When you plan to travel or choose a hotel, how often does safety factor into your choice? A wide variety of travel publications report that business travelers often choose hotels based on price, along with cleanliness and conveniences like onsite fitness and business centers.
Cost seems equally important to leisure travelers, who may also select hotels for their family-friendly amenities or proximity to their preferred destinations. Even so, you would be wise to bring along a travel security app for business travelers such as FoneTrac.
Would you travel to a location if you knew it wasn’t safe? Or stay at a hotel that’s surrounded by crime? It’s relatively easy to find information about locations and amenities. There’s a wealth of information available on travel review platforms if you want to check top destinations or read hotel reviews discussing comfort, cleanliness or conveniences. Where safety is concerned, however, you may not get a clear indication about security issues.
Travel review platforms are not always the most reliable sources of information when it comes to traveler safety. They don’t necessarily publish every review that travelers submit, a practice that in recent years has stirred up some controversy. Some travelers, in an effort to warn others, submitted reviews of the hotels where they described their negative experiences. Not all of the reviews were published by the platform and a variety of reasons were provided. This proves that travel platforms can control (or obscure) certain negative information. Regardless of the reason, it’s an indicator that travel platforms don’t always provide the whole story to a potential traveler. Review platforms may also have dated information that doesn’t reflect current conditions.
You can make educated choices without simply relying on travel reviews. Start with the hotel’s location. How much do you know about the area where the hotel is located? This is relevant whether you go to a major city or even a rural town. Looking at local news online may offer insight on safety and crime around the business site or point of interest you plan to visit. As you build your itinerary, consider your own habits: are you more likely to walk, drive or Uber for the duration of your stay and does the surrounding area support doing those safely? Do you have a travel security app for business travelers like FoneTrac that can help you in an emergency?
International Travel Safety Using the FoneTrac Travel Safety App
Current conditions at your destination can also have an impact on your safety. When planning a trip, consider the types of incidents that could have an effect on you and make your choices accordingly. Could labor strikes or protests potentially disrupt the area where your hotel, business site or point of interest are located? Are there severe weather conditions you should be aware of and, if they occur, do you have a plan?
Some travelers do their own research, while others leverage technology for support. The right combination will look different for everyone, but all travelers should be able to feel safe. Consider using a travel security app for business travelers that will notify you of critical events in your area and offer you support in the event of an emergency. Whether you opt to look for yourself or choose the appropriate technology, the safest travelers are often the ones making educated choices.