Many women travel as part of their business. If you stay at a hotel here are a few suggestions on how to stay safe:
- Don’t let the front desk attendant publicize your room number. If he or she announces it out loud when giving you your key, ask for a different room.
- Start with the basics: always beware of your surroundings when approaching your room.
- Avoid staying on the first floor. Many safety experts recommend staying 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.
- Keep the door to your room locked at all times. If you are inside the room, turn the deadbolt and fasten the security chain.
- 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 again.
- If you travel often, consider buying a portable alarm system like a security door stop for added protection. These movement-sensitive devices can awaken you if a door lock should happen to fail. If you don’t have one, place a chair under the door knob.
- 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 closed and locked.
- Do not open your door to strangers. Use the security viewport to see who is outside your door. 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.
- When you leave the room, leave the TV or radio on, 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.)
- 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.
- When entering or leaving the hotel after dark, use the main entrance.
Remember, safety can be simple!
The Balancing Act 