So you have arrived at your chosen destination safely, everything has gone really well, and after checking in to your accommodation you relax, unwind then head out to explore your surroundings.

Later that night you return back to your room only to find that someone has been through your belongings helping themselves to your stuff and ruining your trip.

Or worse still you room is invaded while you are sleeping.

So what can be done to minimize this? Here are a few simple steps

1. When you book your accommodation, have a god look at the website, and also read some reviews on different sites, if the motel looks pretty run down, you can probably assume that the security is not that great, ask in an email if there is a safe you can lock your passports and money away, if they don’t have on in the room, see if they can offer an alternative.
2. Once you have arrived, check all the windows and doors, make sure you can lock them and that they are secure.
3. If you are unhappy with the level of security, don’t be afraid of asking your hosts to either address the situation immediately or ask them to  shift you to another room. This is your right, and their responsibility to offer you secure lodgings
4. If there are inter-locking doors between the the rooms, make sure the door is locked from your side.
5. Be careful about telling locals which accommodation you are staying in, especially if you are in a bar and the patrons a little bit drunk.
6. When you leave your accommodation for the night, leave the lights & radio on, and pull the curtains, and double check that you have locked the door behind you, it may not be a self-locking door.
7. When you return back to where you are staying, make sure you don’t leave your key hanging in the door! I ran a motel for a number of years, and the amount of times I would find peoples keys hanging in their doors was astounding.
8. And if you think there is suspicious behavior call your hosts, I know there are a lot of different people staying around you, this can fall into the hands of criminals. Be alert
9. And lastly don’t leave your gear lying in the back of your car where others can see it. stow it in your room, or see if there is a secure lock-up facility.

I hope this helps, just remember if you are worried about any issue of security don’t ignore it