Whether they drive or take a flight, many people when they travel on vacations or holidays usually stay at a hotel or a resort. What they may not know/be aware of is that their vacation could be ruined by professional thieves who make their living by targeting some unsuspecting tourist. These thieves usually hang around hotels and resorts, mainly in the lobbies, waiting for tourists who seem to be easy pickings.

Here are a number pertinent travel tips that may help you be more secure in your hotel room when you travel on a vacation 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 booking your hotel room, it is best to book one that is on the second, third, fourth, or fifth floor, as ground floor rooms are more susceptible to break ins. Keep in mind that hotel rooms above the fifth floor may not be accessible by many fire engine ladders if a fire happens to break out in the hotel.

Be sure to check and make sure that the door to your room locks properly, and that the windows and sliding doors open, but also lock securely. Most hotels resorts use electronic card keys for their hotel room doors as they offer better security than the standard metal keys. Dont carry your key card in its folder if the folder has the room number on it. Make note of your room number on a piece of paper, keep it on your person when you go out, and 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 dont know and trust.

Its 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.

Do not assume that your hotel room door is locked just because it closes automatically when you leave. Check to make sure that its really locked. If your room has a balcony, make sure the sliding glass door is also locked as it may be possible for someone to climb on to your balcony from a balcony thats above, below, or beside yours.

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

The next best bet if there isnt a safe in your room is to lock your small valuables in your largest suitcase when you go out. Locked, hard sided travel luggage offers the best security. Some travelers use duct tape to secure small valuables to the underside of the hotel room furniture.

Always use your doors deadbolt lock as well as the 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, dont 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.

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