Yesterday's Advisor presented general safety recommendations for travel safety. Today, Detective Kevin Coffee provides his recommendations for selecting hotel rooms, and the Hotel and Lodging Association shares its hotel safety tips.

Coffee operates a consulting service, Corporate Travel Safety LLC. He offers the following suggestions for picking out a safe hotel room:

  • Avoid ground level rooms with windows or sliding doors opening at ground level.
  • Choose a room facing an interior courtyard rather than a parking area.
  • Choose a room on a lower floor, as many fire department vehicles can't reach rooms above the sixth floor.
  • Consider a room near the elevator. It is generally safer; however, it may be noisy.

In the Room

  • Keep your key/card handy in case you have to leave quickly during an emergency.
  • Lock the door and secure the bolt and clasp or chain. If the chain is loose, twist it before securing.
  • Check fire exits. You don't want to be wondering about which way to go when you are awakened in the middle of the night.
  • Get two business cards from the front desk that show the hotel phone number and address. Put one by the phone in the room and put the other in your wallet so there will never be a problem getting back to the hotel.

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AHLA Guest Safety Tips

Finally, here are 10 basic tips from the American Hotel and Lodging Association:

  1. Don't answer the door in a hotel or motel room without verifying who it is. If a person claims to be an employee, call the front desk and ask if someone from the hotel staff is supposed to have access to your room and for what purpose.
  2. Keep your room key with you at all times and don't needlessly display it in public. Should you misplace it, notify the front desk immediately.
  3. Close the door securely whenever you are in your room and use all of the locking devices provided.
  4. Check to see that any sliding glass doors or windows and any connecting room doors are locked.
  5. Don’t invite strangers to your room.
  6. Do not draw attention to yourself by displaying large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry.
  7. Place all valuables in the hotel or motel's safe deposit box.
  8. When returning to your hotel or motel late in the evening, be aware of your surroundings, stay in well-lighted areas, and use the main entrance.
  9. Take a few moments to locate the nearest exit that may be used in the event of an emergency.
  10. If you see any suspicious activity, notify the hotel operator or a staff member.

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