For the purposes of this blog, we\u2019re going to focus on the three most common threats you\u2019re likely to face while staying at a hotel:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Theft<\/li>\n
- Fire<\/li>\n
- Natural disaster<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
For theft, we obviously want to prevent it. As for the other two concerns (assuming you\u2019re not a pyromaniac), it\u2019s more a matter of how to quickly and effectively get your bod out of your room and off to safety!<\/p>\n
Give this a read-through, and maybe even print it out to take on your next trip. At worst, you never actually need<\/em> any of these tips; but at best, these could end up SAVING YOUR LIFE!<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
UPON CHECK-IN<\/h4>\n
![\"female](\"https:\/\/vosvado.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/web-Woman-during-check-in-at-hotel-124910399-300x200.png\")
They’re so happy because he didn’t say her room number out loud!<\/p><\/div>\n
Request a room on floors 3-6.<\/strong> <\/span>These floors are high enough to make it tough for criminals to climb in your window, but low enough that they\u2019re still reachable by fire truck ladders.<\/p>\n
Request a room away from the exit stairwell.<\/strong><\/span> Thieves like to target rooms in these areas because they provide a quick escape route.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t let the desk clerk say your room number out loud.<\/strong><\/span> If s\/he does, request a new room and explain that you\u2019d rather they write it down, for personal security reasons. (Trust me: they\u2019re always<\/em> cool about this!)<\/p>\n
One more VERY important point: don’t forget to let your credit card company know you’ll be on travel BEFORE you take your trip<\/strong><\/span>. Among the many other potential trip disasters (you can read about 10 of them–and how to prevent them–right here<\/strong><\/span><\/a>), having a hotel decline your credit card is annoying at best–and a potential nightmare if you can’t get it straightened out before bedtime.<\/p>\n
AFTER YOU ENTER YOUR ROOM<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"hotel](\"https:\/\/vosvado.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/web-Hotel-Evacuation-Placard-225x300.png\")
Sexy, sexy evacuation routes….<\/p><\/div>\n
Find your two best evacuation routes.<\/strong><\/span> You can do this by looking at the plastic placard bolted to the back of your door. If you\u2019re at a hotel in a foreign land that lacks this info, make a note to pace out a few routes when you first leave your room.<\/p>\n
Check that the door to any connecting hotel room is locked.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
If your windows or patio door can be opened, make sure they are locked.<\/strong><\/span> And be sure you relock them every time you leave your room.<\/p>\n
Find the hotel\u2019s emergency number.<\/strong><\/span> If it\u2019s not posted by the phone, call the front desk to get this information. If they don\u2019t have a designated number, make sure you find out the city\u2019s or county\u2019s reporting number.<\/p>\n
DURING YOUR STAY<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"female](\"https:\/\/vosvado.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/web-Naked-in-Hotel-Bedroom-68813632-300x200.png\")
Got caught naked? In a pinch, use your blanket as a toga. We won’t laugh…too much. \ud83d\ude42<\/p><\/div>\n
Don\u2019t sleep naked!<\/strong> <\/span>If you have to evacuate in a hurry, the last thing you want to be doing is fumbling around in your suitcase for clothes. As entertaining as it might be for fellow guests to see you in your birthday suit at the emergency assembly point, you\u2019ll want to wear clothing as a layer of protection against whatever hazards may lie upon your evacuation route.<\/p>\n
Keep shoes next to the bed while you sleep.<\/strong> <\/span>If there is broken glass or other foot-unfriendly debris on your evacuation route, wearing shoes will keep you from becoming hobbled as you make your way to safety.<\/p>\n
Hide your valuables somewhere weird.<\/strong><\/span> In-room safes are notoriously easy to open, plus they provide an obvious place for thieves to look for valuables. So put your jewelry, documents, etc., in an unlikely location. A box of tampons is a great place for this. And do I even have to say this? Lock your suitcase when you leave your room!<\/p>\n
ON YOUR NIGHTSTAND<\/h4>\n
![\"female](\"https:\/\/vosvado.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/web-Headboards-and-bed-in-a-hotel-121420655-300x200.png\")
This nightstand is far too barren to belong to a prepared person such as yourself!<\/p><\/div>\n
You need an emergency light source<\/strong>.<\/span> Some hotels have emergency flashlights stored in the closet, but if they don\u2019t, at least keep your phone nearby so you can use its flashlight function. (Some people even travel with mini flashlights<\/a> for this reason.)<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll also want a<\/span> smoke hood<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n
Set up a mini grab-n-go kit<\/strong>.<\/span> Put your wallet, keys, essential medications, etc., in a little pouch and keep them next to the bed so you can easily grab them if you need to evacuate. I use a kid\u2019s fabric pencil case<\/a> for this.<\/p>\n
EXTRA CREDIT<\/h4>\n
Consider packing a travel door alarm<\/a>.<\/p>\n
I personally don\u2019t use one, but for women traveling alone\u2014especially when staying in less-than-nice hotels, I can see the advantage of having a device that emits a piercing shriek if someone tries to sneak into your room while you\u2019re asleep.<\/p>\n
ALSO: definitely consider Travel Insurance before you head out of the country–especially to an exotic destination. Not having travel insurance is one of those “gotchas” that can result in 10s of 1000s of dollars of expenses if you get injured during an emergency (or even just doing something mundane, like falling off a curb!).<\/p>\n
* * * * *<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not gonna lie: the first few times you run through the tasks I\u2019ve recommended, it\u2019s going to feel like a huge pain in the a$$<\/span><\/strong><\/em>. But after you get a couple of hotel stays under your belt while following this protocol, it\u2019ll become second nature!<\/p>\n
Got any other hotel safety tips that I missed? Share them via the Contact form<\/a>!<\/p>\n
I talk about all\u00a0sorts of other risks in my free Travel Solutions Guide: “10 Travel Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Trip…and How to Avoid Them”<\/a>\u00a0\u2b05\u00a0You owe it to yourself to read through it before your next vacation! <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I loves me a snazzy hotel. Fluffy bathrobes, fancy bath products, decadent room service\u2026. I tell ya, some hotels are so luxurious, I never want to leave my room! BUT in addition to all the other crazy travel snafus that can trash your trip (like THESE 10 things)\u2026even the ritziest accommodations are subject to safety and security risks. So what\u2019s … <\/p>\n