Article Highlights:

  • Navy SEAL Harding Bush shares hotel security and travel safety tips for international travelers.
  • Situational awareness includes avoiding distractions and assessing the surroundings.
  • Room inspections, secure Wi-Fi use and discreet behavior are key during hotel check-in.
  • Solo travelers are especially at risk and rely heavily on awareness to stay safe.
  • Parking garage safety includes well-lit spaces, avoiding isolation and quick re-entry.

 

 

Your hotel may feel like a safe haven after a long flight, but security begins the moment you walk through the lobby doors. Checking into a hotel isn’t just a formality, it’s a crucial moment to put situational awareness and proven travel safety tips into practice. Hotel security doesn’t stop at locked doors and surveillance cameras. It starts with you and how observant and prepared you are from the start.

 

Navy SEAL Hotel Security Tips

Harding Bush, a former Navy SEAL and security operations expert at Global Rescue, views hotel check-in as a top priority for travel safety. Long before he arrives, Bush researches the property and its surroundings for potential risks. He looks for hotels with 24-hour staffing, secure keycard access, surveillance systems and positive reviews regarding safety. His preferred room is located between the third and sixth floors, high enough to deter break-ins but low enough to evacuate in an emergency.

Once at the front desk, Bush refrains from announcing personal information aloud. He politely requests that the front desk staff write down the room number, keeps his luggage between his feet and discreetly observes those around him for suspicious behavior. These simple yet powerful habits reflect a foundation of situational awareness: an alertness to your environment and detection of anything that seems out of place. It’s one of the most important travel safety tips he emphasizes for all travelers.

Hotel security doesn’t end at the front desk. Upon entering his room, Bush immediately locks the door, checks the deadbolt and security latch and ensures adjoining doors and windows are secure. He covers the peephole, scans behind curtains and furniture and verifies that the phone works. He identifies the emergency exit route and familiarizes himself with the evacuation plan. If something doesn’t feel right or the room doesn’t meet safety expectations, he doesn’t hesitate to request a change.

 

Travel Safety Tips After You Check In to the Hotel

Situational awareness goes far beyond the hotel. It’s a mindset, an essential part of travel safety that empowers travelers to make proactive decisions. According to Bush, it’s about “being alert to your immediate environment” and recognizing patterns in behavior, movement and appearance. “Trust your gut,” he says. “If something or someone seems out of place, you’re probably right.” Travelers who practice situational awareness learn to notice subtle changes, stay calm under pressure and act quickly when needed.

This skill is especially crucial for solo travelers. A recent Global Rescue survey revealed that 93% of solo travelers rank situational awareness as a top priority for managing personal risk abroad. These travelers know the basics: put your phone away when walking alone, avoid poorly lit streets and research common scams in your destination before arrival. But their vigilance also extends to hotel security: selecting accommodations with key safety features, hiring trustworthy transportation and using smart gear like RFID-blocking wallets and zippered bags.

 

Parking Garage Risk Awareness

Another high-risk scenario for travelers is navigating parking garages abroad. Whether it’s an underground structure in Paris or a multi-level parking lot in Bangkok, parking areas can present significant security challenges. Bush’s advice? Stay alert, scan your surroundings and move with purpose. Avoid parking next to vans or in remote corners. Choose well-lit spots near elevators or exits. Keep your keys in hand and limit distractions. If something feels off, like someone loitering, following you or watching too closely, trust your instincts and leave.

Situational awareness isn’t about fear or paranoia, it’s about empowerment. Travelers who understand their surroundings and respond thoughtfully are far less likely to become victims. Whether you’re navigating a busy foreign city or checking into a remote eco-lodge, it’s the awareness that gives you the confidence to act when things go wrong, and the foresight to avoid danger in the first place.

Bush’s background as a Navy SEAL underscores the importance of these safety habits. He spent years learning how to assess environments under pressure, and now he helps Global Rescue members do the same. But you don’t have to be military-trained to benefit from these skills. Every traveler can build and refine their awareness with practice and intention. It starts with the decision to be present, to watch, listen and act with purpose in unfamiliar places.

 

10 Things a Navy SEAL Would Do When Checking Into a Hotel Room

  1. Research Before Booking – Long before arrival, a SEAL would vet the hotel’s security: looking for 24/7 front desk staffing, secure access points, surveillance cameras and strong guest reviews focused on safety.
  2. Stay Between the 3rd and 6th Floors – This range balances two key safety factors: it’s harder to access from the outside (reducing break-in risk) yet still within reach of emergency responders in case of fire or evacuation.
  3. Use Discretion at Check-In – He wouldn’t say his name or room number aloud, and he’d politely ask staff to write it down. Loose talk about travel plans or room location is a no-go.
  4. Keep Bags Between His Feet – At the front desk or in a crowded lobby, he’d position luggage directly between his feet to guard against opportunistic theft while maintaining physical control of his gear.
  5. Scan the Lobby for Red Flags – A SEAL would immediately assess the environment: who’s watching, who’s lingering, who doesn’t belong? Subtle behavioral cues often signal potential threats.
  6. Secure the Room Immediately – Before settling in, he’d check locks, deadbolts, peepholes and adjoining doors. He’d cover peepholes, close curtains and verify windows are locked—treating it like securing a perimeter.
  7. Identify Escape Routes – He’d locate the nearest stairwell, count the number of doors to the exit and mentally map the fastest way out, especially useful in low visibility or high-stress scenarios.
  8. Create a Makeshift Alarm – Even with door locks, a SEAL might wedge a doorstop alarm, place a chair against the knob or use a noise-triggering object (like a water glass) to detect entry attempts.
  9. Limit Digital Exposure – He’d avoid using public Wi-Fi without a VPN and disable Bluetooth when not in use, reducing digital risk as part of physical security awareness.
  10. Trust Instincts and Act on Them – If anything feels off — room location, unusual behavior, suspicious guests — he wouldn’t hesitate to request a different room or change hotels. A SEAL listens to his gut. You should, too.

 

The Global Rescue Connection

Global Rescue provides more than emergency evacuations. We provide peace of mind through preparation, protection and professional guidance. Situational awareness, paired with the right safety tools, is your first line of defense when traveling. And when you need more than awareness, Global Rescue is ready with 24/7 access to security experts like Harding Bush, medical advisory support and boots-on-the-ground response teams.

Whether you’re checking in to a hotel in Cairo, parking in a garage in Mexico City or backpacking solo through Southeast Asia, the principles of situational awareness apply. With Global Rescue by your side, you’re not just traveling smart, you’re traveling safe because true hotel security and travel protection come from a combination of vigilance and trusted backup.

Situational awareness is the traveler’s secret weapon. And with Global Rescue, you’ll never face risk alone.