Staying in a hotel means you are at the mercy of the management when it comes to fire safety. There are precautions, however, that can make your stay safer. Keeping these safety measures in mind can make your vacation a relaxing and enjoyable one.

First, you should check with the hotel about fire safety plans. Check about smoke detectors and sprinklers. Develop an escape plan. Set a place near the hotel to meet any others in your party. Some may be in saunas, etc. Also, gather a kit of supplies, such as a flashlight, duct tape, and a portable smoke detector in case one is not provided. If you are traveling in a country other than your native language, learn the word “fire” in that language.

At first check in, ask about the location of fire alarms and what evacuation plan is in force. Check windows for proper function and the possibility of it being an escape route. Take time to master unlocking the door without the use of visual input. Keep a flashlight and your room key on the stand beside your bed. If you are uncomfortable with the hotel’s fire plan, then consider moving to another one.

In the unhappy event of a fire, grab the room key and flashlight, leave immediately, making sure your family or roommate is with you, close the door, sound the fire alarm if there is one in the hall (there should be). Go down the stairs (do not use an elevator) and immediately move to the safe place where you previously planned for.

If there is a fire somewhere else in the hotel, again grab the room key and flashlight. Check the door with the back of your hand to make sure it is not hot. If not, carefully check for smoke in the hallway. If smoke is present, carefully bend low to the floor and exit out a stairwell, checking doors for heat along the way. Do not use an elevator.

If the door in your room feels hot, don’t open it. Exit by the alternate route you have chosen. If you don’t have a second exit route, call for help, then wet towels stuff them at the bottom of the door. Fill the bathtub with water and surround the doors with the duct tape from your kit. Hang a bed sheet from the window to signal firemen. Don’t jump from the window. Wait until the fireman get there and give you directions.

These actions may seem extreme, but in the event of a fire, you won’t think so. Fire codes are stronger than in the past, but accidents still happen. The peace of mind in knowing you have a game plan is worth all the effort.

After a few bad experiences, one learns the importance of selecting hotels carefully. You want a pleasant experience, not a negative one. But first, you have to recognize what is important to you in order to find a hotel that will meet that need. You need to answer such questions as what you want in amenities, how long you will be in your room, and how close do you need to be to the attractions you are going to visit. Knowing all this will help you make the best selection.

Hotels are rated with a star system, from one star (the lowest) to five stars (the highest). Five-star hotels have it all, from hot tubs to the chocolate on the pillow. They strive to meet your every desire, surrounding you with luxury and pampering you from the time you get up until you go to bed at night. They have everything imaginable, but are also the most expensive of all.

There is very little difference between the four star and the five-star ones. They are still luxury establishments, and have everything the normal person would want. Linens have a slightly lower thread count and the shampoo is slightly less luxuriant. The major difference is in the price.

When you get to three star hotels, you are at the top of the basic, what most people strive for. The amenities are slightly below that of the four and five-star, but are still quite adequate. Things are clean and new. Though there may be a few missing luxuries such as no chocolate on the pillow, no scent on the pillowcase, and not quite as much catering. Still, you will get a comfortable, restful night of rest at a reasonable price.

The two star hotels get down to basics. You get a restful night’s rest, but without bells and whistles. You just get the basics – a clean place to sleep, at a rate that you should be able to afford. None of the luxurious extras will be offered.

The one star hotel is designed for the budget traveler, one who is only interested in a place to sleep, or one who doesn’t intend to spend much time in their room. They are not always the cleanest or most well decorated, and have no luxuries, just the bare bones basics. But, they do have a reasonable price that can’t be beat.

Most hotel rates for comparable amenities are competitive, meaning you just need to choose what you are interested in getting and the price you are willing to pay. Once you decide that, it is a simple matter to just book your room.