Are you planning on doing some traveling this summer? Unless you’re lucky enough to own a camper home, that probably means you’ll be staying in a hotel – or maybe several of them throughout your trip.
Safety is always important when you’re choosing your accommodations on a trip. You don’t want yourself or your family to be exposed to physical danger when you’re supposed to be relaxing. With that in mind, here are some things to consider:
1. Is the security adequate?
Hotels are targeted by all kinds of criminals, from rapists to thieves – so you want to make sure that the hotel management has taken steps to keep the property secure for guests. This means:
- The lobby is staffed 24/7
- There are functional security cameras in the halls and public areas
- The parking lot is well-lit and has security cameras
- Side and rear entrances are gated and locked when not manned
- Keys are digital and designed to prevent unauthorized access
You should also take a good look at how security is managed when you’re checking in. Is the hotel clerk discreet? Do they seem concerned about your privacy?
2. Are the premises in good repair?
You want to look around carefully at any hotel before you check in. If there are broken lights around the entrance, missing handrails on staircases, torn carpets in the lobby or other signs that the hotel has seen better days, it may be wiser to go elsewhere.
You don’t want your vacation to turn into a hospital visit due to a slip and fall and some other injury related to faulty maintenance.
If you are injured in a hotel while on vacation, make sure that you fully explore your right to make a premises liability claim.