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Hotel safety tips from a former intelligence officer

140 points by graderjs 4y ago

graderjs 4y ago
Also https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2016-04-19/9-travel-safety-tips-from-a-former-cia-agent/amp https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2016-04-19/9-travel-safet...
- tomcam 4y ago
  > Acquire or make a copy of the fire escape plan on the back of your door. Most of these just slide out I use this novel device called a "smartphone" to snap a picture
  - rickette 4y ago
    Need to get me one of those :)
  - toss1 4y ago
    just make sure you keep it charged; plus, are you sure you'll have it on hand when you wake up with everything going sideways? Good idea to take the pic, for sure, but perhaps not as the only copy - best to walk it hand have some memory
esperent 4y ago
Kind of cool to read but these are not any tips that a normal (non-paranoid) person will need to follow unless they are traveling to some seriously dangerous locations. Except maybe the tip not to use the hotel safe or leave money under the mattress, those are good. But do normal people really need to write their name down on pieces of paper and pass them across the desk with a wink to avoid their name being said out loud? I think not.
- jamisteven 4y ago
  In 2010 I was working at a large hotel / convention center in Nashville, at about 8pm we were preparing for a massive event where a company had bought out one of the venues, the entire hotel was booked solid. In the days prior to this, we had torrential downpours and heavy rain but this was normal, until it wasnt. Out of nowhere we get reports that the underground tunnels in the hotel used for employees to get around were taking in water and it was quickly determined that the cumberland river had overflown after the army core of engineers put a damn down and could not get it back up. I cant begin to explain the chaos that ensued there with that many people and the hotel essentially being on a dead end. 3k guests, likely more than that in employees, all scattering to get to higher ground and out of a bottle neck. Hotel was safely evacuated but the entire place was underwater by the next day. That said, the "orientation" section in this article I think is absolutely necessary.
  - nextlevelwizard 4y ago
    How often does this happen? Once in a life time? This is the kind of stuff that makes you go nutty. Of course you _can_ try to prepare for everything and anything, but does it actually make sense to worry about being in a flash flood like that? I doubt it.
    - pengaru 4y ago
      The orientation section doesn't seem incredibly inconvenient nor costly. It's basically just establishing situational awareness in an unfamiliar place. What are you getting kept from by doing it? A dozen extra minutes of terrible hotel TV? On the topic of flash floods esp. when traveling; I make a conscious effort to not park/stay anywhere liable to flash-flood, and that requires some situational awareness in the sense of at least knowing your surroundings and the area's geography/climate/seasonal weather patterns. We recently narrowly avoided getting caught in [0], and that was with us making a conscious effort to not spend too much time in any of the low-lying areas, not even for a day hike - we'd always park somewhere relatively high and simply avoided hiking any of the low regions. That storm happened just one day after we were there passing through that exact spot. The tourists staying at that popular hotel probably didn't think about how they're staying on the floor of an enormous desert valley in a monsoon-y time of year. By failing to prepare you're preparing to fail... [0] https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-08-05/unprecedented-flooding-hits-death-valley-swallowed-cars-stranding-hundreds https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-08-05/unpreced...
adhesive_wombat 4y ago
I was almost impressed by the equally prominent "Reject" cookies button until I realised that when you press it, it refuses access. Ironic for an article about how to be a security paranoiac. Edit: Especially as it recommends an online booking and doing so without regard to cookies and other trackers is probably leaking far more personal information to people who actually could use that information than saying your name out loud.
- littlecranky67 4y ago
  And illegal (in EU) anyways, as you cannot deny the service when people refuse to accept the tracking cookies..
- Markoff 4y ago
  https://archive.ph/gSBMp https://archive.ph/gSBMp
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
tomcam 4y ago
> I find the fire escape plan, and I follow it. Yeah, actually try this sometime. I do this regularly and it's amazing how often floors are locked from the stairwell, and more than once I have found floors skipped--you take the 4rth floor stairwell down and end up in a basement kitchen or something. Also he neglects to mention in the "Book online" section that it's always safer to book directly from the hotel website. Fewer middlement. These days their prices are competitive or better than the aggregation sites, and with better terms. Some aggregation sites have little compunction about booking the wrong room, then don't refund things the hotel would if you dealt with them directly.
- parker_mountain 4y ago
  > These days their prices are competitive or better than the aggregation sites, and with better terms I travel extensively for work, and this is simply not true. Literally last week, I saved $40 by booking through hoteltonight in Chicago. Once you get close to the date of the stay, prices become squirrely and weird. This is definitely true if you're booking more than two weeks in advance, though.
  - bboygravity 4y ago
    Definitely true for Europe. I pretty much live in hotels and so far 100% of my bookings where either cheaper (usually) or the same price (rarely) on the hotel's own webste vs aggregators. Regardless of my "genious discount level 9000" or "save up 10 nights and get 1 free" and all the other "discounts" that you actually paid for indirectly on aggregators. The only place where this didn't hold true for me so far was a hotel in Indonesia, where the price quoted at the hotel desk in person was higher than a certain aggregator. The people at the front desk suggested I'd book online and I did :)
    - closewith 4y ago
      Europe is a big place. It's not true in Ireland, anyway.
  - anakaine 4y ago
Shank 4y ago
Rather than a doorstop, I usually prefer a super grip lock [0] -- an extremely corny as-seen-on-TV product that you can lash around a door knob that uses simple physics to make the door impossible to open with the key on the other side. Naomi Wu mentioned this and Deviant Ollam has too. The basic premise is that it's less destructive than most "security door stops" and hotels tend to get angry if you destroy their carpet. And of course, traditional door stops don't keep the door closed very well unless you wedge them well. [0]: https://smile.amazon.com/Super-Grip-Lock-Deadbolt-Accessory/dp/B008YGQSOO https://smile.amazon.com/Super-Grip-Lock-Deadbolt-Accessory/... Edit: I could be misremembering if Naomi Wu used it or something similar, but I think I'm right. If you know correctly, let me know.
- TacticalCoder 4y ago
  Seeing the picture of that lock reminded me how uniform were the door locks and light switches in the US. In Europe there are countless different types of door locks and light switches but basically everywhere I went to in the US it was the same door locks and light switches. I take it if you travel internationally a doorstop would work everywhere.
  - WWLink 4y ago
    There are building codes that were implemented before most buildings in the US were built for stuff like that. There are variances in like, knob vs lever handle, but yea they mostly work the same and are in the same spot. IMHO a smart thing if there's an emergency and you're staying someplace unfamiliar...
    - Scoundreller 4y ago
      Most hotel doors will have (re-)closer mechanisms on their doors, and you can fashion a belt around them in an emergency: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xlhbiSvVKnE https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xlhbiSvVKnE
- chrisseaton 4y ago
  Seems like it requires an extremely particular design of door handles that I’ve never actually seen in a hotel.
Loranubi 4y ago
Who are these tips for? I value my privacy and safety, but for tourists or normal business travelers these seem paranoid.
- ev1 4y ago
  As a normal business traveler I have been in more than one "smoke filling up hallway" situation and found fire exits locked or barricaded to prevent ingress. I think a LOT of this is reasonable. The "know your area before you step out and don't look like a confused person standing in the middle of the street when you exit the hotel" part is also really good for not being immediately marked as a tourist.
  - Cthulhu_ 4y ago
    And it's relevant for pretty much every major city, "third world" or otherwise; don't look like a confused tourist too much.
- system2 4y ago
  Writer keeps mentioning 3rd world countries. I am assuming this person is traveling to Syria or some other country with active war going. I can't imagine doing these while saying at a 4 Seasons hotel.
  - FateOfNations 4y ago
    Not necessarily a war zone, but definitely countries with higher crime where foreign visitors are often targets. I wouldn't discount the Four Seasons. It advertises that you are well off and are a potentially lucrative person to rob or kidnap (for the ransom insurance money that many employers of international business travelers have).
  - f1shy 4y ago
    Once I was for work in a middle America country (I do not want to mention). The company that sent me had me strictly forbidden to step out the hotel, if not in a Taxi from the hotel. The company building was 300m away, I could see it from my window. I could have walk in literally 10 minutes there. The thing is, just too many former employees were kidnapped before.
threatofrain 4y ago
The most interesting advice here is to leave the TV on with a do-not-disturb sign. I think people will be less likely to rob you that way. All the other advice is kind of whatever, like not being on the top floor in case someone is sweeping for you floor-by-floor.
- graderjs 4y ago
  I think not being top floor is just like if there's a fire you know what I mean or if there's some sort of attack top floor you are stuck. Personal I like the top floor cuz you can't hear people banging around on the floor above you and it's normally a bit quieter... But now I'm going to rethink it. :) :P xx ;p
- SwiftyBug 4y ago
  The problem is that in a lot of hotels the power of the whole room shuts down the moment you remove the key card from its slot. I guess you would need to ask for a second key card.
  - barrkel 4y ago
    I've only ever found those to be simple physical switches. I use a spare credit-card sized object from my wallet, e.g. a loyalty card or an enomatic charge card (I have a half dozen of these), but even a stiff business card will do if it's the right size. With far less attention to security, I do this to e.g. charge up devices while I go get a bite to eat before heading out again in the evening.
  - Markoff 4y ago
    often any card or piece of whatever stucked inside work, they don't really check for chip or anything
- Cthulhu_ 4y ago
  Yeah, it make it seem like someone's present, so thieves of opportunity will pass you by. It works at home too. The floor thing is twofold; one, a lot of hotel ground floors are quite busy with passers-by, higher floors should only have guests and occasional staff. But the author also mentions that fire ladders can still reach the 2nd or 3rd floor; if you're higher up, you have to be able to go down first. You're cornered if you're on the top floor.
jhoelzel 4y ago
For a Security site, the are quite hostile for declining their cookies. I will not get redirected to the article but to mainpage and the search doesnt work :/
- raverbashing 4y ago
  That's why I just accepted cookies and deleted them I do care about my privacy (and safety), thanks
- Scoundreller 4y ago
  Just don’t visit security sites directly if you value your security! https://archive.ph/gSBMp https://archive.ph/gSBMp
WelcomeShorty 4y ago
It is about the same routine I follow. Specifically the "walk the emergency routes" since muscle memory can help you a lot when under stress. Missing one point: take a couple of business cards from the hotel with you. Whenever you need to get back, it most often makes it easier for people (cab drivers) to get you there without too much discussion and misunderstandings. Other points: - To be sure you have some clean water in your room, bring a few small water bottles. - Avoid the in house WiFi - Do not order room service - Have a family photo / familiar item on your bed stand, so that if you wake up in a panic, you know you are awake and in "your own room" - Don't invite people into your room - Personally I like to unpack, even it is for a short stay, since it make me feel more comfortable and less "on the run" - Give the cleaning people a decent tip (if they are allowed to accept it) on the first possible occasion and make it clear who you are and what your room number is, and what you expect from them (clean / leave alone etc.) - Use the in hotel services like shoe polishing, tip them well. These people know everything going on - Order cabs via the lobby - If possible, let the lobby pay your taxi when inbound I do not miss traveling professionally.
- FractalHQ 4y ago
  No offense but this sounds neurotic to me. I’ve been traveling internationally for over a decade professionally and never do any of these things. I’ve woken up to a fire alarm in a random hotel in a random country (more than once) and even then, I immediately recognize I’m in a hotel room and traveling for work. Then I just followed signs / people until the alarms stopped.
- graderjs 4y ago
  Why do not order room service, what's the risk there in your opinion? I like the stuff about personal photo next to the bed as well as using the in-house services and tipping. That's smart man!
  - lordgrenville 4y ago
    Poisoning I guess. I recently heard an interview with Eliot Higgins from Bellingcat and he said he doesn't order room service for this reason.
lbj 4y ago
I would have liked to see the good options when not using the hotel safe.
- andreareina 4y ago
  Your own bag, locked with a good lock. The threat model is convert entry; someone who's willing to carry your bag away can probably open the safe anyway so you're not losing in real security.
  - lbj 4y ago
    Thanks! I'll stick to my selfmade little box. Its easy to open if you know how, but if you don't you get a severe electric burn, that will at minimum make you scream loudly.
- Cthulhu_ 4y ago
  Keep your most valuables on you; else, hide them. Still no guarantee for a determined burglar, but they will be on edge and if it's not an easy snatch (e.g. by going straight for the hotel safe, which they probably will have done before) they won't want to hang out. It's why the "do not disturb" and putting on the TV thing also works, it makes on-edge burglars doubt whether someone's there. And doubt is enough to discourage opportunists.
zoltar 4y ago
[1,000 lumen flashlight] ...they are incredibly effective at temporarily blinding a would-be attacker, giving you a chance to escape. Is this dude for real?
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- stevarino 4y ago
  Tactical flashlight. They're strong enough to give you second degree burns if you hold it against your flesh. They typically have low, high, and strobe modes for disorienting targets.
  - WWLink 4y ago
    They also usually have the most asinine single button interface and the most likely person to get strobed is yourself lol.
    - shapefrog 4y ago
      14 clicks in an 1-2-1-2 pattern for attack defence mode.
  - nradov 4y ago
    Second degree burns, lol. I have a couple of those "tactical" flashlights. They don't put out nearly that much heat.
- Cthulhu_ 4y ago
  I mean it's better than nothing IF you are in a situation like that. Most countries don't allow any kind of self-defense gear like weapons or mace, especially not when going on an airplane. This is something robbers will know, plus you will stand out as a visitor - stand out as an international traveler (so not poor), unfamiliar with the surroundings, and likely without any kind of self defense. Mind you, if you do get robbed, it's probably best to give up the goods anyway instead of try and fight. Make sure your passport is safe (keep it somewhere else than your wallet / phone / valuables) and you should be all right.
gregw2 4y ago
I was robbed at gunpoint at a hotel once and in the aftermath have my own tactical "lessons learned" on the topic of hotel safety tips... which I am happy to share with you fellow HN travelers: * Don't check into (cheap) hotels at 2am, criminals prowl at night looking for easy targets. * If you do, be on extra alert for idling or lurking cars with headlights on at hotels in early morning hours, it is indeed a greater threat indicator than in daylight hours * Minimize your movement outside your room when it's dark. It's not necessarily a boost in your security profile to go back out to your car to bring in your forgotten laptop from the trunk back into your room * If someone does have you at gunpoint and wants your money, do what your mother said and just give it to them, you can always make more money later. No regrets. * When a criminal takes your wallet, appeal to a shared fear of cops by asking for your driver's license back, you may still lose your cash but get your ID and credit cards back if they don't have a clear plan/motive to fence them... huge hassle savings (hat tip to the divine inspiration that brought this to my lips in that moment, it worked) * If you do lose all your credit/debit cards (+cell phone), one benefit of reporting your situation to the cops immediately is that when they come and take your statement and open a case (however unlikely it will be solved), they may give you a card documenting and showing your case #. That card can come in as handy evidence backing up your "sob story" in conversations the next day with strangers you meet if you now find yourself in a strange city with no resources and no friends looking to get a free meal or other assistance (while promising to pay the stranger back of course). Conversely, a stranger telling you a sob story of them being robbed can be asked to produce such evidence.
- gregw2 4y ago
  Not a safety tip, but also (to me) one more interesting lesson from the experience (which happened in my early 20s): * Trauma is a real thing. Your body can react to deadly threats afterwards in ways you cannot control. The next day after being held up, I literally could not enter a new room without my head moving/turning to scan entrances/exits for threats. I tried to stop my head moving repeatedly and could not! I literally could not control my body. After a little while of experiencing this, I found myself asking myself "Well, do I need to embrace this new behavior as a needed lifestyle adjustment? Or do I work to go back to my old ways?". I chose to work to go back to my old ways as this was a bit of a one-off situation (and in hindsight it was), but it took about a week of continual effort to regain control of my mind+body behaviors. I can easily see someone in different circumstances facing different tradeoffs remaining traumatized.
Markoff 4y ago
https://archive.ph/gSBMp https://archive.ph/gSBMp for users outside US, since this site illegaly denies access after rejecting cookies
- Cthulhu_ 4y ago
  I'm 99% sure that a US website is perfectly within their right to deny EU citizens for whatever reason. If it was EU based however they would be violating the GDPR. There's a lot of US sites that just give a HTTP 451 (unavailable for legal reasons) for people from the EU.
  - Scoundreller 4y ago
    I think that’s why the 451 gets around that by not even offering the service at all! Though I had to assist a relative in EU that couldn’t click the “unsubscribe” button on a marketing email because that too led to a 451!
  - Markoff 4y ago
    It's illegal, consent must be freely given. Either the site must be completely inaccessible to EU citizens (no matter whether user will consent to cookies or not) or it must be accessible even after rejecting consent, there is nothing in between. Accessible site only after giving consent is just plain blackmailing. https://www.whitecase.com/insight-alert/websites-must-remain-accessible-when-rejecting-tracking-cookies-dutch-data-protection https://www.whitecase.com/insight-alert/websites-must-remain...
pcdoodle 4y ago
"I put the TV on low, usually on CNN, and leave it on." Might as well just die.
- Scoundreller 4y ago
  I leave it on Fox News so they consider that I’m carrying and mildly insane.
  - toss1 4y ago
    That's the first good use of Faux News I've ever seen - kudos!
  - Markoff 4y ago
    I don't think people abroad would be able to spot the difference.
    - Scoundreller 4y ago
      Probably won’t get Fox News outside of US or Canada (and even Canada is a stretch: cablecos don’t really force that one upon us in their bundles)
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
aaron695 4y ago
durnygbur 4y ago
The funniest and most obnoxious situation is seeing in perfectly safe country self-obsessed Americans, behaving as if they are some secret agents, extraordinary targets, vulnerable treasure, and as they look at everyone with suspicious disgust. Additional tip - wear black suit and Oakley sunglasses, in every circumstances.
- Cthulhu_ 4y ago
  You say that but from an outsider's perspective, crime, drug abuse and gun violence is very prevalent over there. As are Oakley sunglasses and people with a badass complex for that matter, lmao.
- refurb 4y ago
  What's a "perfectly safe country"?
  - durnygbur 4y ago
    any EU country, for example?
    - f1shy 4y ago
      In the sense that the government has taken out all competition on stealing?
    - mmmpop 4y ago
      Ah yes. Some dude tried to mug me in Dijon in 2018, but I must have been imagining things... or obviously a very uncommon situation! I should have travelled to someplace safe like Saint-Denis, or maybe stay safe in America and go to Chicago.
      - durnygbur 4y ago
        Forgot about France, sorry. I don't fell well there either.
    - 4y ago
t_mann 4y ago
The only useful advice in there is to know the escape routes from your room, the rest sounds like it would have a net negative effect for the average person. Choosing your hotel room based on maneuverability in the event of an attack is not only completely pointless if you don't know how to maneuver in the event of an attack, but more importantly, for the average person, running those sorts of scenarios in your head sounds like it will take away more from your mental health than whatever benefits you may get in terms of 10-to-the-minus-x percentage points gains in survival probability.
- toss1 4y ago
  You do you, but I found most of the advice highly useful, and actually enhancing convenience. Don't use hotel safe or under the mattress - yup, good advice, seen that before, and definitely need to think about valuables & passport storage at all times anyway. Book in advance and hand them copies of addresses, docs, passport over the counter - yup, great advice, also means you have a 2nd copy on you, which can be a lifesaver if your phone or primary docs get lost/stolen. Checking maps and orienting yourself to the surroundings is something I do anyway just to know where I am, and actually allows me to enjoy the sights better since I'm no longer primarily occupied with wondering where TF I'm going. Having actually walked the exit routes would be incredibly useful in a wide variety of emergencies. Both being able to exit from memory if something happens, and also knowing that one exit is actually blocked. It'd really suck to die because you went out an exit and found it blocked, but could no longer access the other one... I also find that, although I haven't done it explicitly (I will in the future), it's often just handy to know other routes to get to/from the outside - they often wind up being more convenient, especially when carrying stuff. Asking for 2nd/3rd floor room sounds like excellent advice, especially in unknown foreign areas, off the (vulnerable) ground floor but multiple escape routes in fire or attack. Self-rescue by jumping or down-climbing a bedsheet rope is still very possible in ways that it isn't on floors 4 and up... Etc... I really don't understand not only rejecting such good advice from a clearly knowledgeable expert, but also taking the trouble to write a post advocating that other people also ignore it. Seems you're insecure in your willful ignorance, and want others to join you; please stop doing that.
  - 4y ago
iLoveOncall 4y ago
I put my stuff in the safe not to protect it from outside thieves but to protect it from hotel employees. I don't have any source but I'm sure this represents the vast majority of hotel theft.
- zenexer 4y ago
  The hotel employees can open the safes, though.
  - iLoveOncall 4y ago
    I doubt the cleaning staff can which probably limits a lot of thefts.
    - zenexer 4y ago
      They may not be authorized to, but if they care to learn how, they can certainly gain access with minimal effort. A quick YouTube search would be sufficient, or they may pick it up the necessary knowledge as they work.
xtiansimon 4y ago
Ok. Haven’t traveled outside of the US in a while, but I agree some of this sounds paranoid. That said, I believe whole heartedly in this: “Walk out of the front door with the confidence that you know where you are going.” If you’re overseas and don’t speak the language, the experience can be disorienting. I had my travel wallet picked out of my pocket in a tourist office. Places like banks, ATMs and hotels are places where pickpockets and robbers congregate. Take 5-10 minutes and watch these areas in large foreign cities and you may notice suspicious patterns. I live outside NYC and do the same when I’m in an unfamiliar neighborhood. I avoid being out in these places after 9 pm as well. Just look at the police blotter, and you see most robberies occur late night and early morning. I don’t take precautions because I’m fearful of going out. I do it because I know better.
ghaff 4y ago
This isn't hotel-specific but my tip is the following: Assume your smartphone gets lost/broken/stolen or your wallet gets lost/stolen (or a credit card gets flagged for fraud). Do you know where you're actually staying? Do you have a copy of your itinerary more generally? Do you have backup credit cards and IDs? I'm not super-fanatical about having printed maps etc. in a familiar city but I try to have backup of everything especially traveling internationally. For example, a few years back, I somehow managed to lose my drivers license between the limo and the terminal door. It was a short trip and I hadn't bothered to bring my backup travel portfolio. Shockingly, TSA (at least at the time) let me get on the flight after some enhanced screening. But I had a heck of a time getting the hotel--which wasn't one of my usual chains--to let me get a room.
- Scoundreller 4y ago
  Yeah, at present, you’re not required to show ID to fly. Not sure how the Real ID project will affect this: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/frequently-asked-questions/i-forgot-my-identification-can-i-still-proceed-through-security https://www.tsa.gov/travel/frequently-asked-questions/i-forg... https://www.uponarriving.com/tsa-no-id/ https://www.uponarriving.com/tsa-no-id/
  - ghaff 4y ago
    I think this may change once RealID phases in but I read that somewhere quite a while back so not sure.
- Larrikin 4y ago
  Hannibal Burgess, the comedian that helped bring attention to the Cosby rapes, has a bit in one of his shows about losing his license while touring domestically. He would have to get to the airport early and would show TSA videos of him performing on YouTube. It was a huge hassle but he was always allowed to get on the plane.
  - SpelingBeeChamp 4y ago
    >Hannibal Burgess FYI, I believe it's Hannibal Buress
jononomo 4y ago
This guy neglects to mention wearing a bullet-proof vest when checking into a hotel, which makes me think he hasn't really thought this through. What if someone were to open fire on you while you're checking in to the hotel?
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- Scoundreller 4y ago
  This is my worry at long security lines at airports: just a large volume of people without the tools to protect themselves in any way. Much insecurity.
  - jononomo 4y ago
    This is a great point -- I've wondered about this for years. I can remember flying back in the 1980s (I was a teen), before security got stupid and when friends and relatives could meet you or drop you off directly at the gate. The whole experience of flying back then was so much better. You used to be able to drop a 5-year-old off at the gate when the plan was boarding, and then have their grandparents meet them at the other gate, sort of like a long elevator ride with friend and family at each door.
  - seanw444 4y ago
    I never fly. I don't trust TSA to keep me safe. If there's somewhere I can't go with my firearm, I won't go. I refuse to step foot in states without constitutional carry, unless I have absolutely no other choice.
    - jononomo 4y ago
      I'm with you! In fact, I take it even further. I refuse to step out of my house. You can never be too careful.
  - omnibrain 4y ago
    The bombings at Brussel Airport in 2016 happend at the check-in lines. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Brussels_bombings#Brussels_Airport https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Brussels_bombings#Brussel...
papito 4y ago
Not everyone vacations in a war zone all the time.
chadlavi 4y ago
Imagine living this miserable a life.
- aerostable_slug 4y ago
  Tell me you've never been to Haiti without telling me you've never been to Haiti. Plenty of people travel to dangerous places regularly, and I don't think they're necessarily miserable. Some I've met, like physicians who do charity work overseas, find a lot of personal satisfaction from helping people in places most wouldn't think of going even on a bet.
- kwertyoowiyop 4y ago
  Imagining you’re Jason Bourne? I don’t know, it would bring a little spice to my next night at the Drury Inn. Just imagine the look on everyone’s faces when I show up sporting my brand new tactical gear, slide my printout across to the clerk while bringing my finger to my lips and raising one eyebrow. Only after successful checkin has been accomplished will I motion my wife and kids to enter the lobby: “Foxtrot Alpha, we are GO for DEPLOY, I repeat we are GO!”
Tade0 4y ago
Hailing from a country which was squarely third world just 25 years ago, this struck me as odd: > I open my laptop bag as if I am searching for something Don't make anyone think you have anything of value on you! Also don't carry a light, easy to steal bag. The laptop goes into your suitcase. As part of my routine when arriving at a hotel I study the fire exit map, maybe use the local vending machine, paying with coins from my pocket - gives me time to have the elevator all to myself. I used to carry an emergency high-value banknote in my back pocket so that in case the worst happened I would at least have some money on me. The thieves that robbed me in the past never wasted time on full checkups.
- Larrikin 4y ago
  My uncle had his wedding in Kenya about twenty years ago and a huge portion of my family went there for it. Every single electronic that wasn't in carry on luggage was stolen. My dad personally lost thousands of dollars in camera equipment. I never put anything I'm not willing to lose in my checked baggage.
- dctoedt 4y ago
  > I used to carry an emergency high-value banknote in my back pocket so that in case the worst happened I would at least have some money on me. A friend does that; she refers to it as her "Don't Kill Me" money.
  - seanw444 4y ago
    My "don't kill me" money shoots 9mm.
    - NoSorryCannot 4y ago
      Wow, bad to the ass
    - giardini 4y ago
      I'm guessing you don't fly often!
ThePowerOfFuet 4y ago
>By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. If you do not agree to the use of cookies, you should not navigate this website. That's absolutely noncompliant with EU regulation, and seeing such an attitude from a security publication is a real shame. https://web.archive.org/web/20220921122023/https://www.securitymagazine.com/blogs/14-security-blog/post/89106-hotel-safety-tips-from-a-former-intelligence-officer https://web.archive.org/web/20220921122023/https://www.secur...
PopAlongKid 4y ago
I've stayed in traveler lodging well over 100 nights (U.S. and Canada) in the last two decades, mostly in motels that I drove to. Motels alleviate a lot of these hotel safety/security problems because they are not usually right in a city center, there is minimal staff, all the rooms usually have direct access from the parking lot (no lobbies, elevators, or hallways required, depending on size of the motel) with high visibility, and you can use your vehicle for backup storage (credit card, cash, external disk drive, extra car key). Many times I have made sure that if either my room/person is robbed, or my car is stolen (but not both) I could still recover and continue my trip. Of course, many business travelers don't have the luxury of driving where they need to go, but for tourists, it's worth considering. You usually don't even need to make a reservation, you just find a spot around the time you are ready to stop driving for the day.
- smabie 4y ago
  Highly suspect motels are significantly more dangerous than hotels. No security / no guard and they are often a hotbed of criminal activity.
  - PopAlongKid 4y ago
    > No security / no guard Almost every motel I've stayed at had a live-in manager, their quarters were located behind the front office/checkin desk. Maybe a couple of times, I've had the misfortune to spend the night in a room adjacent/above to one where, as mentioned elsewhere, there are noisy people in the middle of the night (arguing couples, smokers going in and out), but never experienced for example police presence.
    - shapefrog 4y ago
      Always plenty of pimps around making sure the girls are safe, they tend to pay off the police to stay away.
burner123240 4y ago
Burner for obvious reasons. I used to work for a three letter agency. We had employees that would travel to various developing countries. Due to concerns with competing nation states they'd be issued new laptops that were completely blank save a word processor and web browser (no useful information/ trade secrets on them). The laptops would be weighed prior to departure and upon return. There were cases were laptops came back heavy. They were heavy because someone got access to the hotel room and soldered equipment directly onto the board. When traveling, keep your devices with you. You'd be surprised what might interest a foreign government. You don't even have to be directly involved, you could simply be an affiliate of the actual person of interest.
throwsec7492 4y ago
One of the most important: stuff a towel into the door handle to prevent under door attacks. This is the most common attack vector. Plenty of YouTube videos on this (see: deviantollam)

140 points by graderjs 4y ago

Also https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2016-04-19/9-travel-safety-tips-from-a-former-cia-agent/amp https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2016-04-19/9-travel-safet...

tomcam 4y ago
> Acquire or make a copy of the fire escape plan on the back of your door. Most of these just slide out I use this novel device called a "smartphone" to snap a picture
- rickette 4y ago
  Need to get me one of those :)
- toss1 4y ago
  just make sure you keep it charged; plus, are you sure you'll have it on hand when you wake up with everything going sideways? Good idea to take the pic, for sure, but perhaps not as the only copy - best to walk it hand have some memory

esperent 4y ago

Kind of cool to read but these are not any tips that a normal (non-paranoid) person will need to follow unless they are traveling to some seriously dangerous locations. Except maybe the tip not to use the hotel safe or leave money under the mattress, those are good. But do normal people really need to write their name down on pieces of paper and pass them across the desk with a wink to avoid their name being said out loud? I think not.

jamisteven 4y ago
In 2010 I was working at a large hotel / convention center in Nashville, at about 8pm we were preparing for a massive event where a company had bought out one of the venues, the entire hotel was booked solid. In the days prior to this, we had torrential downpours and heavy rain but this was normal, until it wasnt. Out of nowhere we get reports that the underground tunnels in the hotel used for employees to get around were taking in water and it was quickly determined that the cumberland river had overflown after the army core of engineers put a damn down and could not get it back up. I cant begin to explain the chaos that ensued there with that many people and the hotel essentially being on a dead end. 3k guests, likely more than that in employees, all scattering to get to higher ground and out of a bottle neck. Hotel was safely evacuated but the entire place was underwater by the next day. That said, the "orientation" section in this article I think is absolutely necessary.
- nextlevelwizard 4y ago
  How often does this happen? Once in a life time? This is the kind of stuff that makes you go nutty. Of course you _can_ try to prepare for everything and anything, but does it actually make sense to worry about being in a flash flood like that? I doubt it.
  - pengaru 4y ago
    The orientation section doesn't seem incredibly inconvenient nor costly. It's basically just establishing situational awareness in an unfamiliar place. What are you getting kept from by doing it? A dozen extra minutes of terrible hotel TV? On the topic of flash floods esp. when traveling; I make a conscious effort to not park/stay anywhere liable to flash-flood, and that requires some situational awareness in the sense of at least knowing your surroundings and the area's geography/climate/seasonal weather patterns. We recently narrowly avoided getting caught in [0], and that was with us making a conscious effort to not spend too much time in any of the low-lying areas, not even for a day hike - we'd always park somewhere relatively high and simply avoided hiking any of the low regions. That storm happened just one day after we were there passing through that exact spot. The tourists staying at that popular hotel probably didn't think about how they're staying on the floor of an enormous desert valley in a monsoon-y time of year. By failing to prepare you're preparing to fail... [0] https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-08-05/unprecedented-flooding-hits-death-valley-swallowed-cars-stranding-hundreds https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-08-05/unpreced...

adhesive_wombat 4y ago

I was almost impressed by the equally prominent "Reject" cookies button until I realised that when you press it, it refuses access. Ironic for an article about how to be a security paranoiac. Edit: Especially as it recommends an online booking and doing so without regard to cookies and other trackers is probably leaking far more personal information to people who actually could use that information than saying your name out loud.

littlecranky67 4y ago
And illegal (in EU) anyways, as you cannot deny the service when people refuse to accept the tracking cookies..
Markoff 4y ago
https://archive.ph/gSBMp https://archive.ph/gSBMp
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

tomcam 4y ago

> I find the fire escape plan, and I follow it. Yeah, actually try this sometime. I do this regularly and it's amazing how often floors are locked from the stairwell, and more than once I have found floors skipped--you take the 4rth floor stairwell down and end up in a basement kitchen or something. Also he neglects to mention in the "Book online" section that it's always safer to book directly from the hotel website. Fewer middlement. These days their prices are competitive or better than the aggregation sites, and with better terms. Some aggregation sites have little compunction about booking the wrong room, then don't refund things the hotel would if you dealt with them directly.

parker_mountain 4y ago
> These days their prices are competitive or better than the aggregation sites, and with better terms I travel extensively for work, and this is simply not true. Literally last week, I saved $40 by booking through hoteltonight in Chicago. Once you get close to the date of the stay, prices become squirrely and weird. This is definitely true if you're booking more than two weeks in advance, though.
- bboygravity 4y ago
  Definitely true for Europe. I pretty much live in hotels and so far 100% of my bookings where either cheaper (usually) or the same price (rarely) on the hotel's own webste vs aggregators. Regardless of my "genious discount level 9000" or "save up 10 nights and get 1 free" and all the other "discounts" that you actually paid for indirectly on aggregators. The only place where this didn't hold true for me so far was a hotel in Indonesia, where the price quoted at the hotel desk in person was higher than a certain aggregator. The people at the front desk suggested I'd book online and I did :)
  - closewith 4y ago
    Europe is a big place. It's not true in Ireland, anyway.
- anakaine 4y ago

Shank 4y ago

Rather than a doorstop, I usually prefer a super grip lock [0] -- an extremely corny as-seen-on-TV product that you can lash around a door knob that uses simple physics to make the door impossible to open with the key on the other side. Naomi Wu mentioned this and Deviant Ollam has too. The basic premise is that it's less destructive than most "security door stops" and hotels tend to get angry if you destroy their carpet. And of course, traditional door stops don't keep the door closed very well unless you wedge them well. [0]: https://smile.amazon.com/Super-Grip-Lock-Deadbolt-Accessory/dp/B008YGQSOO https://smile.amazon.com/Super-Grip-Lock-Deadbolt-Accessory/... Edit: I could be misremembering if Naomi Wu used it or something similar, but I think I'm right. If you know correctly, let me know.

TacticalCoder 4y ago
Seeing the picture of that lock reminded me how uniform were the door locks and light switches in the US. In Europe there are countless different types of door locks and light switches but basically everywhere I went to in the US it was the same door locks and light switches. I take it if you travel internationally a doorstop would work everywhere.
- WWLink 4y ago
  There are building codes that were implemented before most buildings in the US were built for stuff like that. There are variances in like, knob vs lever handle, but yea they mostly work the same and are in the same spot. IMHO a smart thing if there's an emergency and you're staying someplace unfamiliar...
  - Scoundreller 4y ago
    Most hotel doors will have (re-)closer mechanisms on their doors, and you can fashion a belt around them in an emergency: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xlhbiSvVKnE https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xlhbiSvVKnE
chrisseaton 4y ago
Seems like it requires an extremely particular design of door handles that I’ve never actually seen in a hotel.

Loranubi 4y ago

Who are these tips for? I value my privacy and safety, but for tourists or normal business travelers these seem paranoid.

ev1 4y ago
As a normal business traveler I have been in more than one "smoke filling up hallway" situation and found fire exits locked or barricaded to prevent ingress. I think a LOT of this is reasonable. The "know your area before you step out and don't look like a confused person standing in the middle of the street when you exit the hotel" part is also really good for not being immediately marked as a tourist.
- Cthulhu_ 4y ago
  And it's relevant for pretty much every major city, "third world" or otherwise; don't look like a confused tourist too much.
system2 4y ago
Writer keeps mentioning 3rd world countries. I am assuming this person is traveling to Syria or some other country with active war going. I can't imagine doing these while saying at a 4 Seasons hotel.
- FateOfNations 4y ago
  Not necessarily a war zone, but definitely countries with higher crime where foreign visitors are often targets. I wouldn't discount the Four Seasons. It advertises that you are well off and are a potentially lucrative person to rob or kidnap (for the ransom insurance money that many employers of international business travelers have).
- f1shy 4y ago
  Once I was for work in a middle America country (I do not want to mention). The company that sent me had me strictly forbidden to step out the hotel, if not in a Taxi from the hotel. The company building was 300m away, I could see it from my window. I could have walk in literally 10 minutes there. The thing is, just too many former employees were kidnapped before.

threatofrain 4y ago

The most interesting advice here is to leave the TV on with a do-not-disturb sign. I think people will be less likely to rob you that way. All the other advice is kind of whatever, like not being on the top floor in case someone is sweeping for you floor-by-floor.

graderjs 4y ago
I think not being top floor is just like if there's a fire you know what I mean or if there's some sort of attack top floor you are stuck. Personal I like the top floor cuz you can't hear people banging around on the floor above you and it's normally a bit quieter... But now I'm going to rethink it. :) :P xx ;p
SwiftyBug 4y ago
The problem is that in a lot of hotels the power of the whole room shuts down the moment you remove the key card from its slot. I guess you would need to ask for a second key card.
- barrkel 4y ago
  I've only ever found those to be simple physical switches. I use a spare credit-card sized object from my wallet, e.g. a loyalty card or an enomatic charge card (I have a half dozen of these), but even a stiff business card will do if it's the right size. With far less attention to security, I do this to e.g. charge up devices while I go get a bite to eat before heading out again in the evening.
- Markoff 4y ago
  often any card or piece of whatever stucked inside work, they don't really check for chip or anything
Cthulhu_ 4y ago
Yeah, it make it seem like someone's present, so thieves of opportunity will pass you by. It works at home too. The floor thing is twofold; one, a lot of hotel ground floors are quite busy with passers-by, higher floors should only have guests and occasional staff. But the author also mentions that fire ladders can still reach the 2nd or 3rd floor; if you're higher up, you have to be able to go down first. You're cornered if you're on the top floor.

jhoelzel 4y ago

For a Security site, the are quite hostile for declining their cookies. I will not get redirected to the article but to mainpage and the search doesnt work :/

raverbashing 4y ago
That's why I just accepted cookies and deleted them I do care about my privacy (and safety), thanks
Scoundreller 4y ago
Just don’t visit security sites directly if you value your security! https://archive.ph/gSBMp https://archive.ph/gSBMp

WelcomeShorty 4y ago

It is about the same routine I follow. Specifically the "walk the emergency routes" since muscle memory can help you a lot when under stress. Missing one point: take a couple of business cards from the hotel with you. Whenever you need to get back, it most often makes it easier for people (cab drivers) to get you there without too much discussion and misunderstandings. Other points: - To be sure you have some clean water in your room, bring a few small water bottles. - Avoid the in house WiFi - Do not order room service - Have a family photo / familiar item on your bed stand, so that if you wake up in a panic, you know you are awake and in "your own room" - Don't invite people into your room - Personally I like to unpack, even it is for a short stay, since it make me feel more comfortable and less "on the run" - Give the cleaning people a decent tip (if they are allowed to accept it) on the first possible occasion and make it clear who you are and what your room number is, and what you expect from them (clean / leave alone etc.) - Use the in hotel services like shoe polishing, tip them well. These people know everything going on - Order cabs via the lobby - If possible, let the lobby pay your taxi when inbound I do not miss traveling professionally.

FractalHQ 4y ago
No offense but this sounds neurotic to me. I’ve been traveling internationally for over a decade professionally and never do any of these things. I’ve woken up to a fire alarm in a random hotel in a random country (more than once) and even then, I immediately recognize I’m in a hotel room and traveling for work. Then I just followed signs / people until the alarms stopped.
graderjs 4y ago
Why do not order room service, what's the risk there in your opinion? I like the stuff about personal photo next to the bed as well as using the in-house services and tipping. That's smart man!
- lordgrenville 4y ago
  Poisoning I guess. I recently heard an interview with Eliot Higgins from Bellingcat and he said he doesn't order room service for this reason.

lbj 4y ago

I would have liked to see the good options when not using the hotel safe.

andreareina 4y ago
Your own bag, locked with a good lock. The threat model is convert entry; someone who's willing to carry your bag away can probably open the safe anyway so you're not losing in real security.
- lbj 4y ago
  Thanks! I'll stick to my selfmade little box. Its easy to open if you know how, but if you don't you get a severe electric burn, that will at minimum make you scream loudly.
Cthulhu_ 4y ago
Keep your most valuables on you; else, hide them. Still no guarantee for a determined burglar, but they will be on edge and if it's not an easy snatch (e.g. by going straight for the hotel safe, which they probably will have done before) they won't want to hang out. It's why the "do not disturb" and putting on the TV thing also works, it makes on-edge burglars doubt whether someone's there. And doubt is enough to discourage opportunists.

zoltar 4y ago

[1,000 lumen flashlight] ...they are incredibly effective at temporarily blinding a would-be attacker, giving you a chance to escape. Is this dude for real?

deleted 4y ago
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stevarino 4y ago
Tactical flashlight. They're strong enough to give you second degree burns if you hold it against your flesh. They typically have low, high, and strobe modes for disorienting targets.
- WWLink 4y ago
  They also usually have the most asinine single button interface and the most likely person to get strobed is yourself lol.
  - shapefrog 4y ago
    14 clicks in an 1-2-1-2 pattern for attack defence mode.
- nradov 4y ago
  Second degree burns, lol. I have a couple of those "tactical" flashlights. They don't put out nearly that much heat.
Cthulhu_ 4y ago
I mean it's better than nothing IF you are in a situation like that. Most countries don't allow any kind of self-defense gear like weapons or mace, especially not when going on an airplane. This is something robbers will know, plus you will stand out as a visitor - stand out as an international traveler (so not poor), unfamiliar with the surroundings, and likely without any kind of self defense. Mind you, if you do get robbed, it's probably best to give up the goods anyway instead of try and fight. Make sure your passport is safe (keep it somewhere else than your wallet / phone / valuables) and you should be all right.

gregw2 4y ago

I was robbed at gunpoint at a hotel once and in the aftermath have my own tactical "lessons learned" on the topic of hotel safety tips... which I am happy to share with you fellow HN travelers: * Don't check into (cheap) hotels at 2am, criminals prowl at night looking for easy targets. * If you do, be on extra alert for idling or lurking cars with headlights on at hotels in early morning hours, it is indeed a greater threat indicator than in daylight hours * Minimize your movement outside your room when it's dark. It's not necessarily a boost in your security profile to go back out to your car to bring in your forgotten laptop from the trunk back into your room * If someone does have you at gunpoint and wants your money, do what your mother said and just give it to them, you can always make more money later. No regrets. * When a criminal takes your wallet, appeal to a shared fear of cops by asking for your driver's license back, you may still lose your cash but get your ID and credit cards back if they don't have a clear plan/motive to fence them... huge hassle savings (hat tip to the divine inspiration that brought this to my lips in that moment, it worked) * If you do lose all your credit/debit cards (+cell phone), one benefit of reporting your situation to the cops immediately is that when they come and take your statement and open a case (however unlikely it will be solved), they may give you a card documenting and showing your case #. That card can come in as handy evidence backing up your "sob story" in conversations the next day with strangers you meet if you now find yourself in a strange city with no resources and no friends looking to get a free meal or other assistance (while promising to pay the stranger back of course). Conversely, a stranger telling you a sob story of them being robbed can be asked to produce such evidence.

gregw2 4y ago
Not a safety tip, but also (to me) one more interesting lesson from the experience (which happened in my early 20s): * Trauma is a real thing. Your body can react to deadly threats afterwards in ways you cannot control. The next day after being held up, I literally could not enter a new room without my head moving/turning to scan entrances/exits for threats. I tried to stop my head moving repeatedly and could not! I literally could not control my body. After a little while of experiencing this, I found myself asking myself "Well, do I need to embrace this new behavior as a needed lifestyle adjustment? Or do I work to go back to my old ways?". I chose to work to go back to my old ways as this was a bit of a one-off situation (and in hindsight it was), but it took about a week of continual effort to regain control of my mind+body behaviors. I can easily see someone in different circumstances facing different tradeoffs remaining traumatized.

Markoff 4y ago

https://archive.ph/gSBMp https://archive.ph/gSBMp for users outside US, since this site illegaly denies access after rejecting cookies

Cthulhu_ 4y ago
I'm 99% sure that a US website is perfectly within their right to deny EU citizens for whatever reason. If it was EU based however they would be violating the GDPR. There's a lot of US sites that just give a HTTP 451 (unavailable for legal reasons) for people from the EU.
- Scoundreller 4y ago
  I think that’s why the 451 gets around that by not even offering the service at all! Though I had to assist a relative in EU that couldn’t click the “unsubscribe” button on a marketing email because that too led to a 451!
- Markoff 4y ago
  It's illegal, consent must be freely given. Either the site must be completely inaccessible to EU citizens (no matter whether user will consent to cookies or not) or it must be accessible even after rejecting consent, there is nothing in between. Accessible site only after giving consent is just plain blackmailing. https://www.whitecase.com/insight-alert/websites-must-remain-accessible-when-rejecting-tracking-cookies-dutch-data-protection https://www.whitecase.com/insight-alert/websites-must-remain...

pcdoodle 4y ago

"I put the TV on low, usually on CNN, and leave it on." Might as well just die.

Scoundreller 4y ago
I leave it on Fox News so they consider that I’m carrying and mildly insane.
- toss1 4y ago
  That's the first good use of Faux News I've ever seen - kudos!
- Markoff 4y ago
  I don't think people abroad would be able to spot the difference.
  - Scoundreller 4y ago
    Probably won’t get Fox News outside of US or Canada (and even Canada is a stretch: cablecos don’t really force that one upon us in their bundles)

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

aaron695 4y ago

durnygbur 4y ago

The funniest and most obnoxious situation is seeing in perfectly safe country self-obsessed Americans, behaving as if they are some secret agents, extraordinary targets, vulnerable treasure, and as they look at everyone with suspicious disgust. Additional tip - wear black suit and Oakley sunglasses, in every circumstances.

Cthulhu_ 4y ago
You say that but from an outsider's perspective, crime, drug abuse and gun violence is very prevalent over there. As are Oakley sunglasses and people with a badass complex for that matter, lmao.
refurb 4y ago
What's a "perfectly safe country"?
- durnygbur 4y ago
  any EU country, for example?
  - f1shy 4y ago
    In the sense that the government has taken out all competition on stealing?
  - mmmpop 4y ago
    Ah yes. Some dude tried to mug me in Dijon in 2018, but I must have been imagining things... or obviously a very uncommon situation! I should have travelled to someplace safe like Saint-Denis, or maybe stay safe in America and go to Chicago.
    - durnygbur 4y ago
      Forgot about France, sorry. I don't fell well there either.
  - 4y ago

t_mann 4y ago

The only useful advice in there is to know the escape routes from your room, the rest sounds like it would have a net negative effect for the average person. Choosing your hotel room based on maneuverability in the event of an attack is not only completely pointless if you don't know how to maneuver in the event of an attack, but more importantly, for the average person, running those sorts of scenarios in your head sounds like it will take away more from your mental health than whatever benefits you may get in terms of 10-to-the-minus-x percentage points gains in survival probability.

toss1 4y ago
You do you, but I found most of the advice highly useful, and actually enhancing convenience. Don't use hotel safe or under the mattress - yup, good advice, seen that before, and definitely need to think about valuables & passport storage at all times anyway. Book in advance and hand them copies of addresses, docs, passport over the counter - yup, great advice, also means you have a 2nd copy on you, which can be a lifesaver if your phone or primary docs get lost/stolen. Checking maps and orienting yourself to the surroundings is something I do anyway just to know where I am, and actually allows me to enjoy the sights better since I'm no longer primarily occupied with wondering where TF I'm going. Having actually walked the exit routes would be incredibly useful in a wide variety of emergencies. Both being able to exit from memory if something happens, and also knowing that one exit is actually blocked. It'd really suck to die because you went out an exit and found it blocked, but could no longer access the other one... I also find that, although I haven't done it explicitly (I will in the future), it's often just handy to know other routes to get to/from the outside - they often wind up being more convenient, especially when carrying stuff. Asking for 2nd/3rd floor room sounds like excellent advice, especially in unknown foreign areas, off the (vulnerable) ground floor but multiple escape routes in fire or attack. Self-rescue by jumping or down-climbing a bedsheet rope is still very possible in ways that it isn't on floors 4 and up... Etc... I really don't understand not only rejecting such good advice from a clearly knowledgeable expert, but also taking the trouble to write a post advocating that other people also ignore it. Seems you're insecure in your willful ignorance, and want others to join you; please stop doing that.
- 4y ago

iLoveOncall 4y ago

I put my stuff in the safe not to protect it from outside thieves but to protect it from hotel employees. I don't have any source but I'm sure this represents the vast majority of hotel theft.

zenexer 4y ago
The hotel employees can open the safes, though.
- iLoveOncall 4y ago
  I doubt the cleaning staff can which probably limits a lot of thefts.
  - zenexer 4y ago
    They may not be authorized to, but if they care to learn how, they can certainly gain access with minimal effort. A quick YouTube search would be sufficient, or they may pick it up the necessary knowledge as they work.

xtiansimon 4y ago

Ok. Haven’t traveled outside of the US in a while, but I agree some of this sounds paranoid. That said, I believe whole heartedly in this: “Walk out of the front door with the confidence that you know where you are going.” If you’re overseas and don’t speak the language, the experience can be disorienting. I had my travel wallet picked out of my pocket in a tourist office. Places like banks, ATMs and hotels are places where pickpockets and robbers congregate. Take 5-10 minutes and watch these areas in large foreign cities and you may notice suspicious patterns. I live outside NYC and do the same when I’m in an unfamiliar neighborhood. I avoid being out in these places after 9 pm as well. Just look at the police blotter, and you see most robberies occur late night and early morning. I don’t take precautions because I’m fearful of going out. I do it because I know better.

ghaff 4y ago

This isn't hotel-specific but my tip is the following: Assume your smartphone gets lost/broken/stolen or your wallet gets lost/stolen (or a credit card gets flagged for fraud). Do you know where you're actually staying? Do you have a copy of your itinerary more generally? Do you have backup credit cards and IDs? I'm not super-fanatical about having printed maps etc. in a familiar city but I try to have backup of everything especially traveling internationally. For example, a few years back, I somehow managed to lose my drivers license between the limo and the terminal door. It was a short trip and I hadn't bothered to bring my backup travel portfolio. Shockingly, TSA (at least at the time) let me get on the flight after some enhanced screening. But I had a heck of a time getting the hotel--which wasn't one of my usual chains--to let me get a room.

Scoundreller 4y ago
Yeah, at present, you’re not required to show ID to fly. Not sure how the Real ID project will affect this: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/frequently-asked-questions/i-forgot-my-identification-can-i-still-proceed-through-security https://www.tsa.gov/travel/frequently-asked-questions/i-forg... https://www.uponarriving.com/tsa-no-id/ https://www.uponarriving.com/tsa-no-id/
- ghaff 4y ago
  I think this may change once RealID phases in but I read that somewhere quite a while back so not sure.
Larrikin 4y ago
Hannibal Burgess, the comedian that helped bring attention to the Cosby rapes, has a bit in one of his shows about losing his license while touring domestically. He would have to get to the airport early and would show TSA videos of him performing on YouTube. It was a huge hassle but he was always allowed to get on the plane.
- SpelingBeeChamp 4y ago
  >Hannibal Burgess FYI, I believe it's Hannibal Buress

jononomo 4y ago

This guy neglects to mention wearing a bullet-proof vest when checking into a hotel, which makes me think he hasn't really thought this through. What if someone were to open fire on you while you're checking in to the hotel?

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
Scoundreller 4y ago
This is my worry at long security lines at airports: just a large volume of people without the tools to protect themselves in any way. Much insecurity.
- jononomo 4y ago
  This is a great point -- I've wondered about this for years. I can remember flying back in the 1980s (I was a teen), before security got stupid and when friends and relatives could meet you or drop you off directly at the gate. The whole experience of flying back then was so much better. You used to be able to drop a 5-year-old off at the gate when the plan was boarding, and then have their grandparents meet them at the other gate, sort of like a long elevator ride with friend and family at each door.
- seanw444 4y ago
  I never fly. I don't trust TSA to keep me safe. If there's somewhere I can't go with my firearm, I won't go. I refuse to step foot in states without constitutional carry, unless I have absolutely no other choice.
  - jononomo 4y ago
    I'm with you! In fact, I take it even further. I refuse to step out of my house. You can never be too careful.
- omnibrain 4y ago
  The bombings at Brussel Airport in 2016 happend at the check-in lines. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Brussels_bombings#Brussels_Airport https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Brussels_bombings#Brussel...

papito 4y ago

Not everyone vacations in a war zone all the time.

chadlavi 4y ago

Imagine living this miserable a life.

aerostable_slug 4y ago
Tell me you've never been to Haiti without telling me you've never been to Haiti. Plenty of people travel to dangerous places regularly, and I don't think they're necessarily miserable. Some I've met, like physicians who do charity work overseas, find a lot of personal satisfaction from helping people in places most wouldn't think of going even on a bet.
kwertyoowiyop 4y ago
Imagining you’re Jason Bourne? I don’t know, it would bring a little spice to my next night at the Drury Inn. Just imagine the look on everyone’s faces when I show up sporting my brand new tactical gear, slide my printout across to the clerk while bringing my finger to my lips and raising one eyebrow. Only after successful checkin has been accomplished will I motion my wife and kids to enter the lobby: “Foxtrot Alpha, we are GO for DEPLOY, I repeat we are GO!”

Tade0 4y ago

Hailing from a country which was squarely third world just 25 years ago, this struck me as odd: > I open my laptop bag as if I am searching for something Don't make anyone think you have anything of value on you! Also don't carry a light, easy to steal bag. The laptop goes into your suitcase. As part of my routine when arriving at a hotel I study the fire exit map, maybe use the local vending machine, paying with coins from my pocket - gives me time to have the elevator all to myself. I used to carry an emergency high-value banknote in my back pocket so that in case the worst happened I would at least have some money on me. The thieves that robbed me in the past never wasted time on full checkups.

Larrikin 4y ago
My uncle had his wedding in Kenya about twenty years ago and a huge portion of my family went there for it. Every single electronic that wasn't in carry on luggage was stolen. My dad personally lost thousands of dollars in camera equipment. I never put anything I'm not willing to lose in my checked baggage.
dctoedt 4y ago
> I used to carry an emergency high-value banknote in my back pocket so that in case the worst happened I would at least have some money on me. A friend does that; she refers to it as her "Don't Kill Me" money.
- seanw444 4y ago
  My "don't kill me" money shoots 9mm.
  - NoSorryCannot 4y ago
    Wow, bad to the ass
  - giardini 4y ago
    I'm guessing you don't fly often!

ThePowerOfFuet 4y ago

>By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. If you do not agree to the use of cookies, you should not navigate this website. That's absolutely noncompliant with EU regulation, and seeing such an attitude from a security publication is a real shame. https://web.archive.org/web/20220921122023/https://www.securitymagazine.com/blogs/14-security-blog/post/89106-hotel-safety-tips-from-a-former-intelligence-officer https://web.archive.org/web/20220921122023/https://www.secur...

PopAlongKid 4y ago

I've stayed in traveler lodging well over 100 nights (U.S. and Canada) in the last two decades, mostly in motels that I drove to. Motels alleviate a lot of these hotel safety/security problems because they are not usually right in a city center, there is minimal staff, all the rooms usually have direct access from the parking lot (no lobbies, elevators, or hallways required, depending on size of the motel) with high visibility, and you can use your vehicle for backup storage (credit card, cash, external disk drive, extra car key). Many times I have made sure that if either my room/person is robbed, or my car is stolen (but not both) I could still recover and continue my trip. Of course, many business travelers don't have the luxury of driving where they need to go, but for tourists, it's worth considering. You usually don't even need to make a reservation, you just find a spot around the time you are ready to stop driving for the day.

smabie 4y ago
Highly suspect motels are significantly more dangerous than hotels. No security / no guard and they are often a hotbed of criminal activity.
- PopAlongKid 4y ago
  > No security / no guard Almost every motel I've stayed at had a live-in manager, their quarters were located behind the front office/checkin desk. Maybe a couple of times, I've had the misfortune to spend the night in a room adjacent/above to one where, as mentioned elsewhere, there are noisy people in the middle of the night (arguing couples, smokers going in and out), but never experienced for example police presence.
  - shapefrog 4y ago
    Always plenty of pimps around making sure the girls are safe, they tend to pay off the police to stay away.

burner123240 4y ago

Burner for obvious reasons. I used to work for a three letter agency. We had employees that would travel to various developing countries. Due to concerns with competing nation states they'd be issued new laptops that were completely blank save a word processor and web browser (no useful information/ trade secrets on them). The laptops would be weighed prior to departure and upon return. There were cases were laptops came back heavy. They were heavy because someone got access to the hotel room and soldered equipment directly onto the board. When traveling, keep your devices with you. You'd be surprised what might interest a foreign government. You don't even have to be directly involved, you could simply be an affiliate of the actual person of interest.

throwsec7492 4y ago

One of the most important: stuff a towel into the door handle to prevent under door attacks. This is the most common attack vector. Plenty of YouTube videos on this (see: deviantollam)