Travel Safety Memo: Hotels

Hotel: The area where your hotel is located often determines your risk level.  Try to stay in “nice” places and avoid “bad” places.  If you are uncomfortable after a drive-by though the neighborhood, keep driving and follow you instincts before you check in to any hotel.

Floor Level: Pick a moderately high floor – 3rd or 4th floors provide protection against thrown objects from the street.Highest floors (15th or higher) may be problematic in a fire alarm evacuation.

Fire Alarms: Try to determine if there is an actual fire before you leave your room.  False alarms happen a lot. If you are on the ground floor, it may be safer to stay where you are and place a wet towel beneath the door until smoke is visible, then toss a chair through the window to get out, if necessary.2

Possessions:  Grab all you can carry that will not slow you down.  Leave the toothpaste, grab the laptop and the handguns.

Deadbolts and Lock Bars: Use them; and don’t open the door for anyone you have not called to your room (i.e., Room Service, Laundry, etc.).

For unexpected knocks at the door:  “Go Away!” is my normal response. Do not open the door – even if the person answers “Manager! or “Security!”. If it is the police, they will have breaching devices – they can open it themselves without your cooperation.

If it is not the police (or the Manager or Security), well that’s why you brought your .45 isn’t it?

Parking: Choose a spot out front – preferably visible to the front desk.  Hi-Jackers will seek out spots that are not visible for potential witnesses.

Exits: All hotels post emergency exit signage on each floor. Take note of them and formulate your own exit strategy.

Hookers: Hookers present multiple security breach potentials.  Not recommended for single occupancy hotel stays.

Hide your Cash, your Rolex, and your mini-bar key before calling any hookers to your hotel room – be especially on alert if one woman squeezes her knees around your ears as the other one empties the mini-bar contents into her purse. A complete mini-bar replenishment can be $280 or more.

Travel safe.