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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.
- neural_thing 4y ago
  In Moscow, for example, all of the expensive hotels are under FSB surveillance, so you're better off staying at a mid-tier hotel.
dazc 4y ago
Not your average Travelodge guest, for sure. Here are a few tips for regular people: Check-in early (by phone or via web, if you need to) because the best rooms are allocated on first come basis. Always insist on a top floor room otherwise you'll be constantly disturbed by a heard of elephants walking across the under-engineered floor above you. Avoid the ground floor, for the reason above, and, also it tends to be where they put the most likely trouble makers, groups and smokers (who'll noisily leave and enter their room throughout the night for regular nicotine fixes). Make an official complaint for the slightest of disturbance, budget hotels are built on the cheap with a contingency for refunds factored in - you'll be surprised how easy it is to get a full refund and/or a complimentary breakfast. If you hear a fire alarm do not hesitate to vacate the building and stop for nothing, construction standards meet the minimum fire safety regulations and no more. This means the building can lawfully burn to the ground in less than an hour, and a few have done exactly this. Top tip, have a short nap as soon as you arrive. It helps alleviate that 'first night in a strange bed and can't sleep' problem.
vkou 4y ago
From a glance, I'd wager they are for big-time drug dealers, intelligence officers, war correspondents, and people LARPing any of the above.
crispyambulance 4y ago
It's just advice for those who are looking to increase their security. If you got a sense that something is "off" or if you're responsible for the safety of a vulnerable companion, many of those tips would at least create peace of mind. Taking a stroll around the neighborhood, hotel and your floor is always a good idea. It's also really helpful to pick up some fundamentals of the local language.

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.
neural_thing 4y ago
In Moscow, for example, all of the expensive hotels are under FSB surveillance, so you're better off staying at a mid-tier hotel.

dazc 4y ago

Not your average Travelodge guest, for sure. Here are a few tips for regular people: Check-in early (by phone or via web, if you need to) because the best rooms are allocated on first come basis. Always insist on a top floor room otherwise you'll be constantly disturbed by a heard of elephants walking across the under-engineered floor above you. Avoid the ground floor, for the reason above, and, also it tends to be where they put the most likely trouble makers, groups and smokers (who'll noisily leave and enter their room throughout the night for regular nicotine fixes). Make an official complaint for the slightest of disturbance, budget hotels are built on the cheap with a contingency for refunds factored in - you'll be surprised how easy it is to get a full refund and/or a complimentary breakfast. If you hear a fire alarm do not hesitate to vacate the building and stop for nothing, construction standards meet the minimum fire safety regulations and no more. This means the building can lawfully burn to the ground in less than an hour, and a few have done exactly this. Top tip, have a short nap as soon as you arrive. It helps alleviate that 'first night in a strange bed and can't sleep' problem.

vkou 4y ago

From a glance, I'd wager they are for big-time drug dealers, intelligence officers, war correspondents, and people LARPing any of the above.

crispyambulance 4y ago

It's just advice for those who are looking to increase their security. If you got a sense that something is "off" or if you're responsible for the safety of a vulnerable companion, many of those tips would at least create peace of mind. Taking a stroll around the neighborhood, hotel and your floor is always a good idea. It's also really helpful to pick up some fundamentals of the local language.