There is a plethora of information available about safe travel, ranging from airport security steps to riding public transportation. However, after a long day, you may be exhausted, dirty, and in a rush to get clean so you may nap. As we return to the hotel, kick our feet up, and relax our guard, hotel safety may be the last thing on our mind.
In an interview with Sun Online Travel, travel security specialist Lloyd Figgins stated that anytime you plan a hotel stay, you should avoid booking a room above the fourth level. To your surprise, he also suggested that customers should avoid staying below the hotel’s second floor. Thus, according to Figgins, staying between the second and fourth floors of a hotel is the safest option. Puzzled? Continue reading to find out why.
Rooms on the bottom floor are the most exposed to robberies and other imminent threats, so requesting a higher floor will make you less vulnerable and lower the possibilities of your personal belongings being stolen. Aside from that, staying on the fourth storey of the hotel is ideal to stay for acting quickly if there is a fire breakout, as these are high enough to be tough to break into but not so high that a fire truck ladder cannot reach them. There might be a possibility that the ladder of the fire department might not reach above the fourth floor.
He also advised that after checking into a hotel, customers should determine the fire escape route and count the number of doors that line up between their room and the fire escape. You can also request a room close to the stairway. He also mentioned that knowing the location of the hotel’s fire exit is extremely important in order to ensure your safe evacuation in the event of an emergency.
Figgins went on to suggest that perpetrators may simply target rooms below the second storey. In addition, guests should never disclose their room number loudly. Instead, they must request that the hotel personnel write down the number for them. This will prevent criminals from discovering the location of their rooms.
When you leave, post a do not disturb sign on your door and leave the light and/or television on. These will give the impression that someone is in the room, preventing break-ins.
It is extremely crucial that you do not connect to the internet when travelling without a VPN. One of the most important apps for keeping your data safe while using hotel WiFi. It encrypts your traffic, making it impossible for cybercriminals on the same network to access your data or even detect your whereabouts.
Never give out personal information over the phone since scammers may imitate the receptionist. If you are requested to re-confirm your credit card details, hang up and call reception directly. Then make a visit to the lobby in person.
