Avoiding terrorism

In the past year, militants killed at least 54 people in a suicide bomb attack on Islamabad's Marriott hotel, 71 people in the siege of the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels in Mumbai, nine in a suicide attack on Peshawar's Pearl Continental, and seven in the bombings of Jakarta's Ritz Carlton and Marriott in July.

Following is a summary of advice on hotel security, from travel security firms and risk consultancies as well as Reuters correspondents who often stay in hotels in hazardous areas:

Before your stay

Seek security advice on the country you are visiting. Government travel advice is available on the Internet. Specialist risk consultancies offer advice on threat levels in each country and specific dangers to be aware of.

"An issue to be aware of is that in southeast Asia, within a 45-minute flight of Singapore or Hong Kong you can be in a totally different security environment," says Steve Vickers, president and chief executive of FTI-International Risk. "Some travelers tend to be too blase about that."

Check that your company has assessed the hotel, and that the assessment is up to date.

"While major ... chains may offer better protection from the majority of threats, they have been increasingly targeted in some countries and the overall state of security within the hotels can fluctuate from hour-to-hour, day-to-day or even seasonally," says Tony Ridley, director for Asia-Pacific security services at International SOS.

On arrival at the airport, keep a low profile and be aware of your routine. "A lot of the problems with the foreign multinationals is they all do everything the same way," Vickers says. "Everybody always stays at the same hotel. You've got expats arriving at airports with somebody holding a big sign with their name on it."

On arrival

Be aware of your surroundings. "Look at how far your hotel is from the office, the airport, meetings or emergency services such as hospitals or police stations," Ridley says. Some of this can be done via maps and Google Earth ahead of the trip

Check the security measures for vehicles and non-guests. Many hotels check vehicles for explosives and also screen people entering hotels.

"If a hotel appears secure to the casual observer, it is more likely it has put protection measures in place and is therefore a less attractive target to criminals and terrorists alike," Ridley says. "The boundaries should be clearly defined with measures to ensure guests or patrons can only access the grounds."

Check the exits, fire escapes and alternative routes away from the area. If a crisis erupts, you will be prepared.

Choose your room carefully. In many hotels, some rooms may overlook a busy unsecured street, while others face the hotel grounds or areas with no traffic.

Assess room security. "Rooms should have a number of options for securing the door and viewing the outside corridor so you can preserve your security and privacy," Ridley says.

Check if the windows have protective film. Many deaths and injuries from bomb attacks, particularly further away from the blast site, are usually caused by flying glass.

During your stay

Make sure your company knows where you are. If there is a crisis, this will help with rescue and extraction.

Monitor local media for any signs of changes in the local security situation. Events on the ground can often move fast.

Be aware of the risk, but don't panic. Risk consultants point out that the danger of militant attacks is extremely low, even in troubled countries. Travelers can prepare intelligently for possible risks, but should keep them in perspective.

Have you been on a trip where you felt unsafe? Share your experiences and tips in the box below.