When traveling for business you will most likely be required to stay in a hotel. You will need to put your safety into consideration as your room becomes your sanctuary for the duration of your stay. The cost of the room is not always the indicator of how safe you will be. Therefore, you should observe some security measures.
- Try to get a room on the higher floor
A room on the upper floors reduces your exposure to crime. Rooms on the ground floor are easy to access, and this makes them vulnerable to crime related problems. Rooms adjacent to fire stairs are exposed to room invaders. A hotel room on the upper floors and far from fire stairs can be safe from invaders but worse for emergency rescue. A high-rise building may have fewer ground level access points thereby being easy for hotel security to monitor who passes through the lobby during odd hours.
- Door security
Hotel room doors should be metallic or solid-core wood to guarantee your safety. You are even safer when the doors are self-locking or self-closing. The doors can also be installed with a deadbolt lock. If the lock seems tampered with or has pry marks around the lock area, request for another room or move to another hotel. In order to keep away former guests or housekeepers, some hotels have a knob lock where at the push of a button on the inside knob, it blocks out all keys. An electronic access card keeps you even safer as it disables most room service keys and former keycards. A room door with a wide-angle peephole helps you view who is at the door before you open. If you have children around, always instruct them not to open doors for any stranger without your knowledge.
- Access control
If someone comes unannounced, confirm their status with the hotel by calling the front desk. Do Not open your door to any unidentified person. Door chains and swing bars are unreliable in securing the doors. So, do not open your door partially to speak to a stranger.
- Other entry points
Secure all windows and sliding doors that are accessible from the ground. Check to confirm that all doors leading to adjacent rooms and balconies are secured with a deadbolt lock.
- Parking safety
Avoid the parking lot at all costs. You can take advantage of car valet service. Request the desk clerk or bellman to lead you to your room where you will quickly inspect under the bed, the closets and bathroom before they leave.
- Occupancy cues
To keep away burglars, ensure you put the Do Not Disturb™ sign on the door knob even while you are away. Turn the TV or radio on to make the room seem occupied. If you will return late in the dark, leave the lights in the room on. When using a breakfast order door-knob hanger card, take caution as this card lists the number of persons in a room and their names too. A smart felon can use this information to their advantage.
While on a trip and you are staying in a hotel, you need to take precautions to ensure that you stay safe. It is easy to be careless about your security, and this may endanger your life. You do not want to be a victim of mischief while on a trip, especially in a strange city. Follow the above advice and your safety will be guaranteed. And while traveling to Paris, you can get more information on the local hotels in websites such as Hipmunk.com.
This article was contributed by Fiona Moriarty of Hipmunk, the most comprehensive travel search website allowing you to find the best deals on anything from flights and hotels to train rides and Homeaway rentals.