On a getaway, my wife noticed a blinking light on the smoke detector above our bed. Suspecting a hidden camera, I unscrewed it, revealing a suspicious device. Panicked, we packed and fled the rental, horrified at the thought of being recorded. Furious, I left a scathing review warning others. As we drove away, the host messaged

me: “That device is a security system, not a camera. Check your email.” An email explained it was a motion sensor, installed after a previous guest’s damage, not a camera. The real smoke detector was elsewhere on the ceiling. Embarrassed, I apologized. The host graciously offered a refund and an upgrade to another property. This taught us a valuable lesson: fear can distort judgment. Now, we pause, gather facts, and avoid jumping to conclusions.