Ten Safety Tips for Your Next Hotel Stay

We travel to Las Vegas four or five times a year, and in busy 24-7 Sin City, where a lot of money changes hands, securing hotel safety is a necessary task. Travelers to anywhere in the world can profit by following these Las Vegas personal security rules: 1. As soon as you enter your room for the first time, get familiar with emergency number(s) you can call on the room's phone if necessary. Also, be certain about how to call for immediate help on your cell phone when in the room and anywhere else on the hotel property. 2. Be sure you’re totally familiar with all the safety precautions to should follow, whether in hotel rooms, hallways, elevators, on the street and everywhere else in your travels. 3. If you’re elderly or physically-impaired, it’s best to used the buddy system when using public restrooms, in hallways, on the street at night and in any other questionable situations. Never allow yourself to be totally alone in unfamiliar settings. 4. The buddy system can be effective when swimming in a crowded pool, amusement park rides and similar large public events. Be sure buddies are within sight at all times, especially elderly with memory problems. 5. When inside your hotel room, check that every locking device on doors is in place at all times. If there's a balcony, close and lock the balcony door when you return inside, and double check before you leave the room. 6. Never allow a person claiming to be a hotel employee into your room, unless it’s a maid you've already seen in the hall or nearby rooms. If someone outside your door claims to be there for repairs or for any other reason, and you haven’t specifically called for help, don’t open the door. First call the front desk to verify that this specific visit has been ordered by the hotel staff. 7. If you're returning to your room at any time, but especially late at night, and do not feel safe to use the elevator or hallways, contact hotel security to assign a guard to go with you to your room. 8. If at any time you do not feel safe in using the hotel garage, especially when there are poorly lighted areas, ask security to assign a guard to escort you to and/or from your parked car. 9. Do not carry large sums of money with you. In many hotel rooms, especially Las Vegas and other cities where gambling is featured, always use the room's safe for storing large sums of cash. If there’s no safe, ask the front desk to keep your money and other valuables. Even if you're gambling or dining in expensive restaurants, carry a limited amount of cash on your person. Use your credit card or arrange to sign all meals, tips and other hotel expenses to your room account. 10. In most other money situations while traveling anywhere, using traveler's checks is preferable to carrying large amounts of cash. There are very few places in the world where American Express traveler's checks are not honored. If you practice personal safety at all times, your hotel stay should be a relaxed and enjoyable experience.