Staying safe in your hotel room

It goes without saying that hotels have become a target for terrorists. A survey after 9/11 by the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration found that many hotels didn't alter their security and safety procedures in response to an increased threat of terrorism. Peter Greenberg, "Today" travel editor and author of “Hotel Secrets from The Travel Detective," gives tips on how to protect yourself:

I asked officials of SafePlace, a Wilmington, Delaware, corporation (www.safeplace.com) that evaluates hotels against specific security, fire protection, and health and safety requirements, to compile a list of essential ways for hotel guests to protect themselves:

Villard

Book cover: 'Hotel Secrets from the Travel Detective'

Some of the best ways for travelers to assure themselves that they are staying in a secure hotel and that there are proper procedures and safety features in place are to simply not be afraid to ask questions, do a little inspection on their own, and stay alert while away from home.

Before booking your hotel, you should ask these questions:

Excerpted from Hotel Secrets from The Travel Detective by Peter Greenberg. Copyright © 2004 by Peter Greenberg. Excerpted by permission of Villard, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.