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Traveling to a foreign country can be a fun and exciting experience. You can try local delicacies, meet locals and fellow travelers, explore places you only see on social media and discover rare finds.
At the same time, traveling abroad can be scary and risky because bad things can happen at any time. Fortunately, there are many ways you can prepare yourself, most especially for worst-case scenarios.
For starters, you need to know how to stay safe inside your hotel.
What you should do once you arrive at the accommodation
Thousands of people travel to international destinations every month. Hence, you can expect to find a lot of fellow guests at the hotel lobby when you arrive.
Things can get confusing if you don’t stay sharp. As such, while waiting for your key and bellboy, keep your belongings close to you.
If you’re traveling with a friend or loved one, ask him/her to keep an eye on your things too.
The last thing you want is to lose your luggage and valuables.
At the reception, try to request a room located anywhere between the third to the sixth floor. According to statistics, these rooms are safer from break-ins as compared to rooms found on the ground floor.
Things to do during the check-in process
The best hotels never give out the details of their guests. It’s the standard protocol.
Unfortunately, some hotel staff still commit this basic mistake.
If you suspect that your safety and security has been compromised, you can politely request your room to be changed.
Also, avoid leaving your card and ID on the reception counter. Nowadays, card thieves can steal their victim’s information even from a distance. Once you receive your card and ID, check them carefully to ensure that they weren’t swapped.
Lastly, before you go to your room, ask for the hotel’s business card. This will become useful if ever you get lost to injured while exploring the city.
What to do when you’re in the hotel room
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If a hotel member accompanies you to the room, keep the door opened until he/she finishes unloading your bags. Also, walk around the room to check the curtains, wardrobes and shower area.
Additionally, you can do the following things to keep your room fully secured:
- Check the condition of the locks of your room. Is it sturdy enough? Call the reception if the door won’t lock properly.
- Cover the peephole with a plaster or masking tape to prevent people from looking inside the room.
- Place a rubber doorstop to prevent intruders from quickly entering your room. Alternatively, you can place a chair behind the door while you sleep or when you’re in the bathroom.
- Bring a flashlight and place it near your bed in case of a fire
- If someone knocks on your door and claims to work at the hotel, look through the peephole and ask them what they want before considering opening the door or not.
- Never write your name on the door hanger if you want to order food. Keep your personal details minimal.
- Double check the window locks before you sleep or leave the room.
- Hang the “Do Not Disturb” card on the door every time you leave to give the illusion that someone is inside the room.
How to stay safe when you leave your room
Before you spend the day roaming the city, don’t forget to keep your electronic devices, passports and other items inside the safe.
If you’re not too keen on using the safe, you can deposit your valuables in the hotel’s mini safe behind the reception. Do request for the receipt once you finish putting your items in the safe. Also, you must politely ask for the insurance coverage the hotel provides for lost items.
Once you leave the premises of your hotel, you should follow the tips below to avoid getting in trouble:
- Plan your travel itinerary before you leave so you can avoid dangerous areas
- Avoid tourist traps at all cost.
- Bring your passport with you and place it in a secured compartment inside your bag.
- Practice basic personal safety techniques by staying sharp and alert at all times.
- Learn basic and advanced self-defense techniques.
- Be wary of strangers following you around.
- In case you lose your room key, report it immediately.
- Keep the business card of your hotel inside your pocket or wallet.
- If you’re traveling to a country that doesn’t speak English, bring a phrase book with you.
- Never wear flashy jewelry when you walk around the city.
- Book a hotel transfer if you’re not sure where to go.
Other useful tips to help you enjoy your travel abroad
International travel doesn’t need to be scary. By practicing a few safety tips, you can avoid dangers easily. Aside from keeping yourself safe when you’re at the hotel, there are other important things that you should do to ensure a smooth journey.
First, you should avoid placing your valuables in the back pocket of your bag. Pickpockets might steal your purse, cell phone, and even your hotel room key! If possible, place your bag in front of your body when you walk in a crowded place or hire a bodyguard to escort you to your travel destinations. There are a lot of close protection services around the world. For example, if you’re going to the United Kingdom you could check out Westminster Security.
Second, try to research about the city before you go there. Which places aren’t safe for tourists? Which areas have the highest recorded cases of theft and pickpocketing?
Also, avoid entering your credit card details when you use a public Wi-Fi to protect your identity and avoid card theft.
Lastly, bring all of the necessary travel documents with you wherever you go.
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Travelling is one of the best ways you can appreciate the beauty of the world. By going to unfamiliar places, you get to embrace new experiences and discover things you never knew about yourself.
While international travel does come with risks, millions of people still do it because of the remarkable and priceless memories that they get to share with their loved ones at home.
We bet that you will enjoy traveling to a foreign country too.
All you need to do is to make the necessary preparations like learning a few self-defense tips and techniques to ensure your complete safety.
Start by following the tips we shared on how to stay safe when you’re at your hotel. These are foolproof ways that can help you enjoy your trip abroad!
Happy travels and stay safe!