Originally Posted By: brandtb
In my family we have a standing rule when checking into a hotel/motel with inside-opening room doors (as opposed to doors that open directly to the outside parking lot) -

The first thing when entering the room is to clear it with gun in hand.


That's what I do when I check into the executive suite at Mandarin Oriental.

Seriously, why is a "inside-opening" room more dangerous than an "outside-opening" room? I'd think it's the other way -- the former requires the bad guy to pass through the lobby either to or from the room. "Outside-opening" rooms offer direct access, and some corners of the parking lot may be poorly monitored. Such hotels also tend to be much cheaper, less patrolled, with a more problematic clientele.