With summer travel season beginning, it’s important to think about how to be safe on your trip. You want your vacation to be enjoyable, so prepare ahead of time to keep your belongings and your family safe.
Staying in a hotel or motel? Read on to learn easy safety tips from travel experts.
Theft tips
- Don’t leave your luggage unattended in the lobby or parking area.
- Make sure you don’t leave your credit card where someone could see and steal the number. Also, look at your card to make sure you get it back – not a different card.
- Traveling with a laptop, tablet or other valuables? Use the room safe to store them when you go out.
- Take your passport with you rather than leaving it in the room. Make sure when you carry it, there is no chance a pickpocket can steal it. Make a copy of your passport and keep it in a separate location in case the passport is lost or stolen.
Safety tips
- Are the halls and stairways well lit? You should alert the hotel staff if lights or exit signs are broken.
- Ground floor rooms are considered more dangerous because criminals can break in through the windows. Request a room on the third floor or higher if possible.
- Many people neglect to lock the door and use the deadbolt or chain while they are inside. This is important as hotel keys and keycards are easily lost or stolen.
- You can buy portable safety devices such as door alarms to increase your safety while in the hotel room.
- Does the room have windows or balcony doors that open? Make sure you close them when you are sleeping and when you leave the room.
- Don’t open the door to anyone you don’t know. Verify anyone claiming to be hotel staff is actually an employee if you are unsure.
What if something happens?
Hotels and motels are responsible for the safety of their guests. If their negligence caused a theft or physical injury, you can hold them accountable. Talk to a lawyer to learn about your rights in these cases.
Source: www.travelinsurancereview.net, “Top 12 Hotel Safety Tips Travelers Should Never Ignore.”
