Whether they take a flight or drive, most people when they travel on vacations or holidays usually stay at a hotel or a resort.  What they may not be aware of is that their vacation could be ruined by professional thieves who make their living by targeting any unsuspecting tourist.

These thieves love to hang around hotels and resorts, especially in the lobbies, watching for tourists who are easy pickings. 

Here are some useful travel tips that may help you feel more secure in your hotel room when you travel on a holiday or a business trip.

First of all, the lobbies of hotels and resorts should never be considered secure, even in the upscale ones.  Travelers on holiday can be easy pickings for opportunistic thieves, especially at the peak times when the hotel reception staff is extremely busy with new guests arriving and others trying to check out.  Never walk away and leave your travel luggage unguarded unless you know for sure that it is being looked after by a bellman.

If you are having something to eat in a hotel restaurant when on holiday, especially a buffet, never leave your laptop, briefcase, or handbag unguarded to get a drink or some more food.  It takes a thief only a split second to make off with them.  It would be virtually impossible for the hotel staff to be constantly on the lookout for these criminals.

When you are booking your hotel room, try to book one that is on the second, third, fourth, or fifth floor, as the ground floor rooms are more susceptible to break ins.  Keep in mind that hotel rooms above the fifth floor may not be easily accessible by many fire engine ladders if a fire breaks out in  your hotel.

Always check to make sure that the door to your room locks properly, and that the windows and sliding doors open, but also lock securely.  Most hotels and resorts use electronic card keys for their hotel room doors as they offer stronger security than the standard metal keys.   Don’t carry your key card in its folder if the folder has the room number on it.  Write down your room number on a piece of paper and keep it on your person when you go out.  Leave the folder in your room. 

Always identify unfamiliar hotel staff or visitors to your room before you open your door.  Call down to the front desk if in doubt as to the authenticity of that person.  It is advisable not to give your room number to anyone that you don’t know and trust.

It’s probably not a good idea to hang a “please clean the room” sign on the door knob when you go out, as it tells a would be thief that there is probably nobody in the room.

Don’t take for granted that your hotel room door is locked just because it closes automatically when you go out.  Check to make sure that it has really locked.  If your room has a balcony, make sure that the sliding glass door is also locked as it may be possible for a thief to climb on to your balcony from a balcony beside, above or below yours.

Never leave any valuables lying around in plain view in your hotel room.  They may be too tempting for some cleaning staff to resist.  Place all small valuables in your room safe if there is one.  Keep in mind that the safes that use metal keys are not as secure as the ones that use electronic key cards. 

The next best bet if there is no safe in your hotel room is to lock your small valuables in your largest suitcase when you go out.  Locked, hard-sided travel luggage offers you best security. Some travelers even use duct tape to secure small valuables to the underside of the room furniture.

Always use your door’s deadbolt and chain lock at night before you go to sleep, or if you feel like taking a nap. 

There is a small, inexpensive, battery-operated, motion-sensitive, burglar alarm that can be hung on the inside hotel door knob, or there is a wedge-shaped alarm that you can push under the door that accomplishes the same thing.  If someone tries to open your door, the alarm will sound.

There are two less sophisticated methods you could use.  You can move a chair in front of the hotel door and place the back rest under the knob, or wedge a standard rubber door stopper under the door.  Either of these two methods are also effective.

When you are packing and getting ready to check out of your hotel or resort, don’t forget to empty your room safe.  And last but not least, count the number of pieces of luggage you brought and make sure that everything has been put in your taxi.

The most important thing to remember is to always be vigilant and aware of your surroundings at all times when travel on holidays.

Dorothy Yamich has a passion for travel. She has lived and traveled extensively throughout Europe as well as traveled in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. She is a travel consultant and specializes in luxury cruises as well as vacation packages. To quickly find and book cheap vacation travel packages at great discounts, whenever you want to enjoy a fabulous, fun-filled holiday, visit Travel Tips Guide for more information.