Travel Experts Always Take These Safety Steps After Checking Into a Hotel
These expert-backed habits can help you feel safer while traveling.
Staying in a hotel can be a pleasurable part of any vacation. Ordering room service, sitting on the balcony with your morning coffee, and cozying up in those crisp sheets with the AC on high when it's time to go to sleep—what's not to love? But before you settle into your hotel room, read up on these expert-backed travel safety tips for any hotel stay.
Whether you're traveling solo or with a crew, there are a few things you should always do when you're checking into your hotel room. These safety tips cover everything from fire safety to hygiene tips to keeping your valuables secure. Taking a few minutes to go through this safety checklist when you first arrive can allow you to truly relax on your vacation, knowing that you have a safe and clean space to come back to.
We checked in with two travel experts, Chirag Panchal, Fora Advisor and Founder of Ensuite Collection, and Jaime Kimbro, AAA Diamond Program regional manager for their travel safety tips. If you're looking for even more travel advice, read up on the packing hacks professional organizers always use and the common travel mistakes experts say you should avoid.
Keep Your Room Number Private
Safety begins when you check into your hotel. Kimbro says that hotels train their staff not to say guests’ room numbers out loud for their safety. “If the desk agent accidentally does so, you can always ask for another room,” advises Kimbro. “When making the request, mention that, for personal safety, you don't want your room number said out loud.”
Room Inspection
When you get to your room, Kimbro suggests turning on all of the lights and checking inside the bathroom, closets, or any other potential hiding spaces, and make sure you can see out of the peephole should someone knock on the door.
Panchal agrees, adding checking that the room’s smoke detector is working (as indicated by a light) and checking for your room’s nearest fire exit.
“Once you’re done, fully engage the deadbolt lock on all exterior facing doors,” says Kimbro. “If in a connecting room, make sure that deadbolt lock can fully engage.”
Check the Phone
Though we all travel with our cell phones, Kimbro says it’s important to check the phone in your hotel room to be sure it’s in working order, too.
“It's a good practice to pick up the phone in your room to make sure you hear a dial tone,” she says. “If there's an emergency and you need to call the front desk or 911, you don't want to discover that your phone doesn't work!”
Lock It Up
Rather than risk your valuables by keeping them out in the open within your room, or even tucked into your suitcase, take some time to set up the in-room safe to keep them, well, safe and secure.
“I always suggest using the in-room safe or the safety deposit boxes at the front desk for passports, electronics and jewelry,” says Panchal.
A Once-Over
When it comes to staying healthy while traveling, Kimbro says that room hygiene is as important as personal hygiene. Before you settle into your room, take a moment to give the room a once-over with sanitary wipes.
“You can bring a travel package of disinfecting wipes to use on high touch points in your hotel room,” she suggests. Think doorknobs and locks, light switches, phones and table tops.
Stay Healthy
Panchal says that staying health on the road comes down to small, consistent habits, starting with hydration. He suggests drinking bottled or filtered water where tap water isn’t safe, and travel with electrolytes “to beat jetlag and fatigue.” Travelers who suffer from allergies may want to request hypoallergenic rooms, or request feather-free pillows.
“A small ‘wellness kit’—sanitizer, wipes, electrolytes, a few doctor-approved meds, and even a spare pillowcase—goes a surprisingly long way in keeping you comfortable and healthy,” says Panchal.
Trust Your Gut
Once checked into the hotel and your room, if you don’t feel comfortable, don’t hesitate to make a change.
“Beyond the room itself, my best advice is to trust your instincts and keep things simple,” says Panchal. “If a room or neighborhood doesn’t feel right, ask to be moved or consult the front desk.
In An Emergency
Kimbro suggests making yourself aware of nearby emergency services prior to checking into your hotel.
“Know where the nearest hospital, urgent care, and police and fire stations are located,” she suggests. “Also, sharing your location with a trusted friend or family member is always a best practice."
Before You Ride
Rideshare like Lyft and Uber have changed the way we travel in destinations, and it’s important to stay safe when we ride, too.
“If you will be using rideshare services, confirm the license plate number before getting in,” advises Kimbro. “Open the door and address them by name, then ask them to confirm your name. It's always best to be safe rather than sorry!”
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