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Whenever the economy goes sour, we start hearing at least anecdotal evidence about an increase in crime – especially, theft and burglary.
According to USA Today, some experts say the hotel industry is being hit – or maybe it’s just that hotels can be easy targets-of-opportunity — anytime. Now, I generally feel perfectly safe in the hotels I stay at, but there are precautions we should all take — it’s a matter of common sense.
Here are some of my favorite tips – safety “do’s” and “don’ts” that will help travelers enjoy a safer stay in their accommodations. Take a look:
- DO – shut and lock your room door anytime you’re inside, no matter how briefly — and always use the bolt and chain.
- DON’T – bring expensive jewelry with you when you travel. If you absolutely must, keep it in the hotel safe – but you might want to ask about the extent of the hotel’s liability, just in case the safe is robbed.
- DON’T - leave anything valuable in your room, ever. I know you don’t want to haul your laptop with you everywhere you go, but sorry – you really must, unless it will fit in the hotel safe – or unless you can afford to lose it.
- DON’T - open the door to strangers. And I suggest, don’t order-in food – unless you’re prepared to pick it up at the front desk. If you’re too tired to go out to eat, pick up something on your way back to the hotel.
- DON’T – meet that online “match” in your hotel room. You know that boring advice about getting together with your internet date for a cup of coffee in a public place during the daytime? Follow it.
- DO – discard that little cardboard folder that your room card-key came in, the one that has the name of your hotel and room number on it. No point in letting strangers know where to find you, and yes – the front desk will be happy to remind you what your room number is.
- DO - have fun. But not too much fun. Drunken tourists are easy marks.
- DON’T – hesitate to contact the front desk if you notice anything odd about your room or see people hanging about in the hallway that shouldn’t be there. Insist the desk send someone to investigate.
Readers, what have I forgotten?
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Don’t place items in the hotel safe either. There are override codes for the safes or duplicate keys, so some of the people who can get into your room can also access your safe.
- Make sure the front desk has your cell phone number on file. Should there be a hotel emergency they can determine if you are safe.
- Always make sure front desk is made aware if any of the guests in your party has difficulty ambulating in case of an emergency. Security will assist them first should it become necessary.
- Make sure all guests in your party have their names registered to the room. If their key stops working and you’re not around, they will NOT be issued another key, even if they have the same sur name.
- Always re-confirm hotel reservations prior to arrival with the property,”directly,” especially if you have made a third party booking. Acquire the hotel’s confirmation number for your reservation, in addition to the confirmation number given to you by the third party. Many reservations appear to have been made, when in fact they have never reached their final destination. You have paid in full, yet do not actually have a room, because the property itself never received documentation of your reservation from the third party.
On a sold out Saturday night in Vegas, that means you sleep in your car, or gamble all night.
- Call property front desk directly and confirm if they have the ammenities available that you require, ie; free wi-fi, free refrigerator, rooms with or without connecting doors to other rooms. Is there any remodeling scheduled for that time period? Will there be excessive noise. Web site information can be incorrect or not updated, and there’s always a disclaimer. So call to make sure, and record the name of the person that you spoke to.
- Always have your rate confirmation in writing, in hand, at check in, even if everything was pre-paid months ago.
- Make a xerox copy of photo ID’s (driver’s license, passport)and keep them seperate from the actual documents themselves in case of loss.
_ Be a cheerful traveler. It makes for a far more pleasant trip for everyone.
Helen,
Many great suggestions. And too often, we forget that last one!
Rick
Just an addition to this one, “and yes – the front desk will be happy to remind you what your room number is.”
You will be asked to show I.D. if you’re asking for your own room number or for another key because you’ve left yours in the room. If you happen to catch the person who checked you in, they might remember what you looked like, but policy will always require that they ask for I.D. (and they should).
Brenda,
Agreed, you should always be asked to provide identification. If you aren’t, you should ask why – and strongly suggest that they begin this practice immediately.
Thanks,
Rick