The floor plan of emergency exits in the hotel should be studied and remembered in advance
Currently, the only problem and one of the main criteria for tourists when choosing a hotel is noise level, especially at night, Walker notes. But now the priority, even in countries previously considered peaceful, should be security and an emergency action plan.
Before heading to the hotel, it is necessary to find out in which area it is located – whether there are any crime-prone zones or traditional meeting places for rallies nearby. It is also worth studying the hotel's history – whether any dangerous incidents have occurred before.
In unstable regions, you should look for hotels located far from major roads, equipped with video surveillance systems, metal detector frames, elevator access control systems, and with guards constantly on duty in the lobby.
It is better to stay in rooms not lower than the second floor, but not higher than the fifth (correspondingly, third and sixth in North America). This height will prevent thieves from entering through the window, and will leave the possibility to jump from the balcony in case of danger and survive. In addition, fire department ladders can reach up to the fifth or sixth floor.
Rooms should be requested on the side of the building opposite the lobby – the main entry point for any intruder. Also away from restaurants and other public areas where a criminal can easily enter from the street. The ideal option is near the emergency exit staircase.
Upon check-in and inspection of the room, make sure that the entrance door has a lock, peephole, and in the corridor there is an evacuation plan, emergency exits (the location of the nearest ones should be memorized) and a fire extinguisher cabinet with required equipment.
When entering your room, keep the entrance door open until you have fully inspected the space and confirmed that there are no strangers. One well-known airline advises its employees to prop the open door with a suitcase and only then look in closets, under beds, and behind the shower curtain.
Avoid rooms with doors to adjoining rooms. If it is impossible to refuse such a room, make sure the doors are locked, and additionally block them just in case. Walker advises taking a doorstopper on vacation – a device that blocks the door from the inside. This is an additional safety measure when you are in the room.
No one will take care of a tourist's life and health as much as they themselves. Study the hotel plan and find out what safety equipment is available there. It is also worth evaluating the hotel's communication system. Small hotels may have limited communication capabilities, which poses a great risk during natural disasters or terrorist attacks.
In any case, a tourist should always have a charged mobile phone with access to the local operator's network and the necessary emergency phone numbers. If something happens, you can always ask for help.
It would not hurt to always have a 'go bag' with a passport, travel documents, a bottle of water, a mobile phone, and chargers on hand.
All these tips, according to the expert, increase the chances of survival without serious injury.