Many hotel rooms have inadequate security. Whether it’s a front desk that is not open 24 hours or insufficient locks on the door, there are reasons why you should look for a different hotel or try to bolster the security yourself.
Before choosing a hotel, make sure to read as many reviews as possible. The internet provides many venues for this and you should certainly take advantage. Many review sites, such as hostelworld, hotels.com and Yelp, offer specific ratings for security. Also, read the comments from previous guests and see what they have to say.
Purchase some extra door security just in case. You can get a device called an Add-a-Lock, which can attach to almost any door and it effectively adds another locking mechanism. Also, look into getting a door stop alarm, which will sound loudly if anyone tries to open the door when it is in place. I would highly recommend getting one or both of these items even if you think all the hotels you will be staying in are secure. They are a small investment, they don’t take up too much room in your bag, and having them will pay off in the long run.
I like to browse the tips on mytravelsafety.net before my trip so I can get a good idea of things that I should keep in mind. It’s a website filled with advice and resources and it offers plenty of great reminders for anyone leaving on a trip.
There is no reason for you to feel unsafe in your hotel room and in most cases, you will be staying in a place that is completely secure. But in cases where there are not many options or all the good hotels are booked up, you will definitely want to consider adding a few extra layers to whatever security the hotel has in place.