New ways to make your hotel room safe

Walter Meyer is so concerned about hotel safety that he always brings “Dave” along.

“Whenever I leave my room, I turn the TV on at a low volume — preferably a talk show or news,” he says. “So if anyone listens at the door, they just hear voices talking and think the room is occupied.”

When he leaves the hotel, he turns to the room and says, “Dave, are you sure you don’t want anything? Ok, I’ll be back in a little bit.”

“If anyone is watching, I want to create the impression that there is someone in the room, and that I will be back soon,” he says. “Even if I won’t.”

When it comes to hotel security, guests are getting innovative. The tools and strategies range from simple (like Dave) to sophisticated.

Travelers are more worried than ever about hotel safety

Safety is the number one concern for business travelers, according to a recent survey by the Global Business Travel Association. But experts say there’s been a similar rise in concern among leisure travelers.

“Sometimes, the simplest products can go a long way towards hardening your hotel room against criminals,” says Philip Farina, a travel safety expert.

A recent survey of U.S. business travelers conducted by Opinium Research for World Travel Protection outlines the steps people take to stay safer:

• 25 percent say they carry a self-defense item such as keys or pepper spray when traveling alone for work.

• 21 percent have placed a chair or other obstacle against their hotel room door for added security. 

• 18 percent say they have used a doorstop alarm on their hotel room door.

Meyer, a frequent traveler and author of “If You Weren’t Here, This Would Not Be Happening,” says he doesn’t rely exclusively on his imaginary friend for safety. He uses the deadbolt to lock the door from the inside and sometimes will move a chair or table against the door, depending on the hotel’s location.

Make sure your hotel cares about safety

One way to stay safe is to check into a hotel that is known for its safety. 

“Peace of mind should come standard with every room,” says Helen Watson, the general manager of The Adelphi Hotel in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

At her hotel, everything is designed with security in mind. The features include:

• Guest identity verification: All guests must show valid identification at check-in. If a guest requests a replacement or additional room key, the hotel reverifies their identity every time — no exceptions.

• Enhanced room security: Every guest room is equipped with a deadbolt lock, a secondary security lock latch, and a full-view peephole.

• In-room safes: Each guest room is equipped with a secure personal safe for storing valuables, important documents, or prized possessions during your stay.

• Discreet security: The Adelphi has trained security personnel on-site and on call. Their presence ensures rapid response if needed and reassures guests without being intrusive.

• Private access areas: Certain guest floors and amenities are only accessible with a valid room key.

If you travel abroad, you know there’s even more a hotel can do. In Istanbul, for example, most full-service hotels have metal detectors and 24/7 security guards.

You can ask about these security features before you book. A knowledgeable travel advisor will know, but you can usually get that information from the hotel’s website. 

What other new tricks are travelers using to make their rooms safer?

Truth is, no hotel is completely safe. You have to take extra steps to ensure your own safety.

“Your hotel room may look secure, but subtle signs can indicate potential weaknesses,” says Frank Harrison, the regional security director of the Americas for World Travel Protection. “Physical security flaws, such as a lack of secondary door locks, outdated key card systems, insecure windows, and visible gaps in door frames, make rooms easier to breach.”

A portable door stop alarm (with a twist)

The battery-operated device will sound an alarm if pressure is applied from the outside, which will help scare off any intruders and let you know that someone is trying to enter your room. Savvy travelers are supplementing the alarm with a rubber wedge doorstop, says Joe Cronin, CEO of International Citizens Insurance. “Those wedges don’t lock the door, but they make it very hard for someone to sneak in quickly or quietly,” he adds. 

A lock (or two)

Georgia Fowkes, a travel advisor for Altezza Travel, always packs two portable door locks that she can use for extra safety. Why two? “Because you might have two doors in your room — the main entrance and the adjacent room door,” she says. “I won’t simply trust that no one will unlock the doors if there is no deadbolt.” One recent addition to her security arsenal is a wedge alarm that she packs on her travels to dangerous countries. It emits a piercing sound when triggered by an opening door.

Avoid these rooms

Perhaps the best way to stay safe is to ask for a safer room. Experts say the ground floor rooms are more vulnerable, as are rooms near a staircase. Echo Wang, who publishes a travel wellness site, avoids rooms with connecting doors or balconies. “They just seem like a free pass for somebody,” she says. 

I admit, I’ve been worried about hotel safety lately, too. My solution is to travel with two grown men, my sons. If someone tries to break into our hotel room, they’ll have to deal with all three of us. But if I were traveling alone, I would definitely use all of these strategies: no ground floor rooms, a doorstop, and an alarm. 

Hotel security is not an imaginary problem

Walter Meyer’s “Dave” might be imaginary, but his strategy isn’t. As travelers grow more worried about hotel safety, people seem prepared to try anything, including bringing a pretend guest with them.

Making your next hotel stay safer is a team effort. Your hotel should take security seriously, but so should you. Until then, keep talking to Dave. He’s cheaper than a security detail — and way better company than the guy jiggling your doorknob at 2 a.m.