| Hotel Security for the Traveler - Part 2-ARRIVAL AT | | | | the number rather than announcing it. At a foreign |
| THE HOTEL | | | | hotel, discretion is much more difficult since a |
| If you intend to arrive by car and don't know the | | | | passport must be produced and sometimes even left |
| area, Visit Here detailed directions from the hotel. Be | | | | at the desk. Unless you are familiar with the hotel, |
| sure to ask if there are any areas that should be | | | | you have no way of knowing who will be privy to |
| avoided en route, and if possible, plan to arrive during | | | | your passport. |
| daylight hours. Parking is your next concern. If you | | | | If a bellhop is available to carry your bag, take |
| drop off your luggage at the hotel and park your car | | | | advantage of it, especially if you are traveling alone. |
| in a public lot, consider how visible your car is, and | | | | He will enter the room ahead of you and enable you |
| how safe you will be walking to your car after dark. | | | | to safely verify that there are no intruders hiding in |
| Find out in advance if the parking area is monitored | | | | the bathroom or under the bed. If you enter your |
| by surveillance cameras. If you are a single woman, | | | | room alone, prop the room door open with a chair |
| you may want to request that the hotel provide you | | | | while you check for intruders. If you are traveling |
| with an escort to and from your car. If you use valet | | | | with others, have someone stand in the open |
| parking, make sure only your ignition key is left on | | | | doorway while you check. Do the same for them if |
| the key ring given to the valet. It is unwise to leave | | | | you are staying in separate rooms. |
| anything of value in your car while it is parked; Even | | | | SMOKE AND FIRE |
| an adapter cord left plugged into the cigarette lighter | | | | In most hotels there are bedside instructions outlining |
| is risky, since it an indicator to a potential thief that | | | | what to do in case of fire. It is wise to read them |
| you own a cellular phone. Items to be stored in your | | | | and follow them. Your first task should be to count |
| car trunk should be placed there before you arrive so | | | | the number of doorways on your floor from the |
| as to eliminate the security risk of someone watching | | | | door to the exit staircase, and then walk down the |
| you do so in the hotel parking lot. If you are arriving | | | | staircase to the ground floor. This will help you |
| by limousine, taxi or hotel shuttle bus with other | | | | familiarize yourself with your escape route so that in |
| passengers, ensure that all your bags are loaded | | | | a fire situation, when it is likely to be dark and |
| before you embark. If there is more than one stop | | | | smoky, you will be able to walk or crawl along your |
| between the airport and the hotel, watch to see that | | | | route to safety with no confusion, surprise turns, or |
| your bags remain on board as others disembark. | | | | unexpected locked doors. Put your room key and |
| CHECK IN | | | | glasses beside your bed so that in an emergency, |
| At the front desk, the simple process of checking in | | | | you will be able to find them quickly. If you leave |
| can make you vulnerable from a security standpoint. | | | | your room in an emergency, take your room key |
| For example, you will identify yourself by name to | | | | with you so you can retreat back into your room if |
| the desk clerk, and may be overheard by others. | | | | necessary. If you discover that the hotel does not |
| Your luggage tags may be visible to people standing | | | | have a smoke detector system, carry your own. It is |
| near you. You will pull out a wallet or billfold to give | | | | also a good idea to carry an emergency escape |
| the desk clerk your credit card, in clear view of | | | | smoke hood, which filters out the harmful gases that |
| others. Your room number may also be overheard, | | | | are present in a smoke filled environment, and |
| and a thief who is paying attention will quickly discern | | | | provides those precious few extra minutes you might |
| whether you are traveling alone or with others. To | | | | need to escape. |
| the greatest extent possible, be discreet when | | | | HOTEL ROOM SECURITY |
| disclosing information about yourself, and be aware | | | | Access to your room by strangers, and protection of |
| of who is standing around you and may overhear | | | | your belongings, are the basic issues of hotel security. |
| you. Women traveling alone should consider | | | | This is where the question of electronic door locks |
| registering as Mr. & Mrs. Whatever. Generally, | | | | and key control comes into play. It is a virtual |
| there is no additional charge for an additional person | | | | certainty that people unknown to you the cleaning |
| and it hides the fact that you are alone. If asked, say | | | | staff will enter your room when you are not present, |
| your husband is just around the corner. Where | | | | and the door will be left open for a period of time |
| practical, look people in the eye to leave the | | | | each day. Well managed hotels have elaborate |
| impression that you could identify them. Request a | | | | security procedures in place to control who is issued |
| new room if the desk clerk is overheard giving out | | | | a key. |
| your room number and then have them write down | | | | |