Would you choose a hotel room for yourself, if you knew it was not accessible to the fire department? That is exactly what you are doing if you are housed in a room any higher then the 6th floor! The 6th floor is the maximum height that the standard fire departments ladders can reach. If at all possible, select rooms lower then the 6th floor.

Stay away from the ground floor where there is doors and windows that open to the outside. Hotels with interior hallways tend to be safer. Rooms that are facing the courtyards are generally safer then those facing the direct parking lot.

Always check your rooms closet and bathroom for intruders upon entering. Always keep your key in the same place closes to your bed in case there is an emergency in the middle of the night. You will need your key to re-enter your room after the incident is resolved.

Do you know the difference between a 2-way mirror and a standard mirror? A 2-way mirror looks like a seemingly ordinary mirror hanging on a wall. The difference is a person can see you, but you cannot see them. Give all mirrors the "fingernail test." Place the tip of your fingernail against the reflective surface of the mirror. There should be a "gap" between your fingernail and the image. If there is, that is a genuine mirror. If there is no gap and your fingernail directly touches the image then this is a 2-way mirror. There is a simple saying that goes with this advice, "No space, leave the place"!

Rooms with electronic keys are much safer then the standard key. With the electronic key the combination is changed with each new guest, unlike the standard keys with the same room numbers. Always use your deadbolts. If the door only has a chain, then twist the chain tightly before latching it.

When you exit your room, always leave the TV on. When you exit your room at night, leave the drapes slightly open with a light on, creating the illusion that someone is still there. Laptops should never be left in your room. They should be taken down to the lobby desk for safe keeping. You wouldn't display your purse or wallet in the middle of a hotel table, but we consistently do this with our computers. If you are dead set against taking it down to the lobby, you could find the safety chains that are usually located in the hotel room closet and fasten your laptop to the sink in your bathroom.

Although, you hate to think of being physically accosted during a vacation or business trip, it does happen and you should be prepared. Always carry a small bundle of bait money that you have readily available to hand over to your assailant. Make sure that the outside bill is the largest denomination with the remaining inner bundle consisting of ones.

I actually carry two wallets in my purse, just in case I am approached for money. In my first wallet I carry cash, license and credit cards and keep it at the bottom of my purse. My second wallet holds only old photos, some change and a few dollar bills which I keep on the top. I also carry a small can of pepper spray in the side pocket.

Of course if they steal my whole pocketbook, then there is not much else I can do, which leads to my last tip. Ladies, when walking in a crowded area or unfamiliar place try to carry your purse clutched tightly in front of your body, not loosely on your shoulder or dangling from your hand.

Kimberly enjoys studying numerology, parapsychology, astrology, and experimenting with herbal remedies. She has operated her own canine stylist shop for the past 10 years. She is an advocate for pancreatic cancer research and stopping the torture that occurs in puppy mills. If you would like to read a small journal kept on her own father's struggle with pancreatic cancer and the celebrities who have lost their battles with this disease http://kimberlyinchance.blogspot.com
Please see how you can help stop puppy mills http://holisticdogandcat.blogspot.com