I discovered a hidden camera in our Airbnb — and the host’s chilling response forever changed my view of travel safety.

I took out the cheap prepaid phone I’d used to book the Airbnb. Without hesitation, I smashed it to pieces. It was the only way to be sure we couldn’t be tracked down using it.

The next morning, I filed a complaint. I described the camera, the host’s response, and the strange red dot in the photo. But deep down, I wondered if the complaint would even do any good. Would the authorities take it seriously? Would they even be able to uncover something so well hidden?

The lesson no traveler wants to learn.
That night, lying awake in the hotel bed with my wife by my side, a harsh truth dawned on me: security, something we rely on so much when traveling, is fragile.