Hotel safety tips - 'Wild Bill: Breaking and Entering'- msnbc.com

Important hotel safety tips
— Always leave a travel itinerary with someone at home, a relative or trusted friend.
— Always avoid ground floor and other rooms easily accessible from the outside of the building.
— Before boarding an elevator, observe all passengers. When returning to your room, board last and/or be last to select your floor button. Always position yourself near the elevator control panel. If threatened, press the alarm button and as many floor buttons as possible.
— When entering your room for the first time, have the bellman remain while you perform your room security check.
— If there is an adjoining room, ensure that the door locks via deadbolt accessible only from inside your room.
— Do not place the in-room breakfast menu on your door at night. This sends a clear message that there is a single person in the room.
— Do not travel with expensive jewelry or large amounts of cash. If you must bring jewelry, use of the front desk safe deposit box is preferred.
— Place the "Do Not Disturb" sign on your door. The sign gives the impression you are in the room when you are not. Call housekeeping for maid service - instruct them to leave the sign on the door. Do not use the "clean the room" sign.
— Make it a habit to pack and place a small flashlight on your nightstand in case of a power outage. It is very dangerous to stumble around an unfamiliar building in the dark.
— Do not stay in a hotel that is not equipped with automatic fire sprinklers throughout and guest room smoke detectors.
— Locate fire exits; be able to recognize the fire alarm signal, and plan your actions in the event of a hotel fire, such as counting the number of doors from your room to the fire exit stairwell.
— When you leave your hotel room for the day or evening leave the television on. From outside the room it sounds like the room is occupied.
— Never prop your hotel room door open. Only open your door to individuals known to you. An unexpected visit from "hotel staff" should be verified with the front desk before opening your door.
— If you are a woman traveling alone, when walking to your car from the hotel at night, ask for a security guard to escort you to your vehicle. When you return to the hotel, have them valet park the car.
— Be observant to unusual or questionable people or activities.
Provided by SafePlace www.safeplace.com

What to ask when you book a hotel
Regardless of property type, it is important to be sure that your hotel considers your safety to be as important as you do. Here are some sample questions to ask when booking a hotel stay.
— Is the hotel SafePlace Accredited? If yes, you know that specific security, fire protection, health and life safety features are present and have been independently verified.
— Are criminal background checks and drug tests performed on every employee?
— Is every guest room equipped with smoke detectors?
— Is the building protected throughout with an automatic fire sprinkler system?
— Is every guestroom door equipped with keycard entry and deadbolt locks?
— Does each guestroom door have a view port (one way “peep-hole”)?
— Is there a well-trained security staff on site 24 hours a day?
— Does the hotel have a safe where I can store my valuables?
— Does the hotel have non-smoking rooms?
— Has the hotel made provisions for the disabled?
Provided by SafePlace www.safeplace.com