Hello and welcome to today's independent travel podcast with me, Simon Calder. It's Tuesday the 31st of March.

Travel Desk Tuesday and time to catch up with my excellent colleague Natalie Wilson, senior travel writer for the Independent,

who's been covering a really interesting range of stories in the past

few days and I think it's good to share them with you. First though, can we talk, Natalie,

about this shocking story which has been reported on The Independent and elsewhere about a woman

who was staying in a Traveloge Hotel where the desk staff gave a man

who pretended to be her boyfriend a key to her room, he went into the room and sexually assaulted

her. He's now been in prison for that, but seemed extraordinary that this could happen.

I think it's very scary and seriously concerning, especially as a woman that solo travels myself.

I think people's main concern with hotels isn't the amenities, it is safety.

So for that to happen, it's very scary.

Have you ever experienced anything involving other people getting keys for your room or anything?

I've a couple of times actually found that I've been given keys for other people's rooms,

which is quite shocking for them and for me.

But obviously you just leave immediately until reception.

Have you had anything like that?

Yeah, I think I've had the same with getting key cards to other people's room, etc. But it is interesting that each hotel does seem to operate differently. I know I stayed in one in Cardiff once where you're not given a key at all, and someone lets you in and out of your room every time you come and go through reception. And a friend of mine, who I was expecting, just said my name at reception, and the guy opened the door with the key and she was in my room and I was very surprised to see her.

But I think there's a minimum level of security that should be considered at any hotel.

And that would presumably be if somebody shows up saying, I am a friend of Natalie Wilson.

The desk should contact you, either by ringing you or knocking on the door and just checking that you're expecting someone.

I think at least a call, a knock, anything like that. I think you should also be at least listed on the booking if you're going to be issued a key.

There should be some sort of evidence that you know the person before you even let

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