hotel, condo or house for vacation?

Posted on: 26 January 2017

Some people, whether due to an unfortunate experience in the past or simply a strong desire to remain safe, can feel concerned when they enter new environments. This can often be true during travel. If you belong to this group and need to book a hotel for an upcoming trip, you'll want to do more than just check the hotel's price, location, and available amenities. It's also a good idea to make security the focus of a phone call to the front desk. During this short conversation, you can raise a series of topics and make sure that the hotel meets your security-related expectations. Here are some features that you'll want to be present.

Enhanced Room Security

You always want to feel safe when you get into your guest room at the hotel, so make sure that the front desk representative can list off a number of security features in the room. This list can include a deadbolt and chain-style lock on the door and locks on the windows; the latter is especially important on ground-floor windows. An in-room safe, while not related to your physical security, can provide you with a secure feeling about your valuables, while a phone inside the bathroom is also ideal as an additional way to contact the front desk if needed.

Controlled Building Access

You also want to confirm that the hotel restricts access after hours. Many hotels will lock the exterior doors around the perimeter of the building, requiring people to swipe their room key card to gain entry. This means that those who aren't guests will not be able to simply walk into the building, which is something that can make you feel more secure. You should also check to ensure that the pool area and athletic center can only be accessed by those with a room key. The same goes for entry into a parking garage if there is one. Finally, it's also ideal if the elevator requires the rider to swipe his or her room key.

No Outside Access To Rooms

You'll feel more secure in your hotel room if the property doesn't provide outside access to the rooms. This means that your door opens to a hallway inside the hotel, rather than out to the parking lot, for example — which can be the case at lower-end motels. An absence of outside access is preferable because it limits the number of people who may easily pass outside your door.

For more information and advice, talk with travel agencies who can recommend places to stay in the area.