Ensuring a safe and secure hotel room

For most business travellers, a long haul flight can be quite exhausting. As you step into the hotel lobby to check in, the only thought in your weary mind is to get a relaxed and an undisturbed sleep. The minute you enter the room, you drop everything, hit the bed and fall into an instant stupor. With a nagging headache, and the jet lag hitting you, the last thing on your mind is your personal safety.

Most of us are quite familiar with this scenario, but despite knowing how important it is to check our surroundings we often neglect to do the needful. A few precautions can save you from theft and unwanted mishaps. A few tips have been mentioned below, follow them diligently and they might even save your skin someday!

1. When you are checking in, always ask for a room between the third and the sixth floor. This is because most thefts happen in the first two floors and in case of fire the ladders can’t reach above the sixth floor.
2. If it is a late hour and the hotel seems deserted, ask for someone to escort you to the room especially if your room is at the fag end of the long corridor.
3. Though most hotel rooms now open with a swipe card and the lights turn on automatically, it is always advisable to check that the windows are latched properly, the balcony doors are closed and the bolts on your door work perfectly well before you decide to crash. If there are adjoining rooms ensure that the connecting door is locked from your end too.
4. Check if your phone is working properly and dial ‘0’ to see how much time the operator takes to lift up your phone in case you have an emergency situation. Always instruct the front desk not to reveal your room number to anyone without informing you first.
5. Keep your door locked at all times even if you are stepping out for a minute to see someone off. If someone knocks, or there is a hotel employee outside your door whom you weren’t expecting, call the security immediately.
6. Check to see whether the air conditioning, phone, hot water, shower and TV are working properly before you settle down in your room. It will save you the hassle of getting things fixed late in the night.
7. Read the map behind your door carefully and locate the exit points. This information will be useful in case of unexpected fire, earthquake or attacks.
8. Lastly, always take a room close to the staircase or the elevator if possible. In case of emergency you will be able to exit quickly.