Hotel Room Security

Security in your own hotel room should be a top priority, whether you are traveling for business or pleasure. In an attempt to make your valuables more secure, many hotels are tightening security by installing small safes in every room and issuing coded insert cards instead of numbered keys to open room doors.

The best bet is to be your own security guard. No matter how effective hotel security is, it can't think of everything. If you want to see just how good hotel security is, call the switchboard from a house phone and ask for yourself. Tell the operator you are not sure of the room number. If the answer is, "He's in room 203," you're in trouble. The correct answer is, "I'll connect you." Good security requires that the hotel switchboard not give out room numbers, and the best hotels strictly adhere to this policy.

Another good way to determine how efficient hotel security is to watch how hotel room keys are controlled. For example, if it is check-out time and a pile of keys are lying on the front desk, chances are that security is lax. Anyone can grab a key from the pile. This is particularly dangerous if the room number is embossed on the key blank.

Also, do not draw attention to yourself by displaying large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry. Instead, store valuables in the hotel safe.

Finally, the "Do Not Disturb" sign is a valuable sentry for your room Ñ if you leave it on the doorknob outside the room. The sign is valuable when you aren't in the room because it gives the impression you are still inside.