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I’ll be staying at a hotel next Shabbat where all the doors have magnetic locks. Am I allowed to use a card to open my room on Shabbat? It wouldn’t be feasible to stay in my room the entire day.
Magnetic locks use electricity so may not be used on Shabbat. Some hotels, especially ones which occasionally entertain religious clientele, have old-fashioned locks and keys which are used on Shabbat and holidays in place of magnetic locks. If your hotel does, that would obviously be the simplest option. (Note that the hotel would have to be located in a city with an eruv to allow you to carry your key outside on Shabbat.)
If the hotel does not have the traditional lock-and-key option, you will need to ask a non-Jew to open your door for you. The best and probably least awkward option would be to arrange this with the hotel staff before Shabbat. They can also bring a card for you so you don’t have to handle one yourself (since electronic devices and related are generally muktzah on Shabbat and may not be moved). More generally, you should either arrange this with a non-Jew before Shabbat or only hint to him what you need, without openly mentioning the labor you want him to perform for you. (Note that the rules regarding when it is permissible to ask a non-Jew to perform labor for a Jew on Shabbat are quite complex and different cases cannot be compared.)
Have a safe and enjoyable trip!
(Sources: Chazon Ish O.C. 50:9; Minchat Yitzchak, Vol 10, §29; Shevet HaLevi, Vol VIII §47.)
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