Hotel Safety

In selecting accommodations, opt for reputable hotels, hostels or boarding houses.

Once you have checked-in, be careful with whom you share your room information.  It is best to keep your room number to yourself or share only with your travel companions.

Upon first arriving in the room, inspect the door and window locks to confirm that they are working properly. It is best to have a door with a peephole and a dead bolt or chain lock. Always identify visitors prior to opening the door. If in doubt, call the front desk to verify if any hotel employees are delivering items to your room before you open the door.

When leaving the room for a period of time, leaving the “do not disturb” sign on your door is a good practice, whenever available. You should take care to secure all valuables and not leave sensitive documents or valuables visible in the room; instead, store these items in a secure location.  If you leave cash out in plain sight, be aware that this generally indicates to hotel staff that the money is intended as a tip.

Always know the address of your accommodations and its proximity to key landmarks.  Oftentimes you can ask for a local street map at reception and request them to mark where the hotel is for you. Not only is this convenient for navigating the area, but locating and orienting yourself to key resources such as the nearest pharmacy or hospital, police station and even the closest consulate or embassy can help you prepare for contingencies.