Hotel Travel

Hotel Travel Safety Issues

Awareness of your surroundings is the key to hotel travel safety. Despite how rushed you may be, take the time to check out your hotel’s layout and ask key safety questions. Meet the head of security and ask him or her about travel tips.

Park your car in areas that are well-lit. Thieves prefer darkness. Don’t store packages inside in plain view. If you use an underground parking structure, carry your keys in your hand and have them ready before you arrive at the car. When in doubt, ask for an escort.

When you use the hotel gym, spa or pool, don’t take valuables to with you.

You’re A Tourist So Ask For Help

Talk to the bellman, concierge or front desk clerk about safe areas around the city to jog, dine or sightsee. Ask about local establishments and taxi companies to be avoided. If you do go out at night, avoid short cuts through dark alleyways and keep a wide berth between you and alley entrances as you walk on the sidewalk.

Identity Theft Is An Issue

Lobbies are used by pickpockets and thieves waiting for opportunity. Be wary when you stop in the bar for a drink or the hotel restaurant. Wrap a rubber band around your wallet and keep it in a side pocket. Don’t carry too many credit cards and don’t carry your Social Security card. Keep copies of your credit card receipts. Don’t leave your purse or briefcase unattended set atop a table or alongside your chair on the floor. Always keep these within touching distance of your leg under the table. Be wary about distracting scams involving someone spilling a beverage or food on your clothing. While you’re distracted, an accomplice can snatch your wallet, briefcase, laptop or purse.

Don’t flash cash in the hotel or anyplace downtown. Purse snatchers and muggers work have sharp eyes. If you party too much, call a cab. Never walk.

Always Keep Doors Locked

Never leave your door unlocked or open while you dash down to grab some ice, soda or a snack. Keep the main and the connector doors locked securely. If you suspect unexpected visitors announcing that they are hotel employees rendering a service you didn’t order, call the lobby to verify.

Keep your luggage locked when you’re out of the room. This won’t stop professional thieves but it may help to keep curious, sticky-fingered maids more honest.

Hotel Fire Safety Tips

Don’t book a room above the seventh floor. Most fire departments lack rescue ladders capable of reaching above the seventh floor. Make sure your hotel has smoke detectors and sprinklers installed. Check to see that yours is operable.

Ask about emergency notification procedures. Note locations of fire exits, alarms, extinguishers and hoses. Check exit doors to make sure they are unlocked and that stairwells are clear. Count the number of doors between your room and the exit. Should there be a fire, your only recourse may be to crawl there in the dark and smoke. Stay low to avoid smoke inhalation.

Hotel Travel Tech Tips

Remember that Murphy’s Law is still alive and well when it comes to technology on business trips. Have a backup IHP ready just in case yours doesn’t work in the city you‘re visiting. Print important contact numbers before you go. One good jolt or a drop can disable your laptop and leave you helpless. Keep the number of the hotel’s tech guru handy. Carry backup data disks or CDs of all your documents in case your laptop’s hard drive fries. Backup disks or CDs are cheap insurance.

Use password-protection because thieves like things easy. Should your laptop grow wings, at least your important documents and proprietary information may evade capture. Secure your laptop to your desk with a locking device. Carry portable electronics like cell phones and PDAs with you when you go out. Don’t leave them unsecured in your room.

Pack a backup battery. Make sure your laptop is fully charged and test your recharger. Test your laptop before you go. Should your laptop die, all your data will die with it.