting. Turn off the lights in the room and shine your phone light or a flashlight at the mirror.
If the light passes through to the other side, it is a two-way mirror.
If the light reflects back normally, you can be assured it is a standard mirror.