Playing it safe during travel is more about being smart and staying aware so you can fully enjoy your journey. Think of this as adding a little extra peace of mind to your trip, so you can relax and soak in everything your travels have to offer.
This overview can be a good resource for travelers who want to keep themselves safe at their next hotel stay. Rental managers might also find it useful to ensure guests have a smooth experience, and it serves as a good checklist for booking safe hotels.
Here are 5 safety measures you want to consider before booking your next getaway.
1. Choose Hotels With Some Research Behind Them
Did you know there are more than 150,000 hotels across the United States? With that information at hand, it’s relatively easy to book a hotel stay. However, that doesn’t mean all hotels are created equal.
As a traveler, it serves you well if you do a little research beforehand. In 2024, getting scammed for financial losses is becoming more common than ever. One of the first things you can do is check online on the major search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing. etc.) and see what previous customers have said about their hotel experience. A trusted platform like Hotala can also help you find safe and reliable accommodations.
It’s unnecessary to have a perfect 5-star rating, but browsing through what they have said can give you a good idea of what to expect.
It wouldn’t hurt to look at a street map of your hotel online. Here are a few good questions to ask yourself.
- Does it seem like the hotel is located in a safe area?
- What, if any, resources are nearby in the unlikely event of an emergency (hospitals, fire stations)?
If you want to take your research a little deeper, you could always consider other online research tools to see what the safety report of the neighborhood is like as a whole. Reputable resources like SaferVRs can give guests or property managers a good starting point for a safe hotel stay.
2. Unwanted Intruder Prevention
Preventing fires and responding to natural disasters has been a long-standing part of hotel safety. While these are important, more attention has been turned to threats from potentially dangerous intruders in the last 5–10 years.
Even if hotels have the best security measures available, it’s still imperative for guests to take proactive measures to keep them safe. It starts from the moment you check into your hotel room. Having a keen eye for your surroundings makes all the difference.
When you arrive at the front desk, make it a point not to tell any of your personal information out loud or the room you’re staying in. One thing many criminals do is listen for your room number and wait in the lobby until you leave. They take advantage of that time to break into your space and potentially steal valuable items. Think about any sensitive information you’re sharing, like credit cards, addresses, or anything else that could be used to cause financial stress.
Consider using a VPN to block potential hackers that could possibly use digital theft on public Wi-Fi.
3. Know The Safety Exits
An unexpected event can happen in the blink of an eye, and knowing how to evacuate the building quickly can be critical. Did you know it’s a law for fire escape routes to be posted along with your nearest exit location? They are posted in hallways to show your room location and the nearest exit. If you’re on the upper floor, even a few seconds counts if there’s a fire. You should also know the locations of fire extinguishers that you could use to assist with a smaller fire that isn’t yet a threat to you or others.
There are other potential reasons for a hotel to have the need to evacuate. Ensure that your room phone is turned on so you can quickly contact hotel staff or emergency services if needed. Instances have occurred with gas leaks or electrical problems that would need the patrons to leave their rooms quickly to avoid being put at risk.
4. Travel With Friends If Possible
It makes sense to travel with someone you know when staying in a hotel room, if possible. If you can book the same room, that adds additional security measures to keep you protected. When you’re leaving for the day, establish clear communication with your friends and check-in with each other regularly. It’s okay to venture off by yourself, but establishing a checkpoint with someone you trust can help give you more peace of mind. If you can have some choice in your room selection, that could potentially keep you safer from threats.
Ask the hotel you’re staying in if they have a room on a higher floor. For example, if the building is five floors, ask for a room on the 4th or 5th level. Many attempted robberies or break-ins occur on the first floor because they are more accessible if someone is looking to get in and out quickly. It would take a lot more time to try an attempt if your room was higher up.
5. Trust Your Instincts
It’s possible for you to complete all the due diligence of researching your hotel and the surrounding area only to find it wasn’t what you expected at all. If something feels off with security measures, or you discover issues with staff or room arrangements, you could always cancel your reservation altogether.
As mentioned earlier, there are so many hotels across the country. Anyone who is a frequent traveler has probably booked a place that was less than desirable at some point or another. Finding somewhere else to stay in the area shouldn’t be that difficult.
The bad feeling you’re getting from the start is most likely to continue throughout the length of your stay.
Stay Safe on Your Vacation
Anyone who wants to have confidence about their safety can use these recommendations above when they’re booking a hotel visit. More people are realizing the importance of these preventative measures so they can have a positive experience.
Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, you’ll have a better time with your visit knowing you’ve taken the necessary action to protect yourself before, during, and after the trip.
