Whether traveling for vacation or a business trip, unless you have family you can stay with, you will more than likely be staying in a hotel. You will probably have a pleasant stay at whatever hotel you decide to check into, but there are those horror stories where visitors of hotels have their possessions stolen, information given away, or experience bad encounters with other hotel guests. To avoid trouble during your hotel stay, here are a few hotel safety tips for your travels.
Upon Arrival
- Stay with your luggage – If you walk into the hotel ahead of your luggage, or even let it out of your sight, it could be stolen. Keep your luggage nearby, especially when the lobby is busy, thieves will take advantage of any distraction.
- Ask for a room that is not on the ground floor – Rooms on the ground floor of the hotel are the easiest rooms to break into. Experts agree that the safest floors of a hotel are the third through the sixth floors. These rooms are high enough that thieves will avoid breaking into them and low enough that fire engine ladders can safely reach them.
- Ask for two hotel business cards – You should place one of these cards by the phone in your room and keep one of them on you at all times. If there is an emergency while you’re staying at the hotel, you’ll have a contact number to call and ask for help.
In Your Room
- Keep track of personal items – If you leave credit cards, cameras, or jewelry lying around the room, you make it very easy for a thief to steal your belongings. Find out if your hotel room has a safe to keep these personal items in and, if it does not, be sure to keep those things hidden.
- Keep your door locked – While you’re in the room, keep the door locked and use deadbolts, security chains, or swinging metal security locks. Never prop the door open, even if it’s for a short time.
When You Leave
- Close doors and windows – Leaving your hotel for the evening and leaving the door of your balcony open is inviting a burglar to climb up to your room to steal your personal items. Check all windows and doors before you leave your room for a night out.
- Leave a light on – If you go out for the night with colleagues or friends, leave a light on and the drapes partially open. This gives the appearance that someone is in the room, and makes it much less likely that someone will try to break into the room.
If you have any questions about an incident you may have had while staying at a hotel, or are in need of legal advice or representation, please contact Bryan Caulfield.