Here’s the thing: the world is going to shit. You want to leave South Africa for greener pastures? Well, over the border it’s not that much greener. There is the real threat of terrorists along with all the weird things that are happening as millions of refugees attempt to gain access to Europe.
The latest form of advice against terrorism is which room to book in a hotel in the case of an attack. Suggested by security experts in an effort to increase your chances of survival, I wonder if this will mean that room prices will vary according to their ease of escape. To increase your chances of survival, guests should book a room above the first floor and below the sixth.
High enough to be safe from opportunist burglars, but low enough to jump, and within reach of most fire department ladders.
We also recommend travellers request rooms on the side of the building further away from the lobby, which is likely to be the main entry point for any attackers.
Consider finding a room away from other public areas such as restaurants or bars as these can be target areas, but near a set of emergency exit stairs.
Avoid rooms with interlocking doors. If unavoidable, make sure they are locked – and consider using a door wedge as extra precaution.
It is also potentially helpful to have a decent-sized bath that can be filled to help damped blankets in case of fire.
If there is a known threat to an area, it may even be better to eat in your room rather than in bars or restaurants on the ground floor.
And always remember that location is important, too:
In areas with heightened security threats, look for hotels set back from the main thoroughfares, with access controls, like surveillance systems, card access required for elevators, metal detectors and visible guards.
The security team also advised that you should check whether any major events or protests are planned for the duration of your stay, and check international travel advice.
Probably the best safety object is a charged telephone with access to the local network, and ideally data, so you can call out and tell people if anything goes wrong and request help.
Attacks in hotels are common, and in the last year there have been attacks in Mali, Ivory Coast and Tunisia. Back in 2008 the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai was at the centre of an attack that left 166 people dead.
[source: telegraph]
