Travel Checklists: Hotel

HOTELS

MAKING RESERVATIONS:
____ Ask:
- Do doors open to an interior hallway vice to an outdoor balcony - criminals would probably be less likely to try to enter your room from an interior hallway
- Type of locks for the room doors:
- Self-locking?
- Dead bolt?
- Security bar and/or chain?
- Type of keys they use (stay away from metal keys with room #'s on them) - card keys are best e.g., with magnetic strip - they change the code after each guest
- Phone in room - which you could use if someone was trying to enter your room
- 24-hour front desk staffing
____ Ask for a room which is not on the first floor, especially if there's a sliding glass door to the outside, especially if you're a woman by yourself

BEFORE ARRIVING AT HOTEL:
____ Have dollar bills available for tipping door person, bell hop, etc.

UPON ARRIVAL AT HOTEL:
____ Tip the door person and/or bell hop approx. $1 to $1.50 per bag, more if they provide extra services
____ Ask for a room which is not on the first floor, especially if there's a sliding glass door to the outside, especially if you're a woman by yourself
____ Ask for a room which is not above the reach of local fire department ladders, e.g., ladder trucks
____ Ask what kind of identification the staff carries
____ Determine fire excape routes/procedures

WHILE STAYING AT HOTEL:
If someone comes to room saying they're hotel staff:
Before you let them in:
____ Call front desk to confirm that they're supposed to be there

If you expect to make more than a few phone calls:
____ Keep a log(list) of calls you make including day, time, number called, whether call was answered, lenght of call

Back to Top RESIDENCE - Leaving (e.g., for brief absence)
Also see: TRAVEL

Well before leaving:
____ Ensure your name and phone number are on all items which are susceptible to being lost or stolen
____ Listen to radio and/or watch TV for:
- Traffic conditions
- Weather forecast - so you can wear appropriate clothing and take appropriate gear, e.g., umbrella

If you intend to drive:
____ Obtain maps (e.g., mapquest.com)
____ Consider whether you need to allow time to get gas before reaching your destination
____ Plan to get gas at a time and place which is safe (e.g., not at night - higher risk of crime), convenient and economical

Shortly before leaving:
____ Apply sunscreen approx. 30 minutes before going out in the sun
____ Don't take anything you won't need and don't want to lose, e.g., some items in your wallet
____ Set VCR
____ Let someone (living with you or near you) know where you're going and when you expect to be back
____ Set lights to make residence appear occupied - to help prevent burglaries
____ Close and lock windows - to keep rain, burglars, etc. out
____ Close and lock doors - to keep burglars, etc. out

If you have a message for someone who you think might visit while you're gone:
____ Leave a note on your front door (be discreet if you're concerned about burglars)

If you would like to let someone know where you're going:
____ Leave a message on someone's answering machine

Right before leaving:
____ Take/check list(s) of things to buy, get, do
____ Take:
- Sunscreen/sunblock - approx. 7,000 people die in U.S. each year from skin cancer
- Hat (e.g., one with cloth flap(s) and/or a wide brim - to protect your head and neck from sun exposure
- Indicator of sun intensity (some can be stuck onto your skin)
- Identification - in case you become sick or injured
- Medical information - in case you become sick or injured
____ Set security system(s)/ measures
Source: Checklists.com