Protect your valuable items from theft. Here are the savvy business traveler's best - and most common sense - hotel security tips.
Don't assume your hotel room is inviolate. Theft happens, at both run-down no-tell motels and swanky resorts. Learn to lessen your chances that you - or your expensive laptop - will be the next victim of hotel theft.
When You Leave the Hotel Room
- Leave on your TV or radio. You want it to be just barely audible from outside the room if you lean in close to the door. It does sound like someone is at home.
- Leave your lights on with the curtains pulled shut. This way a sliver of light shines through. It appears that people are inside, but you can't just look right in to tell otherwise.
- Hang your Do Not Disturb door tags. Leave them on throughout your stay. If you must, grab extra towels and other things from the Front Desk, but don't allow strangers access to your room and your things. The tags also give the impression you are busy inside, working or having a nice romantic vacation.
- Hanging a Maid, Clean This Room tag is just advertising your absence. And not that maids will steal from you, but if they prop open your door while cleaning, and someone else strolls right on in, they won't assume the person ISN'T the proper hotel guest. How could they possibly know? Thieves count on stuff like this. If you've been flashing your cash, Rolex or Dell Inspiron 9300 about, you could well be marked for such a con.
- The jury is out on safety of using hotel room safes. On the one hand it only tells people: "Valuables Inside." But on the other hand, where else are you going to put your traveler's checks, expensive watches and jewelry? Between the mattresses? In the toilet tank? I really don't have a satisfying conclusion on this one.
- Add your tips to the travel safety discussion.
Related, on Suite101:
- Hotel Room Personal Safety
- Hotel Parking Lot Safety
- Laptop Coffeeshop Theft
- Laptops at the Airport
- Best Hotel Business Amenities
- Business Travel Forum
Copyright Dan Florio. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
Dan Florio - Dan Florio commuted the world for work & play since 1998, and has been an Internet Geek from before there was an actual Internet. As ...
