Health & Safety

Depending on the accommodation, entrances to a room may be accessed from the outside or from an indoor hallway. All hotels are equipped with necessary safety features. If you have any concerns, please call your emergency contact number. 

When you arrive 

• Check out all spaces within your lodging and its safety features. 
• Read the fire instruction notice displayed in your room. 
• Familiarize yourself with the escape routes and locate the nearest fire exit.
• If on a cruise – participate in the emergency evacuation drill.

If you notice any defects or hazards, report them to reception and call your emergency contact number.

Be aware and be safe 

• Take extra care in bright sunlight as it may not be obvious if windows or patio doors are open or closed. 
• Surfaces such as tile or marble floors can be very slippery.
• If you are self-catering, check how the cooking appliances work and ensure they are switched off when you leave your accommodation, or go to bed. 
• If smoking is permitted, always ensure that smoking materials are safely extinguished, and never smoke in bed. 
• Keep your key by your bed when sleeping.
• If you smell gas, report it. Black sooty marks or stains, small orange flames, or excessive condensation in the room could indicate a faulty gas appliance.

If a fire occurs ;

• Evacuate the room/area immediately – don’t stop to collect personal belongings. Use the nearest escape route. 
• Close any doors behind you. 
• Raise the alarm. 
• Go to the assembly point.
• If you can’t leave your room, close all doors, put wet towels or clothes under the door seals, call reception and shout for help from the window. 
• Never leave children unsupervised.

Balconies, corridors, and walkways  

• Don’t climb or stand on balcony furniture. Keep all furniture away from the balcony wall/railings. 
• Never lean over, sit, or climb on the walls or railings of any balcony, corridor, or walkway. 
• Don’t leave potential trip hazards on a balcony. 
• Do not try to climb from one balcony to another.
• Do not attempt to pass items to someone on another balcony. 
• Never jump into pools from balconies. 
• Before closing a balcony door, check that there is a handle on the outside. 
• Never leave children unsupervised on balconies.

Security 

• If available, use the safety deposit box for money, travel documents, and passports, as well as jewelry, and other valuables. 
• Lock your door even when you’re inside your room.
• Don’t leave windows or patio doors open when you leave the room.
• Exercise caution when opening the door to a visitor and ask them to identify themselves.
• If you see someone or something that looks suspicious, report it to reception or a member of staff immediately. 
• Follow the advice and instructions of staff or local authorities.

Please wear seatbelts at all times for safety (where they are provided). If you detect a seatbelt is faulty, please call your emergency contact number at once.  

If you use public transport, keep hold of your ticket until you exit the system. Inspectors conduct random checks, and you will receive an on-the-spot fine if you don’t have a valid ticket.

Maintenance work on public transport is often carried out over the summer months, which requires metro lines to be shut down.

Strikes can also be frequent across Europe. When they occur, expect demonstrations and/or significant disruptions, which usually affect public transport (including trains and airlines) and other public services. Some result in clashes with police, resulting in the use of tear gas and arrests. Avoid demonstrations and areas with significant police activity. Monitor the media and contact your travel provider for the latest details.

In general, slips and trips occur due to a loss of traction between the shoe and the walking surface, or an inadvertent contact with a fixed or moveable object. This may lead to a fall. There are a variety of situations where extra care should be taken:  

• Wet or greasy floors. 
• Dry floors with wood dust or powder. 
• Uneven walking surfaces. 
• Polished or freshly waxed floors. 
• Loose flooring, carpeting or mats. 
• Transition from one floor type to another.
• Missing or uneven floor tiles and bricks.
• Damaged or irregular steps; no handrails. 
• Sloped walking surfaces. 
• Shoes with wet, muddy, greasy or oily soles. 
• Clutter, wet leaves, or pine needles. 
• Electrical cords or cables.
• Damaged ladder steps. 
• Ramps and gang planks without skid-resistant surfaces. 
• Weather hazards — rain, sleet, ice, snow, hail, frost.

Control Individual Behavior: It’s human nature to let our guard down temporarily and it’s easy to be distracted when multitasking. Hurried behavior, walking quickly, or running can increase the chances of a slip, trip or fall. Common factors to many injuries often result from taking shortcuts, not watching where we are going, and distraction when using a cell phone. Carrying materials which obstruct vision, wearing sunglasses in low-light areas, and not using designated walkways can also play a part. It’s ultimately up to each individual to plan, stay alert and pay attention.

Crimes such as theft (including passport theft), pickpocketing and bag snatching are common, particularly in summer, as well as burglaries and muggings. Groups of thieves also operate on public transport, including busy metro lines, and trains to/from the airports. Take care to protect your belongings on public transport, in crowded tourist areas and at landmarks.

Some examples of common targets include (but are not limited to): 

• Airports. 
• Hotel lobbies.
• Outside of hotels and well-known short-stay accommodations. 
• Restaurants and cafes, especially when sitting on the terrace. 
• Beaches.

Criminals use children to distract tourists or even play an active role in theft. Violent theft is less common but may also occur on public transport or around major tourist attractions.

To protect yourself from theft:

• Avoid walking in quiet and poorly lit streets, especially at night.
• Keep luggage and valuables out of sight.
• Use ATMs in secure locations such as banks and shopping centers.
• Keep your ATM and credit cards in your sight.
• Monitor local sources for information about possible safety or security risks.

Only swim in the sea, tidal waters, rivers, lakes, and other waters (such as hotel pools) where it is permitted, and you know it is suited to your swimming ability. Also;

• Where possible, never swim alone, and always supervise children.
• Never swim at night, after drinking alcohol, after daily operation hours, or on a full stomach.
• Find out what to do in an emergency – For example, call the local coastguard.

At the Beach 

• Check warning flags, signage and whether a lifeguard is on duty and follow safety information on the beach.
• Beware of dangerous currents near piers and underwater hazards, such as reefs, rocks, breakwaters, and sudden changes in depth and marine life.
• Only use jet skis and other water-based crafts with appropriate safety equipment and supervised by an instructor. 
• If you see someone in distress raise the alarm.

Swimming pools and water-based facilities  

• Always obey the facility rules and signage.
• Read the pool rules before you swim and remember, most accommodations do not employ lifeguards. 
• Check the pool layout to know where the deep and shallow ends are, especially before jumping or diving in.
• Never dive into water less than 2.74m (9 feet) deep.
• Shower before entering the pool.
• Don’t jump or dive from any raised features, or from poolside furniture.
• Don’t swim if suffering from an upset stomach. Leave 48 hours before entering the pool following a stomach-related illness.
• In the event of a fecal accident in or around the pool, report it immediately.

Altitude sickness occurs when you cannot get enough oxygen from the air. This causes symptoms such as headache, loss of appetite, nausea, dizziness, lethargy, and trouble sleeping, among others. It happens most often when moving quickly from lower altitudes to 8,000 ft (2,500 m) or higher. For example, you may get a headache when you drive over a high mountain pass, hike to a high altitude, or arrive at a mountain resort.

Recommendations to avoid the effects of altitude sickness are to limit alcohol, caffeine, and salty food consumptions.

There is a risk of terrorist attacks in any destination. You should expect high levels of security wherever you travel, especially at schools, places of worship, shopping centers and landmarks. Attacks can occur at any time. Methods of attack have included knife attacks, shootings, bombings, and vehicle attacks. 

Be cautious around locations known to be targets. Attacks could be indiscriminate and could occur anywhere without warning. There have been several attacks in Europe in recent years.

Authorities have additional powers to deal with counter-terrorism security. In some public areas, they may: 

• Restrict access.
• Search your bags and vehicles.

Expect increased security checks at borders, including ID checks, which may cause delays. 

To reduce your risks: 

• Be alert to possible threats, especially in public places. 
• Report anything suspicious to the police.
• Monitor the news for any new threats. 
• Take official warnings seriously.
• Follow the instructions of local authorities.

In the event of an attack, leave the area as soon as it is safe to do so.