Anytime you are traveling for business, and you are staying in a hotel, your security should be a top priority. When you enter your hotel room, you may be tired and in a hurry to take a shower, go to bed, or get started on your agenda. But you should not be tempted to let down your guard.
Here is a compilation of several hotel safety tips from the experts.
When you arrive at the hotel;
1. Remain with your luggage. Walking ahead of your luggage in the lobby could get your luggage snatched easily. You need to keep your luggage near you. If the lobby is unusually busy, the thieves can take advantage of this situation and steal from you.
2. Avoid the rooms on the ground floor. Experts recommend staying in the rooms located between the third and sixth floor. These rooms are high enough not to allow easy break-ins, and they are low enough for the fire engine ladders to reach.
When checking in;
3. Keep your information secret. Hotels with good reputations don’t give out their guests’ names or room numbers. However, this has been known to happen sometimes. If your room number is compromised, for example, it is announced out loud, ask to be given another room. You don’t know who is listening, and this may not be suitable for your personal security.
4. Don’t place your credit card on the check-in counter. It is easy for an ill-intentioned stranger to capture your credit card number with a good camera if you leave it lying on the table. When your credit card is handed back to you, Make sure that it is yours, and it is not a fake.
5. Request for two business cards with the hotel’s name and address. Ask for two business cards from the hotel and place one next to the room phone. In case of an emergency and you call for help, you will have the name and address of your location. Keep another one in your pocket, or in your purse. If you take a cab and you get lost, show it to the driver to avoid being taken to the wrong hotel.
In the room;
6. Check the room before occupying it. If a valet accompanies you, keep the guest room door open and check the closet, shower, and behind the curtain before you release the valet and shut the door.
7. Ensure the door lock is functioning properly. Make sure the door lock is in working condition, and that the door has a deadbolt. Keep the door always locked while you are in your room.
8. Use a door wedge. Secure the door using a door wedge, especially when you are in the shower or sleeping. Crooks are not always caught, and they may have access to spare keys. Some are known to wait until they hear you are in the shower, and then rob or attack you.
9. Keep a portable lamp near the bed. If you keep a flashlight or a headlamp by the bed, in case of an alarm or a power outage, you will have a source of light to help you navigate in the unfamiliar surroundings.
When you leave;
10. Secure your items. Lock up the things you don’t need such as your laptop or other electronics in a safe. Most modern hotels have safes that let you select you personalized combination. Ensure you carry your passport before leaving the room.
11. Report if you lose a key. If you lose a room key or key card, report it to the management and ask to be relocated. You can’t assume that you have “lost” it. It may have been stolen.
When you are in a hotel room, be careful of what goes on around you. You may be a victim of severe circumstances if you don’t take care of yourself. Following this advice will help to keep you safe whenever you are away from home. To learn more about staying in Chicago hotels, check out websites such as Hipmunk.com.
This post was contributed by Fiona Moriarty of Hipmunk, a travel website that offers customers a fast and easy way to find the best travel deals.