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Hotel safety tips from a former intelligence officer

securitymagazine.com

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Re: Hotel safety tips from a former intelligence officer

#11

Post by dazc »

Loranubi wrote: post #8

Who are these tips for? I value my privacy and safety, but for tourists or normal business travelers these seem paranoid.

Not your average Travelodge guest, for sure.

Here are a few tips for regular people: Check-in early (by phone or via web, if you need to) because the best rooms are allocated on first come basis. Always insist on a top floor room otherwise you'll be constantly disturbed by a heard of elephants walking across the under-engineered floor above you. Avoid the ground floor, for the reason above, and, also it tends to be where they put the most likely trouble makers, groups and smokers (who'll noisily leave and enter their room throughout the night for regular nicotine fixes). Make an official complaint for the slightest of disturbance, budget hotels are built on the cheap with a contingency for refunds factored in - you'll be surprised how easy it is to get a full refund and/or a complimentary breakfast. If you hear a fire alarm do not hesitate to vacate the building and stop for nothing, construction standards meet the minimum fire safety regulations and no more. This means the building can lawfully burn to the ground in less than an hour, and a few have done exactly this.

Top tip, have a short nap as soon as you arrive. It helps alleviate that 'first night in a strange bed and can't sleep' problem.

Re: Hotel safety tips from a former intelligence officer

#12

Post by jamisteven »

esperent wrote: post #3

Kind of cool to read but these are not any tips that a normal (non-paranoid) person will need to follow unless they are traveling to some seriously dangerous locations. Except maybe the tip not to use the hotel safe or leave money under the mattress, those are good. But do normal people really need to write their name down on pieces of paper and pass them across the desk with a wink to avoid their name being said out…

In 2010 I was working at a large hotel / convention center in Nashville, at about 8pm we were preparing for a massive event where a company had bought out one of the venues, the entire hotel was booked solid. In the days prior to this, we had torrential downpours and heavy rain but this was normal, until it wasnt. Out of nowhere we get reports that the underground tunnels in the hotel used for employees to get around were taking in water and it was quickly determined that the cumberland river had overflown after the army core of engineers put a damn down and could not get it back up. I cant begin to explain the chaos that ensued there with that many people and the hotel essentially being on a dead end. 3k guests, likely more than that in employees, all scattering to get to higher ground and out of a bottle neck. Hotel was safely evacuated but the entire place was underwater by the next day. That said, the "orientation" section in this article I think is absolutely necessary.

Re: Hotel safety tips from a former intelligence officer

#14

Post by system2 »

Loranubi wrote: post #8

Who are these tips for? I value my privacy and safety, but for tourists or normal business travelers these seem paranoid.

Writer keeps mentioning 3rd world countries. I am assuming this person is traveling to Syria or some other country with active war going. I can't imagine doing these while saying at a 4 Seasons hotel.

Re: Hotel safety tips from a former intelligence officer

#15

Post by parker_mountain »

tomcam wrote: post #5

> I find the fire escape plan, and I follow it. Yeah, actually try this sometime. I do this regularly and it's amazing how often floors are locked from the stairwell, and more than once I have found floors skipped--you take the 4rth floor stairwell down and end up in a basement kitchen or something. Also he neglects to mention in the "Book online" section that it's always safer to book directly from the hotel website…

> These days their prices are competitive or better than the aggregation sites, and with better terms

I travel extensively for work, and this is simply not true. Literally last week, I saved $40 by booking through hoteltonight in Chicago. Once you get close to the date of the stay, prices become squirrely and weird. This is definitely true if you're booking more than two weeks in advance, though.

Re: Hotel safety tips from a former intelligence officer

#16

Post by starky »

esperent wrote: post #3

Kind of cool to read but these are not any tips that a normal (non-paranoid) person will need to follow unless they are traveling to some seriously dangerous locations. Except maybe the tip not to use the hotel safe or leave money under the mattress, those are good. But do normal people really need to write their name down on pieces of paper and pass them across the desk with a wink to avoid their name being said out…

I honestly can't think of many times where I actually told my name to the front desk anyway. Usually I have a printout of the reservation or hand them my passport since they need it anyway. It is easier for the front desk to type what they see than try to type what you say or spell out loud, especially in foreign countries that don't necessarily have experience with your name.

Re: Hotel safety tips from a former intelligence officer

#17

Post by vkou »

Loranubi wrote: post #8

Who are these tips for? I value my privacy and safety, but for tourists or normal business travelers these seem paranoid.

From a glance, I'd wager they are for big-time drug dealers, intelligence officers, war correspondents, and people LARPing any of the above.

Re: Hotel safety tips from a former intelligence officer

#18

Post by WelcomeShorty »

It is about the same routine I follow. Specifically the "walk the emergency routes" since muscle memory can help you a lot when under stress.

Missing one point: take a couple of business cards from the hotel with you. Whenever you need to get back, it most often makes it easier for people (cab drivers) to get you there without too much discussion and misunderstandings.

Other points: - To be sure you have some clean water in your room, bring a few small water bottles. - Avoid the in house WiFi - Do not order room service - Have a family photo / familiar item on your bed stand, so that if you wake up in a panic, you know you are awake and in "your own room" - Don't invite people into your room - Personally I like to unpack, even it is for a short stay, since it make me feel more comfortable and less "on the run" - Give the cleaning people a decent tip (if they are allowed to accept it) on the first possible occasion and make it clear who you are and what your room number is, and what you expect from them (clean / leave alone etc.) - Use the in hotel services like shoe polishing, tip them well. These people know everything going on - Order cabs via the lobby - If possible, let the lobby pay your taxi when inbound

I do not miss traveling professionally.

Re: Hotel safety tips from a former intelligence officer

#19

Post by jraby3 »

esperent wrote: post #3

Kind of cool to read but these are not any tips that a normal (non-paranoid) person will need to follow unless they are traveling to some seriously dangerous locations. Except maybe the tip not to use the hotel safe or leave money under the mattress, those are good. But do normal people really need to write their name down on pieces of paper and pass them across the desk with a wink to avoid their name being said out…

He doesn’t mention where you should keep your valuables. It’s easy to say where not to, but then offer a suggestion for a safe place to store stuff like a passport or cash.

Re: Hotel safety tips from a former intelligence officer

#20

Post by saagarjha »

tomcam wrote: post #5

> I find the fire escape plan, and I follow it. Yeah, actually try this sometime. I do this regularly and it's amazing how often floors are locked from the stairwell, and more than once I have found floors skipped--you take the 4rth floor stairwell down and end up in a basement kitchen or something. Also he neglects to mention in the "Book online" section that it's always safer to book directly from the hotel website…

I find that a lot of fire escapes are alarmed. How would you test these?
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