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Hotel key cards are very inexpensive, and are used over and over again, because of that; they can be deactivated very easily. I am a hotel desk clerk at a hotel where we use those little key cards. There are advantages and disadvantages as with all situations, but the positives by far out weigh the negative.

Key cards like most credit cards are magnetically charged. If you put your key card against cell phones, magnets, electronics, other credit cards, or anything of the like, they can become deactivated. A way to avoid getting to your room only to find your key doesn't work is to stop by the desk on your way to your room, have the clerk read the card, to make sure it still works.

With the inexpensive key cards, you usually do not have to put down a key deposit, you don't have to worry about losing them, as you can get a new one made, (when you get a new one made, it will automatically disengage the old key, unless the clerk "copies" the key) You do not have to worry about anyone having made a duplicate of the key and coming into your room, when you are not there.

There has been a rumor floating around that your credit card information is on your card, this is not true, and no one can get any information about you off of your key card. The only information on the card is the room number, the amount of days your key was made for, how many keys have been made, and which clerk made your key. The computer that your information is on is in no way connected to the key machine. If you are still worried about that even after reading this, then there is a simple solution, you can ask the desk clerk the same question, you can take the key card with you, or you can destroy the key card upon check out. As most hotels do not charge for key cards not turned in.

Learn more about this author, Renee Grimes.
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