Now, at first thought, you’re not going to think of a hotel as being unsafe when travelling, right? While there are often negative stories surrounding couch surfing, Airbnb, and even hostels, hotels often seem the safest bet.
But how safe are hotels really? Alright, there are plenty of horror movies that might portray creepy hotels – or eery motels in the middle of nowhere – the movie Psycho springs to mind, but have you ever considered the potential dangers of a real-life hotel?
Even if you are planning a luxury travel getaway and you’ve booked a very high-end hotel, you need to be vigilant about your personal safety, and you especially need to be cautious when travelling alone. So how can you do this?
Start with thorough research
This is definitely obvious, but it still deserves a bit of attention. Before booking your accommodation, research the hotel thoroughly. Look for reviews from other female travellers to gauge its safety and security standards. Ideally (and obviously), you’ll want to opt for well-reviewed establishments with a reputation for prioritising guest safety. Usually, the more high-end hotels will place a stronger focus on the safety and well-being of their guests, so this is something you might want to keep in mind.
Choose accommodation in a safe location
There’s no denying that sometimes, hotels aren’t in the best of locations. They’re not always next to airport train stations; sometimes, you have to go to the other side of the city to get to your hotel. Sometimes, even a luxury hotel can be in a shady-looking neighborhood. For this reason, you need to prioritise the location of your accommodation. Ideally, it’s best to avoid isolated or sketchy neighborhoods, especially if you’ll be returning to your hotel late at night. Try to get a hotel that’s close to public transportation, and if you’re driving, choose accommodation that offers secure parking in a well-lit area. In general, you need to be really careful about this, but for the most part, hotels are usually better located than Airbnbs or hostels.
Secure your room
When you’re traveling solo (whatever the case may be), you’re going to have to manage and be responsible for everything your trip involves, which means you have to stay vigilant and be on your guard, especially around technology. For example, a breach of security or dodgy WIFI could lead you to question whether your phone or social media accounts have been hacked, so you might search how to know if your phone is being tracked.
In the hotel you’re staying at, you need to secure your room, just in case. Once you’ve checked into your room, take a moment to assess its security features.
This is stuff that everyone needs to do in the first place, but be sure that all doors and windows are properly locked, and use any additional security devices provided by the hotel, such as deadbolts or chain locks. Before your trip, you could purchase travel accessories such as door locks and other travel-size protectors.
Be wary of strangers
It’s always a good idea to exercise caution when interacting with hotel staff or fellow guests, especially if you’re traveling alone.
You’ll need to trust your instincts and maintain a polite but cautious demeanor. Avoid sharing personal information or agreeing to meet strangers in private areas of the hotel. This goes for everyone, including staff, guests, and strangers outside the hotel.
