Travel gadget: Lock

If you move off the beaten track - and sometimes even if you stay on it - now and again you're likely to find yourself staying somewhere a bit dodgy in a room where the door doesn't lock properly or you're suspicious there may be a spare key.

If you're worried about unwanted visitors in the night you could, of course, always create a homemade wedge and stick it under the door.

Or you could use the old trick of jamming a chair under the handle.

Or, if you're really worried, you could probably sleep against the door.

Much simpler to use is the Howsar Portable Door Lock. It fits on just about any inward opening door, is easy to use and, to judge from my tests, is extremely effective. It's also small, light and easy to transport.

The lock apparently won a gold medal at the International Inventions Show in Geneva, so it must be smart.

The portable door lock is $19.95 (plus freight) from globaltravelproducts.co.nz.