Hidden Germ Zones Travellers Should Watch Out For In Airports And Hotels Across India And Other Countries

Published on December 11, 2025

During international and domestic journeys, travellers often move through bustling airports, crowded hotels, and busy public zones where countless surfaces are touched every day. Although most facilities across India and other countries follow structured cleaning routines, it is still possible for certain germ hotspots to remain unnoticed due to constant footfall. This constant movement of people means that surfaces are frequently exposed to microbes even between cleaning cycles, making awareness particularly important for anyone navigating through travel hubs. While the overall environment remains safe for visitors, a better understanding of these commonly touched areas can help travellers practise simple precautions without disrupting their schedule or enjoyment.

In recent years, rising passenger numbers, increasing travel frequency, and busier terminals have highlighted the importance of maintaining personal hygiene during transit. It has been observed that a few everyday touchpoints in waiting areas, hotel rooms, and shared spaces may collect microbes purely due to repeated handling. By identifying such high-contact surfaces, travellers are able to make informed decisions that support their wellbeing throughout the journey. This guide outlines the subtle germ-prone spaces found in airports and hotels across various countries, along with smart hygiene habits that can be incorporated without inconvenience.

Hidden Germ Hotspots in Airports and Hotels

Travel offers unmatched excitement, but every journey exposes passengers to widely shared surfaces. Even though staff at airports and hotels in India and other countries follow structured cleanliness protocols, heavy usage sometimes allows certain objects to accumulate microbes. The following sections outline the key areas where germs may linger and the reasons they often go unnoticed.

1. Germ-Prone Zones in Airports

Security Check Trays

Security trays are handled by countless passengers throughout the day as belongings such as phones, wallets, laptops, belts, and shoes are placed inside them. Since these trays move rapidly from traveller to traveller, constant contact often occurs before cleaning teams can attend to them again. As security lanes remain one of the busiest areas of the terminal, the trays naturally become a continuously touched surface where germs may settle between sanitisation rounds.

Self-Service Check-In Screens

Self-check-in kiosks have become widely used across airports in India and several other countries. Travellers tap screens, enter details, and interact with multiple buttons in a short span of time. This persistent activity creates a situation where microbes may accumulate on the surface. As hundreds of passengers use these kiosks daily, they become one of the terminal’s most frequently touched digital interfaces.

Airport Toilets

Airport restrooms experience continuous use, especially during peak travel hours. Handles, flush buttons, faucet knobs, and stall doors are touched repeatedly by different passengers. Moisture within washrooms may occasionally allow microbes to survive longer between scheduled cleaning rounds. Although cleaning crews maintain these spaces throughout the day, the high turnover of visitors contributes to ongoing surface contact.

Boarding Gate Seating

Boarding gate areas remain busy for several hours with travellers constantly arriving for successive flights. Seats are used for resting, placing bags, and waiting for boarding calls. This repeated contact means that germs may accumulate on armrests and cushions. As seats are shared by hundreds of travellers daily, they naturally become high-touch points within the terminal environment.

2. Germ-Prone Zones in Hotels

TV Remote Controls

In hotel rooms across India, Europe, and many other countries, remote controls are among the most frequently used yet least sanitised objects. Their textured buttons and narrow spaces make detailed cleaning more challenging, allowing microbes from previous guests to remain. As remotes are handled repeatedly during a stay, they become one of the commonly overlooked germ carriers.

Light Switches and Door Handles

Light switches and handles are used many times each day by guests. Due to their placement and frequent contact, they may be missed during quick cleaning cycles. These surfaces tend to accumulate microbes over time simply because each new guest adds another layer of touchpoints.

Bathroom Counters

Bathroom counters may appear clean but sometimes retain traces of personal care items used by earlier visitors. Moisture, splashes, and leftover toiletries can create conditions where microbes settle temporarily. Even with routine housekeeping, high usage often makes complete sanitisation difficult.

Bedside Phones

Phones placed beside hotel beds continue to be touched by numerous guests, especially when contacting reception or room service. Since these devices have multiple buttons and a handset, cleaning may not always reach every surface. Their location near the bed and frequent use make them a notable germ hotspot within guest rooms.

Smart Hygiene Habits Every Traveller Can Follow

Simple hygiene practices can help travellers maintain wellbeing without significantly modifying their itinerary.

Carry a Basic Hygiene Kit

Travel-size sanitiser, wet wipes, and a few disinfectant tissues can serve as immediate protection. These items allow quick cleaning of high-touch surfaces such as remotes, screens, and handles.

Wash Hands Frequently

Regular handwashing after touching shared objects remains one of the most effective ways to maintain personal hygiene. A short stop at a washroom or the use of hand sanitiser can reduce unnecessary exposure.

Avoid Touching the Face

Germs often enter the body through the eyes, nose, or mouth. Avoiding facial contact during travel reduces the chance of transferring microbes picked up from public surfaces.

By being aware of these zones and practising simple habits, travellers are able to enjoy journeys across India and other countries without compromising their comfort or health.