For a good nights sleep

For a Good Nights Sleep....Choose a Safe Hotel

By Ann Hattes for Crime prevention paper summer of 1994

"Traveling is a relaxing, enjoyable experience." stated Budgetel's ravel consultant, Virginia Duncan, in a recent interview. "The bad news," she said, "is that there are unsafe places to stay. The good news, "she continued," is that there are safe places to stay , and the even better news is that there are ways to tell the difference.

Duncan travels that country offering safety tips for today's traveler - women and men traveling for business or pleasure, seniors, and families on vacation.

"The last thing in the world you want to do is call ahead and ask "Do you have good security?" Duncan said "because everyone will say 'Yes.'"

Call ahead and ask these guestions to see how the various lodgings rate.

Question #1: "Where do the guest rooms doors open?"

"You don't want to stay where guest rooms open to the outside, to the parking lot, balcony or walkway. You want your door to open to a well lit interior corridor." stressed Duncan.

Question #2: "What kind of lock and chain does the guest room door have?"

"Don't settle for anything less that a self-locking door with a peephole, deadbolt, and a security chain or lock in addition to the deadbolt. Invest the money and call the motel or hotel directly rather than the national 800 number where the clerk will probably not be able to answerer your specific questions about the property. This is Critical." emphasized Duncan.

And once on the road and in your room, always remember, that if the individual knocking at your door doesn't have ID, or if you're not satisfied, call the front desk and check. You wouldn't let a stranger in your home. Be just as cautious on the road.

Question #3: "Ask about the keys."

"You don't want a key with the hotel name and room number, and you don't want a key with the room number on it." This way if someone finds your key, they won't know which room it opens."
"Ask if they have a card key that can be recoded by computer with every guest. It's the best
system available."

Question #4: "Does the facility have 24 hour desk management?"

You don't want to stay somewhere that closes the front desk at 10 or11 p.m. . Also make sure that the room has a working phone, a lifeline in an emergency.

"The only unlocked exit should be the front door." stressed Duncan. All other doors should be accessible only by the guest room door cards. around the clock, 24 hours a day.

"Women should request a specific room location, preferably near the manager's office, on the second floor, or near the elevator. They should avoid rooms next to, or across from the fire exit or stairwell."

According to Duncan, no well trained hotel/motel staff will ever say the room number out loud as you are handed your key-card. "If they do," said Duncan, "request a new room assignment."

"Comparison shop, Personally, I don't think there's any amenity as important as guest security. When 20/20 ran a feature a few months ago on hotel security, Barbara Walters summarized: 'Don't give me a mint on the pillow: give me a safe place to stay!'

Available Travel Brochures

   You may call Budgetel for free traveler's brochures at 1-800-428-3438
   The American Automobile Association offers a free brochure called Playing It Safe, Send a stamped, self-addressed, legal-size envelope to: Main Stop 700, 1000 AAA Drive, Heathrow, FL 32746-5063.
   The American Hotel & Motel Association offers a card of ten 'Safety Tips' For a free copy, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: AH&MA "Tips", 1201 New York Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20005