I will be staying in a hotel for a couple of nights every week for work. I'm going to be about 175 miles from home and will have to travel through Boston to get back. I have an extensive car bag in my truck, but I was wondering what additional items you may take for hotel stays. Thanks for your input.

A couple of tin cans to put behind the door or a string of chrstmas jingy-bells to hang on the door knob, and a hardwood wedge (two if there is a "porch"). You can actually get small motion detectors now, they aren't super expensive, but this option is cheaper.

When I've known I was going someplace interesting, I've thought about bringing an old leg hold trap with an 60 pound spring. Haven't yet, but it will slow the first guy though the door down if I ever do. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Tooth brush, toothpaste...just kidding. I don't generally carry too much extra for hotel stays, but I always remember to toss my SureFire (G2Z if it matters) into my suitcase and keep it on the nightstand. Make sure you lock windows and doors at night and know exactly where your exits are and you should be good. I generally stay in decent hotels in "safe" areas when I travel, so I'm more concerned with fires than break-ins and the like.

It's not necessarily a preparedness item, but a laptop can serve you well depending on circumstances. When hurricane Katrina was headed ashore, I had a family vacation planned in Dallas. (Yeah, we got some looks when we told people along the way.) We stopped over the night before in Memphis, and I was able to get a lot more news on the weather, evacuations, etc. online than I was able to get via the cable TV in the room.

Don't ever stay on the ground floor if you can avoid it (if there are windows readily accessible). I've always just used the lever bar to lock the door - even maids can't get through them. If it only has a chain, you are likely in the wrong hotel. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Make sure all valuables are under your pillow just in case, keep a larger - bright flashlight on the nightstand, use a cable lock for your laptop - some of the newer laptops and cables can alarm if moved without the unlock.

I always brought extra socks and underwear. It's also best to have reading material, laptop, and I'm assuming you already EDC a flashlight, whistle, and knife

A smoke escape hood (bear in mind the EVACU8/+ recall) might be a good idea if you're going to be high up in an unfamiliar building.

eeph

food and water because you never know

General things:
- Pick a hotel in a "good" neighborhood. Staying in a high-crime area is asking for trouble. You're better to have to drive some in the morning than to take a chance.
- Pick a hotel that has security entrances. This pretty much eliminates the one-floor-door-to-the-parking-lot variety. Be sure that the front desk is staffed 24-hours
- Park under a light or in a well-lighted area of the parking lot. Do not leave valuables in the car. Be sure any equipment or gear is locked in the trunk or well-hidden. Look around the lot as you drive in for suspicious activity, and look again before you exit the vehicle. (you do this everywhere, right?)
- Besides clothing and normal stuff, your EDC and FAK should come in to the room with you. The smoke hood mentioned above is a great idea.
- Have with you a set of clothes made from natural materials (cotton/wool/etc). In a fire situation, synthetics can melt and weld themselves to skin.
- Book your room far enough in advance to be able to secure a second-floor room. First floor (as mentioned above) is not a good idea. If you have to go out the window, second floor is not too bad of a drop.
- Find out about how the hotel is situated, and book a room on the "non-weather-side" of the building.
- Always have with you a survival guide. You can use it for reference if you need it, and it's good reading when you don't. Bring also a good reading book and a "how-to" book on some subject you're interested in for good reading variety.
- If you are able to carry, bring your range bag in with you. Cleaning your weapons is a soothing, relaxing activity. Beware that the smell of Hoppe's No. 9 does add a certain "flavor" to the room. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
- Always have food and drink items. Buy a french press to brew coffee or tea. I carry one MRE - and sometimes just eat it when I'm too tired to go out for dinner.
- Always have a cell phone and a charger. Be sure the cell phone gets charged in the car before you get to the hotel.
- A laptop lets you do stuff like browse and blab on forums.

I stay in hotels 4 nights per week, every week.

4 nights a week, every week? Well, Farmer, you must not be a farmer. I sure hope it's not your marriage putting you out 4 nights a week! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Farmer, Great info, unfortunately the range bag has to stay in NH. MA is very anti gun and getting a non resident CCW is expensive and difficult to get.

Bells on the door is good idea. Where can we find these miniature motion detectors and what might they activate? As far as the leg trap goes.........I pitty the poor maid who enters the wrong room!