Checking into a hotel? Have a safe
stay (continued)
Reprinted from an article that appeared on msnbc
11/16/06
Use valet parking
Besides protecting your personal safety, valet service can protect your car and belongings. Hotels usually have no responsibility for any theft or damage to your car if it’s in a parking lot. You’re better covered in valet parking. But before you hand over your keys, make sure the attendant does a thorough inspection of your car. That way, if your car is returned with a crunched bumper, there will be no doubt that you’re not to blame.
Use a car service, not a taxi, if you feel uncomfortable in the neighborhood
Most hotels have good relationships with reputable car companies. These companies can transport you safely, and often for little more than a taxi would charge. And, in the unlikely event that something goes wrong, the hotel will likely have a record of who you left with, and when.
Don’t be stupid
Don’t drink so much that you can’t pay attention to your surroundings. Don’t invite strangers to your room. I’ve seen too many men come sheepishly to the front desk in the morning because that friendly gal they met in the bar last night had disappeared by morning — along with the guy’s wallet.
What should you do and expect if something happens to you or your property? Notify a security officer and/or a manager immediately. They will ask you to file a detailed report on the incident. You have every right to involve the local authorities, as well. If it were me, and I had something valuable stolen, you can bet I’d file a police report. The more people involved in resolving the situation, the better.
Don’t expect immediate results. Hotels must perform a thorough investigation of any incident, and they will most likely have to involve their risk management or legal departments as well as their insurance providers. This is bureaucracy at its worst, but hotels are businesses: While they may be concerned about you, they also have to protect themselves. Insurance and injury scams are common, and hotels are common victims. For this reason, you should never expect an employee to admit fault or to offer immediate compensation. Every employee handbook I’ve ever seen strictly forbids this. So if something happens to you and the manager isn’t groveling, don’t take it personally. He’s just playing by the (sometimes unfortunate) rules.
So, on your next trip, have fun, be safe and pack your common sense!
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By Amy Bradley-Hole, Travel Columnist. Amy Bradley-Hole has worked in the hotel industry for many years in many different positions and at all types of properties -- from small luxury boutique hotels to large resorts, both in the United States and abroad.
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