Reasons I Always Bring a Carbon Monoxide Detector When I Travel

After landing at JFK with ample time to unwind in the airport lounge before our flight to Bali last November, I started listing off items I hoped I hadn’t forgotten at home to my sister. Passport: Naturally, I had that since we’d already passed through security. Sun hats: check. Dramamine for the ferry to the Indonesian island of Gili Trawangan: check.

"There’s one item I didn’t manage to order, but I really wish we had," my sister replied anxiously. I instantly knew what she meant: Just a week prior, three Americans had succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning at an Airbnb in Mexico City. I confidently tapped my carry-on and noted that I had been using a compact plug-in carbon monoxide detector for several months. Our mom, concerned about my frequent travels, had sent it to me after reading about another carbon monoxide incident at the Sandals resort on Grand Exuma Island in May 2022.

More recently, on June 13, two other Americans lost their lives at Hyatt’s Rancho Pescadero resort in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Autopsy reports indicate they may have died from "intoxication by an undetermined substance," according to the Associated Press. The hotel is currently shut down for a thorough independent investigation led by a third party, as a Hyatt spokesperson told ABC News, and will remain closed until the investigation concludes. While the official cause of death hasn’t been established yet, I plan to keep bringing my detector just in case carbon monoxide was involved.

The "silent killer"

"Carbon monoxide, commonly referred to as CO, is known as the ‘invisible killer’ because it is a colorless, odorless, toxic gas," explains the U.S. Fire Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency. "It cannot be detected by human senses, so individuals may unknowingly be exposed."

Carbon monoxide poisoning typically occurs when a fuel-burning device—such as a furnace, gas stove, water heater, or space heater—is malfunctioning or improperly vented. It can also result from fireplaces, portable generators, or burning charcoal in confined areas. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, around 170 individuals in the U.S. die each year from carbon monoxide emitted by these non-automotive consumer products.

While the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) recommends that its members install CO detectors in hotel rooms and areas with fuel-burning appliances, hotels are only obligated to adhere to local and state fire, mechanical codes, and CO detection standards. Many states mandate carbon monoxide detectors in private homes, but not all hotels are required to implement such safety measures, as noted by Kris Hauschildt, the founder of the Jenkins Foundation, a nonprofit monitoring carbon monoxide incidents in U.S. hotels and motels.

“Regrettably, there’s no way to identify which hotels have CO detectors installed or which are mandated to have them, whether through regulations or individual hotel policies,” Hauschildt shared with Dinogo. Regardless of whether you’re traveling domestically or abroad, it’s advisable to directly inquire with hotels and rental property owners about the presence of CO detectors.

According to the database maintained by the Jenkins Foundation, there have been 2,505 injuries and 166 fatalities due to carbon monoxide incidents in U.S. hotels and motels reported in the media from 1967 to the present. However, Hauschildt emphasized that a December 2021 report comparing National Fire Incident Reporting System data to media accounts reveals that the public is only aware of a small portion of the CO incidents occurring in U.S. hotels reported in the news.

“Very few hotel guest rooms contain fuel-burning appliances that could generate carbon monoxide,” a spokesperson from the AHLA informed Dinogo. However, some reported cases have been linked to boilers and heaters for pools and water, gas dryers, and fireplaces. “It’s impossible to know what CO sources might be hidden in a hotel since gas appliances are typically located out of sight in maintenance areas,” Hauschildt explained. “Moreover, portable CO sources, such as gas-powered tools (like pressure washers and power tools), generators, and idling vehicles in underground parking garages, have also harmed guests and staff.”

While both Airbnb and VRBO recommend that hosts install carbon monoxide detectors in the sleeping areas of their vacation rentals, it is not mandatory. (Airbnb provides free detectors to hosts, and each listing indicates whether one is available.)

In July 2021, Congresswoman Angie Craig, representing Minnesota’s second district (which includes the southern part of the Twin Cities), introduced the Safe Stay Act in the House. This bill mandates that public accommodations install compliant carbon monoxide detectors in every sleeping or dwelling unit. It has since been referred to the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce but has not progressed further. Representative Craig’s team did not respond to inquiries about plans to reintroduce the legislation.

Stay safe from carbon monoxide poisoning while traveling

When reserving a hotel or vacation rental, always inquire whether carbon monoxide detectors are installed in the bedrooms—never assume they are present. (As noted earlier, each Airbnb listing indicates if a detector is provided.)

For safety, don’t forget to bring your own travel carbon monoxide detector. Opt for plug-in models that include battery backup (and remember to pack your plug adapter if traveling internationally). It's crucial to ensure the detector has the UL 2034 mark on the packaging, confirming it complies with U.S. safety standards for carbon monoxide alarms.

I personally use the Kidde Carbon Monoxide Detector, which is roughly the size of a (very thick) iPhone, ensuring it doesn’t take up much room in my carry-on. It typically retails for $30 on Amazon. This model emits four quick beeps when it detects CO, while others may provide verbal alerts. (A smoke alarm will sound differently; for instance, it might use a three-beep pattern.) I keep mine plugged into the wall near my luggage each time I travel, so I never forget to pack it last minute.

Airlines permit these detectors in both carry-on and checked luggage, but check if you need to remove the batteries for checked bags. (TSA allows non-lithium dry batteries in common sizes like AA and AAA, but restricts lithium ion and lithium metal batteries from checked bags due to fire safety concerns.)

It’s crucial to recognize the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, as they can often be mistaken for flu symptoms. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission states that CO poisoning symptoms include "headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, sleepiness, and confusion." If you think you’ve been exposed, get outside immediately for fresh air and call 911—or the local emergency number if you’re overseas.