" As a fair sex who travel solo for study often and has been in many uncomfortable situations : debar first - floor or street - level rooms , peculiarly those with skid or balcony doorway . "
We recentlyaskedtheBuzzFeed Communityto give us tips on staying safe in hotels while traveling solo. Here are the eye-opening and helpful results:
1.“Lock every lock that is on the door. I also keep the ‘do not disturb sign’ throughout my stay because I don’t want anyone in there with my things. That said, if I have valuables, I still hide them somewhere if I don’t take them with me.”
" Also , not necessarily a safety tip , but determine for bed bugs . Better be safe than sorry . "
— flubber7777
2.“As a woman who travels solo for work often and has been in many uncomfortable situations, this is my advice: Avoid first-floor or street-level rooms, especially those with sliding or balcony doors. The anxiety of someone entering through those doors is too much.”
" If you ’re remain in a street - level elbow room , verify the tincture or drape are shut . "
— JerseyJ619
3.“If the front desk ever says your room number or any personal info, out loud at check-in, ask for a different room. THIS makes it so easy for predators to find you easily.”
— joscelynem
" All you have to do is politely require , ' Actually , can I please switch rooms ? ' Just becauseeveryone in hearing now have it off where you will be stay , that could be very dangerous . "
— radiantpunk19
4.“If you have an issue with your room, and they want to see the issue with you, tell them to check for themselves while you wait at the front desk. I had a room issue and felt cornered when the front desk attendants were in the room with me.”
5.“If parking a car in a lot adjacent to the hotel, ask for an escort to the hotel. You never know what/who is lurking while you’re on that walk and will likely catch you off guard while you try to juggle your luggage.”
6.“Trust your gut. If anything seems off, workers seem shady, get out if you can. Also, let someone know where you are. Share your location with them, and let them know you’re nervous. And have a contingency plan set up with them.”
" I ’ve texted my best friend that if she does n’t get a line from me by X time , call the cops . Here is my room issue . Please have them do a wellness balk . I’ve also preemptively called the police to alarm them that there seems to be a shady vibration , and I ’d like them to visit the hotel — and if anyone phone about me , it ’s because I recite them I did n’t trust my milieu . Stay dependable out there , everyone ! change of location is fun , but it is also incredibly nerve-racking when you do n’t feel safe ! "
7.“If you’re using room service, take the food yourself at the door. Yeah, paranoia, but once a stranger is in your room, that door is locked, and you’re alone with a stranger. I’m a guy, and it still scares me.”
" And perchance this is health , not safety , but do not put the methamphetamine from the hallway ice dispenser in your beverage ! When was the last time you saw one being cleaned ? "
— angelicduck46
8.“Always use the deadbolt. It happened to me several times when the front desk assigned me a room that was already occupied, or someone tried to enter my room. Avoid Murphy doors if possible; if you get one, put a nightstand or chair in front of it.”
" Know where the emergency exits are in case of an emergency in the center of the nighttime . It gets chaotic if alarm go off and masses move around lost . Do n’t utilize the glass or coffee pot . They never get houseclean , or at best , they are wiped with a unsporting rag that just clean your toilet . "
— sarac4574b3b4f
9.“Don’t get distracted by burying your face on your phone when walking. Keep your head on a swivel. And take a lot of pictures!!! Street signs you pass, buildings around, license plates of cars that make you 1% suspicious, or people making you feel uncomfortable.
" You may just delete them after the trip-up if all is well , but if you need them , you ’ll need them . "
— savorytree93
10.“Make reservations for two people (this includes restaurants as well). Staff and owners will always assume two people are in the room. I’ve even asked for extra towels for my ‘fiancé.'”
— Anonymous , New York
" When asked how many way keys you ’ll take , always say two ( or more ) , or check that to call for for two key before they ask / give you any . This let others take heed in that there will be someone else coming that will need the other room key . "
— 54 , Michigan
11.“Use Google Maps/Google Earth to look at the street view of wherever you are considering staying. ‘Walk’ up and down the street. Make sure it’s well lit, that there aren’t run down buildings, that there aren’t dead-end streets, etc. There have been plenty of hotels I thought looked lovely from the photos, but once I Google Earthed them, it was clear it was in a shady area.”
" Google Street View is useful for me when vet out place to stay , especially in cities . Seeing what the surrounding area looks like is commonly a good meter reading of how dependable it is as well as the parking site . "
— 32 , Michigan
12.“Check everything the second you get to the room. Make sure there is nobody in the closet, shower, behind the curtains, etc. People are creeps. Check for cameras as well. Then, check the bed for bedbugs, as those will not make your trip fun.”
" As I publish this , I am on a bus en itinerary to a hotel for a work trip , so I am about to put these things into action myself . "
— Anonymous , Connecticut
13.“Always pack one of those little rubber door stops in your bag. Wedge your door with it when you’re in your hotel room to stop people from getting in. They are cheap, small, and light to carry but give you great peace of mind!”
" Oh , unmarried womanhood might need to study wearing a wedding ring and formulate a false married man who is ' on his room to meet her’if any random military man demand her who she is traveling with . "
— 46 , UK
14.“ALWAYS lock hotel doors. Even if you are gone for only a few minutes, lock your door so you and your belongings stay safe.”
— Anonymous , 27
" Invest in a travelling doorway lock in for your hotel / hostel door . They fit most room access and provide extra protection so no staff ( or criminals ) with universal keys can access your room . "
— lesliec21
15.“If it’s late, you’ve been drinking, or if you simply get on an elevator, and there’s one other ‘sketchy’ person who has already pushed your floor number, push the floor above or below and take the stairs. Alternatively, exit on that floor and catch another elevator to yours.”
— 59 , New York
16.“I was a flight attendant for 25 years. I always used the hotel ironing board against the door when I was in the room, along with the ‘do not disturb’ sign.”
— 58 , Florida
17.“For women, especially: Cover the peephole! I always put a piece of toilet paper in it because, in some hotels, you can see in the room from the outside through it.”
— Anonymous , Virginia
18.“Check the windows and all doors first — make sure they lock. I used to travel for work and sometimes in very remote places. If they do not lock, immediately ask for a room change. Safety is a priority. I used to travel with a steel bar to put in the track of a sliding glass door, window, etc.”
— 49 , USA
— 42 , USA
20.“I do a lot of small trips alone frequently due to college. Recently, I went to Florida to visit a friend, and while we stayed together, we’re both women in our early 20s, which is daunting in an unfamiliar area. Always tell people in your family where you’re going. She told hers, and I told mine — address and everything. We even did a sharedLife360(a location-sharing app) for the both of us just in case we separated.”
" We also kept the paint we had hidden ; it was never seeable for others to see . When I trip alone , I always keep the curtains closed , even during the day , especially if I ’m not there . It just check that anything in your way ca n’t be see . "
— 21 , USA
And finally…
21.“Don’t get a room by the stairwell. It’s well known that in case of an attack/assault, the perpetrator can escape quickly or access your room quickly, too. Also, don’t get a room beside or across from the elevators! It seems obvious, but front desks always want to put clueless people there if they can get away with it. It will never not be noisy, and you will get little sleep. Too many times, BTW.”
" If you have sliding door or window , always check that they are locked . I have find them unsecured more times than I can reckon . "
Note : Some responses have been edit out for duration and/or clarity .
