Hotel safety tips for solo travellers

Even before you physically embark on your travels there are some precautions you can take from the comfort of your home or office to increase your safety whilst you're abroad.

1) The Hotel

Every location across the world has good parts and some not so good parts and generally, if you are staying in a hotel or hostel that is cheap, it will be situated in or around these areas. So, rather than relying solely on traveller reviews to find the best place for you to stay, take in to consideration the location and distance to the town centre or tourist attractions. Built up areas in town centres can often be safer than staying in a hotel a little further out and your safety is much more important than saving a few extra pennies!

2) The Safety Measures

Before you book, call the hotel(s) that you are considering to stay at during your trip and enquire about their safety measures such as if the front desk is manned 24/7, if they have surveillance cameras, if they have security guards, if all rooms have safes and if the rooms have lockable doors to name a few. Also ask their advice about getting to and from the hotel. Better to plan ahead then arrive at 3am to find no Taxi's!

3) Your Room

If you're travelling solo, then ensuring your room is safe and secure when you are out and about or come the evenings when you're asleep, is high on your priority list. One thing you can do to increase your security is to request a room which is on the second floor or above. By requesting a room on these floors you decrease the chances of someone being able to gain access to your room from the outside (especially if you have a balcony or terrace!) yet in the event of a fire, you can still make a quick and safe getaway. You can also take a door jam with you and use that to further secure the door.

4) Locks

The very first thing you should do once you have checked in and made it to your room is to check that all the locks work correctly. This includes the windows as well as all the doors in the room. However, don't just lock your room door from the outside, ensure it locks from the inside too and if you have an actual key to your room instead of a key card, leave the key in your door at night.

For extra peace of mind and further security while you're sleeping or showering for that matter, don't forget to bring a doorstop with you.

5) Visibility

One thing that every traveller worries about when travelling is whether the items that they have left in their hotel room are safe. Besides putting your valuables in the in-room safe, there are a few other things you can do to decrease your chances of being a victim of theft, or worse.

Close your curtains when you leave your room to block an outsider's view.

Keep the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on your door even if you're going out for the day or perhaps leave the TV on quiet. Passers-by will assume you are in your room and may not attempt to break in.

" Don't open your door unless you know the person behind it. Once someone has entry and is in your room, it can be difficult to get them to leave, not to mention quite unnerving whilst doing so!

6) Trust your instinct

One of the most important things to remember wherever you're travelling to is to trust your instinct. If you don't feel completely safe in your surroundings or think that there is something a bit off about the hotel or any of its employees, just leave. There are plenty more hotels and hostels in the area that would be happy to have you stay there. Don't stay somewhere just because of the price, your safety and well-being is priceless. Remember that!

Get covered with Travel Insurance

Before you travel, one of the most important things to remember is to book your travel insurance!

When travelling to challenging or 'high risk' environments across the world, you'll need a travel insurance product that can offer enhanced protection and extensive emergency assistance which is exactly where High-Risk Voyager travel insurance can help. Even in countries the FCDO have advised against all or 'all but essential' travel!

With a 24/7 emergency medical helpline and access to the 'One Tap Emergency Response' App, Emergency Medical Expenses cover up to £1,000,000, Emergency Medical Evacuation cover up to £1,000,000, cover for PTSD treatment and much, much more, High Risk Voyager Travel Insurance can offer peace of mind and financial protection from the unexpected on your next business or leisure trip.