10 Must Know Holiday Hotel Travel Safety Tips

When it comes to travel it doesn’t matter if you are an Elite Platinum Member or just grandma and grandpa heading out for that once a year trip. You need to be concerned with your personal safety!  Below are 10 must know holiday hotel travel safety tips you should be aware of before you even start packing. We want you to be ready when you make your first stop along the way.

1. Let’s start with the basics; always beware of your surroundings when approaching your room.
2. Don't let the attendant at the front desk publicize your room number. If he or she announces it out loud when giving you your key, ask for a different room. Have them write the number and hand it to you.
3. When possible avoid staying on the first floor. Many safety experts recommend occupying a room somewhere between the third and sixth floors -- where rooms are high enough to be difficult to break into, but not so high that they're out of the reach of most fire engine ladders.
4. Keep the door to your room locked at all times. If you are inside the room, turn the deadbolt and fasten the security chain and or/the boat latch. I would also recommend investing in a portable doorstop alarm. This is an item you can find on our website.
5. Check the locks on the windows (and balcony door, if applicable) as soon as you arrive, and notify the front desk if any are not functioning. It's a good idea to check these locks again each time you return to the room, as housekeeping may open them and forget to close them.
6. When you leave your hotel room, pull the door completely closed behind you. Make sure the latch has engaged. Take a moment before you leave to try the door and make sure it is secure.
7.  Use the security viewport (peephole) to see who is outside your door before opening it.  Do not trust someone claiming to be a hotel employee if you are not expecting one. If you are unsure, call the front desk to check. Leave the security chain engaged while opening the door for further protection.
8. When leaving your room, turn the TV or radio on, and/or put your "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door. Both of these tricks will give potential thieves the impression that you're still there. (You can contact the front desk to arrange a housekeeping visit even if the "Do Not Disturb" sign is up.)
9. The hotel parking lot and hallways should be well lit. Report any outages to the front desk and ask for a security escort if you feel unsafe. Always try to park under a light.
10. When entering or leaving the hotel after dark, use the main entrance.

The safety tips in this article and many others can be found on our Simple Self Defense for Women DVD. Please visit our website www.simpleselfdefenseforwomen.com for more details.

        Tracy Vega, Co-Founder- Simple Self Defense for Women