Bungy Jumping and Canyon Swinging in Cairns: What it's Like (Video)

Updated: 10/30/2018 | October 30th, 2018

: 10/30/2018 | October 30th, 2018

I hate heights, which is something a lot of people find ironic, considering how often I fly. But anyone who has flown with me before knows that I’m a bit of a nervous flier. Any bump in the air and I grab onto the seat until my knuckles are white. While I’ve gotten a bit better over the years, I still won’t even go near ledges or cliffs and, if someone does manage to get me up an observation tower, it takes me about ten minutes to walk toward the glass. I’m that scared.

As you might know, extreme sports are hugely popular in Australia and New Zealand. From bungy jumping to skydiving to scuba diving to rock climbing to whitewater rafting and everything in between. People come to this part of the world to get outdoors and get an adrenaline rush.

And no activity is more synonymous with this area of the world than bungy jumping!

Bungy jumping was invented by a New Zealander named A.J. Hackett in the 1980s. Taking inspiration from a ‘land diving’ tradition in Vanuatu, Hackett worked to figure out how to make land diving actually work in a safe and consistent environment. Eventually, he and his colleagues took their product to France where they then jumped off the Eiffel Tower. This was illegal of course, which resulted in Hackett briefly spending some time in jail.

But that jump caught the attention of the world, and bungy jumping has been a common (if extreme) sport ever since.

A.J. Hackett is the biggest name in the bungy biz, operating jumps all around the world, including the world’s tallest bungee jump in Macau which stands 764 feet above the ground. Naturally, as bungy jumping grew in popularity, other extreme activities were developed and followed suit. Enter the canyon swing, a large gravity-powered pendulum that drops people into a canyon and lets them swing back and forth.

When I was visiting Cairns, Australia with some friends, I got invited to visit the AJ Hackett Bungy Jump by Brett Claxton, then the head of Queensland’s backpacking association. While we are there, AJ himself turned up and we started talking! He was an extremely interesting guy. I pictured him to be this big, burly guy but, instead, he was a short, hippie with a penchant for adrenaline sports!

After some peer pressure, I agreed to do the canyon swing they had there. In fact, not only did I do the canyon swing but I got to do it with AJ himself. How could I say no to that?

While the video below doesn’t have the quality, it definitely shows you want you can expect when you do a canyon swing in Cairns:

While I’m no adrenaline junkie, I have to admit it was a memorable experience. While it’s not for me, I can definitely see why bungy jumping has become such a popular activity. These days, no visit Down Under is complete without some sort of extreme sport. So, if you find yourself in Cairns be sure to head over to AJ Hackett’s and take a leap. You won’t regret it.

How to Bungy Jump and Cayon Swing in Cairns: Logistics

The Cairns location is actually A.J. Hackett’s favorite place to hang out. They have built an impressive setup, offering 16 different styles of jumping, including the ability to jump blindfolded or to jump from a BMX bike. There’s a bar on site, and the place is open all day so you can book multiple jumps.

AJ Hackett Cairns is open daily from 10am, 364 days a year (they close on Christmas).

Transportation is included in your ticket, with multiple pick-up points available around Cairns. They’ll pick you up at a place convenient for you. Make sure to book in advance so you can choose your ideal time and secure a spot on the shuttle.

Single jumps start at 159 AUD for adults and 139 AUD for students and children ages 10-14. For an additional 99 AUD, you can also purchase photos and video (including POV footage) of your jump. The canyon swing is 129 AUD for adults and 69 AUD for children and students.

Book Your Trip to Australia: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time. My favorite places to stay in Cairns are:

• Gilligans – This is biggest hostel in Cairns. Come here to meet people and party.
• Asylum – An all around solid hotel with friendly staff and comfy beds.
• Calypso – This is a bit outside the city but the staff is friendly and it’s quiet.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

Photo credit: 1

Kate Middleton and Prince William Will Make Just One More Appearance This Summer (Video)

Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, and her husband Prince William have been all over the place in the last few months. The pair has made official appearance after official appearance, including their most recent outing at Wimbledon. But now, it seems all that is over as the couple is reportedly on summer break.

According to a new report in Hello, the royal pair, along with much of the royal family, is officially on summer vacation for the months of July and August. That means we likely will not see the duo (or their adorable kids) at any official events until some time in September.

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However, Hello explained, at least Kate and William will be making one exception on Aug. 9 to host The King's Cup sailing regatta in Cowes in support of several charities.

As for what the pair will do during their time off the palace is staying mum, however, it is safe to assume they too will be making a trip to Scotland to visit the Queen and Prince Philip at Balmoral. There, they will likely run into Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and baby Archie too.

As Travel + Leisure previously reported, Meghan and Harry will head to Balmoral this summer too to spend a bit of time with Queen Elizabeth. There, the Queen is also reportedly planning to throw Meghan a small birthday tea party on Aug. 4.

“The Queen and Prince Philip adore the couple and, of course, their new great-grandson Archie, and they have invited them to Balmoral for a few days. It is a testament to Meghan that she has been given this invite. It’s a huge honor,” a source shared with The Sun about the reported birthday bash. “Meghan may be a Duchess who can have anything she wants but the Queen is giving her a thoughtful present,” the source added. “It’s no secret Balmoral is Her Majesty’s favorite home and that’s why this invite is so special and heartfelt.”

Hopefully, William and Kate are invited to the party too.

Beyoncé Filmed Her Newest Music Video at Havasu Falls — and Not Everyone Is Happy About It

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Whatever Beyoncé wants, Beyoncé gets — especially when it comes to incredible and hard-to-reach filming locations.

According to the Arizona Republic, the music superstar shut down the area of the Grand Canyon known as Havasu Falls on July 10 in order to film her music video for the upcoming movie, "The Lion King."

The new video, titled “Spirit,” was released online on Tuesday, July 17, in anticipation of the photo-realistic Disney remake. Beyoncé herself plays the adult Nala.

Havasu Falls, or Havasupai Falls, has always been a hidden gem of Arizona tourism since it is considerably hard to get to. In order to reach the falls, hikers must trek a trail that’s about eight miles long, plus two more to get to the campground and another three to reach the falls itself, USA Today reported. But it’s well worth it to see the falls’ shimmering emerald green and blue waters.

For this very reason, only 300 permits per day are issued by the Havasupai Tribal Council, which controls the land, according to the Arizona Republic. These permits are released yearly on Feb. 1, according to AZ Central, and are snapped up very quickly. Permits cost $100 per night on weekdays and $125 per night Friday through Sunday, with a minimum three-night stay. Since they have a yearly release, you have to plan your trip way in advance.

So Beyoncé shutting down the place for five hours of filming, according to TMZ, is a pretty big deal. Fortunately for the singer, the Havasupai tribe was “honored” to have the falls be featured in the video, according to the Arizona Republic.

“Knowing that Beyonce advocates for the preservation of water rights around the world, we were particularly pleased to be able to accommodate her request,” said Muriel Uqualla, chairwoman of the Havasupai Tribal Council, to the Arizona Republic. “Her choice to visit the Havasupai Indian Reservation as a setting for her new video and to share it worldwide is a testament to the stunning beauty of our remote homeland.”

But not everyone was happy to see that it was completely off-limits for part of the day last week. Particularly, hikers and campers who set a reservation for that day back in February and did not get the chance to take full advantage of it. Even worse, people who made the 10-mile hike from their campground were in for a shock if they arrived when it was closed. It’s unclear how many people were affected by the film shoot, according to the Arizona Republic.

According to AZ Central, many visitors expressed their unhappiness on a Havasupai Facebook group, though it is not clear which one. Not only was the shoot an inconvenience for hikers who had an advance reservation, many visitors expressed concern that it would make it harder to get permits.

Beyoncé is no stranger to booking high profile venues, though this may be the only time it was for a place that required so much advanced planning for people who are not celebrity status.

The singer and her husband, Jay-Z, filmed another music video, “APES**T,” at the Louvre in Paris, back in 2018, which helped the museum see record visitor numbers that same year.

Even if Havasu Falls is considered a “secret,” perhaps the remoteness of the location will serve as a deterrent for unwanted droves of visitors. Then again, perhaps the exposure will also help boost tourism and bring awareness to the area. Don’t underestimate the power of Bey.

This Is When the Royal Children Will Start Bowing to the Queen (Video)

Sure, you may have to kiss your grandma when she comes in, hug your cousins, and play with your little sister, but you should try being a royal for a day. After all, they are the ones that need to bow to their great-grandma by age five.

According to royal expert Marlene Eilers Koenig, that is the age when the royal children will be expected to bow to Queen Elizabeth, the sovereign of the United Kingdom.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

“Certainly by age five. The only person they will curtsy or bow to is the sovereign. A royal highness does not curtsy to another royal highness,” she told Hello! Magazine in a 2018 interview. “Yes, there are articles that state this, but it is not true.”

According to Koenig, this practice of bowing or curtsying has nothing to do with any official royal precedence. Instead, it’s merely “etiquette.”

“You bow or curtsy the first time you see the sovereign and then again when you leave,” she said, noting we all saw this happen at Christmas services.

“...at church, we saw the Cambridges and Prince Harry and Meghan curtsy and bow when the Queen arrived and left. Other royals including Charles did not because they had come from Sandringham and had already seen the Queen.”

Though we know from the Christmas event that Harry and Meghan, Kate, and William all already bow to their grandmother and grandmother-in-law, what’s a little unknown is if any of their children do as well.

As Marie Claire pointed out, Prince George turns six years old next week, meaning he may be the only kid currently bowing to Queen Elizabeth. Though, Charlotte is four so isn’t that far beyond. We think Prince Louis, who is just one, and Archie, who is a mere infant, both get a pass. But, it will be no time at all before they are bowing and learning the other royal rules like never going to bed before the Queen, never wearing black, and never ever eating shrimp while traveling.

Naomi Campbell at the Airport Is Surprisingly Relatable — Until It’s Not

Naomi Campbell’s flying ritual is surprisingly relatable — until it’s not.

In a video released on her YouTube channel last week, supermodel Naomi Campbell let fans into her airport and airplane rituals. Much like us, she easily succumbs to the siren’s song of the candy in the Duty-Free shop. But in an unexpected move, once she’s boarded the plane, she dons rubber gloves and disinfects “everything you touch,” to the delight of those around her.

The video starts with the supermodel passing through security at Nice International Airport. She is flying a Qatar Airways flight to Doha. “I love traveling. I was born traveling,” Campbell says. Much like us, she considers the airport a prime location for people-watching. “Of course I check out people’s legs,” she admits. “I check out everything.”

Before passing through the security scanner, she chugs water to get her bottle through — which is a surprisingly relatable move. But it’s once Campbell passes through security things get really good.

Campbell’s voyage through the Duty-Free shop is the stuff that memes are made of. “I’m getting this and I don’t care!” she proclaims while heading to the cashier with a bag of Twix. She then yells “Beauty!” while heading to the cosmetics section of the shop and applies a Chanel lip gloss. Things get deeply relatable as she passes a rack of Haribo candies and cries, “No!” but then purchases a couple of packets. She also peruses the magazines on display, praises the diversity of the models featured on the covers and purchases a copy of Vogue.

And then, Campbell becomes her iconic self. Once she’s boarded the airplane, she roots through her Louis Vuitton bag to locate a special Zip-Loc bag. It’s then revealed that this ZIp-Loc contains a pair of rubber gloves, which she always brings and keeps separate. She then procures a pack of antibacterial wipes and disinfects “anything that you could possibly touch.” She offers to share her pack with the woman sitting behind her. “This is what I do on every plane I get on,” Campbell explains. “I do not care what people think of me. It’s my health and it makes me feel better.”

In addition to the disinfectant, Campbell also keeps a seat cover with her, which she hand-washes at the hotel and changes out every week. (She just buys a new one at the airport in a color that makes her happy.) She also wears a face mask to avoid picking up germs. “This is my protection from people’s coughing and sneezing,” she says. “As much as I travel, I should get sick so much more with colds and stuff and I’m blessed that I don’t. And I really think that this helps me, my little routine.”

And now we’re off to upgrade our in-flight kits to Campbell’s level of germ-prevention.

Jennifer Garner Has the Most Relatable Packing Problem

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Jennifer Garner is just like us when it comes to packing.

This week, Garner — otherwise known as America’s sweetheart — shared a hilarious video on Instagram showcasing just how relatable her packing choices really are.

“Who gets to come? Who hasn’t been in a long time and feels like they’re the right choice? It’s you,” Garner says, speaking to a subject off-screen. She then reveals who she's speaking to — or, what: a stack of her favorite sweatpants.

“I can’t look at them. It makes me feel too bad. You can come, too,” she added.

Her video caption: “The hardest part about packing.”

Fans commented about just how much they feel for her and her packing decisions.

“I so relate to this! But mine is with fruit and veg. Like which apple or carrot gets to come home with me,” one commenter said.

“This is how I felt packing for Italy. ‘Who wants to travel? Who wants to be in pictures? Don’t look at me like that striped top — besides you belong in a French bistro, not an Italian café,’” another added.

Garner has long been open about her love of sweatpants, both when traveling and when at home. “My kids are so relieved to see me take my makeup off and put glasses and sweatpants on,” she said in an interview with People. “I guess that doesn’t really count as feeling beautiful! It is more like feeling wanted and loved for being me, which is even better.”

If you want to travel in style like Garner, you can: Here are 19 sweatpant to buy to ensure the most comfortable trip ever.

How to Avoid Paying Checked Baggage Fees (Video)

When you’re already spending on airfare, rental cars, and hotels, it can really feel like just too much to have to spend an extra $25 or $30 for a checked bag.

Airlines have long charged fees for extra heavy checked bags, but it’s only recently become standard practice to charge for simply checking a bag. The going rate is about $30 for the first bag, with prices rising for each additional bag.

But, there are ways to avoid these fees. Here are our tips.

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Book an airline that doesn't charge baggage fees:

There are still some airlines that don’t charge fees to check bags. That means if you’re looking at two flights of similar prices and one option is on a free-to-check airline, you can choose that option and save money (if you will need the service).

Southwest Airlines lets you check two bags for free, regardless of your ticket class or where you’re flying. Same goes for Ravn Alaska and Penair if you’re flying within Alaska, according to Kayak.com. Hawaiian Airlines has free checked bags for international flights, and many international carriers do not charge for checked bags, including Air France, Air New Zealand, Emirates and Korean Air, according to farecompare.com.

Book the right ticket:

In addition, some airlines offer airfare classes that include checked baggage. For many airlines, if you purchase a premium ticket (premium economy, business, or first class), you get free checked baggage, said Kelly Soderlund, a spokesperson with the travel planning website www.hipmunk.com.

You also get free baggage if you or the person with whom you're traveling hold elite status with the airline, Soderlund said.

Sara Rathner, NerdWallet’s travel expert, also recommends booking a ticket in a premium cabin.

“If you were planning to splurge on more luxurious travel anyway, you’ll get a free checked bag to go along with your more spacious seat,” she said. “Keep in mind that if you upgrade to a premium cabin after dropping off your bag, you may still be subject to a checked bag fee.”

Finally, Rathner recommends using “one airline faithfully and travel often.”

“If you travel enough each year, you can attain status on an airline, which would score a free checked bag,” she said. “On United, American, and Delta, you’d need to rack up at least 25,000 qualifying miles in the previous year to qualify for status in the next year.”

Get an airline credit card:

An airline-branded credit card for you or the person you’re traveling with also usually gets you free checked baggage, Soderlund said. Either that, or use a credit card that allows you to apply your annual travel credit towards baggage fees.

“The best way to avoid paying fees is to have a credit card that covers the expenses,” said Janice Lintz, a consumer education and travel writer. “Amex Platinum requires the user to select one domestic airline annually, which is frustrating. I personally like City National Bank's Crystal Visa Infinite Credit Card with rewards for my airline fees since I receive $250 a year for qualifying airline purchases. That includes domestic airlines, and each of my authorized users up to three people also receives $250 each.”

She added that for international fees, cards like Citi or Chase Saphire Reserve will cover travel fees, “but I like to try to avoid using those cards for baggage since I can use them for airfare,” she said. “Capital One Venture and Spark Business will cover any baggage expenses as well.”

Tracy Stewart, the content editor of travel deal site Airfarewatchdog.com, said one of the easiest ways to avoid baggage fees is to book tickets using the airline's branded credit card.

“Cardholders are promised a slew of travel perks, including complimentary checked baggage,” he said. “Fly more than a couple of times a year and you can easily make up the annual fee requirement for many of these cards.”

When all else fails:

Stewart says one of the simplest ways to avoid baggage fees is also one of the most difficult for travelers.

“Pack sparingly and fit all that you need into just a carry on,” he said. “With the exception of United, basic economy tickets now allow passengers a free carry-on and small personal item such as a backpack or computer bag. Sure, it'll require a little editing but you may be surprised by little you actually need. For many, the real advantage in going carry-on only is that you eliminate the need to wait around at the baggage carousel on arrival.”

Related: Watch a Former Bond Girl Pack 100 Items in a Carry-on in 2 Minutes

Soderlund also notes that there are some items you can check for free: strollers, car seats, and wheelchairs, plus some airlines will let you bring home local delicacies free of charge.

“Say, a case of wine flying from California on Alaska, or pineapple from Hawaii,” Soderlund said. “American Airlines recently cut the fees for sports equipment like surfboards from $150 to $30, and United has also cut fees on California-bound travelers’ surfboards.”

Jen Ruiz, a lawyer turned solo travel blogger and author of The Affordable Flight Guide has an interesting trick to save money on baggage: She uses duty free bags as a catch all.

“You're usually allowed two of the white bags without question, in addition to your carry-ons,” she said. “If something is too heavy or just doesn't fit, put it in a duty free bag as a secret way to get past airline restrictions.”

How Much Should You Tip Room Service? (Video)

Ask most travelers what they leave for room service, and chances are you’ll be met with a blank stare. The fact is, most of us don’t know! Tipping is hard! And, uh, do you happen to do it?

“It’s the most awkward thing to tell someone what to tip because [expectations are] so different everywhere,” says Julie Danziger, managing partner of Embark Beyond Travel in New York City. “Especially for Americans who are used to tipping in one way, which other countries might take as an insult.”

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Fortunately, there are some guidelines, say the travel experts we spoke with. Keep reading for their advice, which you can apply at home and abroad. And try not to stress — we’ve all gotten it wrong at some point. (Editor’s Note: Though these tips may be helpful, they’re not hard and fast rules, so do what makes you most comfortable and don’t be afraid to ask your host or travel advisor for guidance.)

At a Top-Tier Hotel

Booked a room at the Ritz? Then expect to pay a service charge and gratuity, says Danziger, who rarely sees such fees omitted from bills. If you’re unsure whether your hotel has them, just ask. And if you’re paying with a card, as many travelers are likely to do, find out if tip is included, says Betty Jo Currie, founder of Currie & Co. Travels Unlimited in Atlanta. If not, you may decide to leave a little cash. “I generally leave $5 or so,” she says, noting how little these workers are compensated.

Danziger finds applying the same mentality she uses when dining at American restaurants to be helpful. “As Americans, usually we’re trained to double the tax or pay 18 or 20 percent on top,” she says. Assuming the food came from the hotel, it should be fine to do the same for room service. (If it didn’t, you can pretend it did, Danziger says.)

For those staying abroad, where tipping customs may not be as clearcut, do your homework, says Lizzie Post, co-president of the Emily Post Institute in Burlington, Vermont. “Take the time to look up standards for the area,” she says. And remember, just because there’s a service charge and gratuity included doesn’t mean the person who brought up your food will receive it. “Ask whether the person is receiving tips from the actual bill.”

At Chic Boutiques and Beyond

Post stresses tipping is a personal decision, but warns against tipping based on the type of establishment you’re staying in. “You want to make sure workers feel valued for the work they’re doing,” she says. “If it’s not as high class, don’t decrease your tip because of that.”

However, some boutique hotels, at least in the States, don’t usually have restaurants, says Danziger. So you can tip as if they did have one. “It’s not expected, but people usually appreciate it,” she says.

Currie agrees. “Logically, one would think motels would provide less service and thus require less in terms of tips,” she says. But anytime service is provided, she thinks of the person she’s tipping — you know, the one ferrying her burger up to her room at one in the morning. “If the service is good, my amount wouldn’t change — and I urge others to think the same way.”  

The Top Things to See and Do in Madrid

My first time in Madrid was a failure. I got sick and only ended up making it out for half a day before retreating back into bed, cursing a cold that kept me from experiencing one of Europe’s great cities.

On my train trip through Europe last month, I entered Madrid tired from an overnight train but in wonderful health, and I set out to right a wrong. Madrid would be explored, dissected, drank, and eaten through.

A couple of weeks ago, I took you on a food tour of Madrid. This week’s Wednesday video highlights the top six things I loved about the city.

(Want more travel videos? Subscribe to my YouTube channel here and get free videos!)

Madrid has a lot more to offer than what’s included in this video, from food tours to flamenco dancing to outstanding nightlife to a growing gin-and-tonic obsession.

You’ll never be bored in Madrid. There are so many things to do there, but the activities mentioned in this video will give you a good starting point.

'Vacation Shaming' Is Preventing Millennials From Taking Time Off (Video)

The American workforce is shaming its largest segment of workers into leaving behind unused vacation days. 

A new survey conducted by travel insurance firm Allianz Global Assistance revealed that millennial workers in the United States are suffering the most from “vacation shaming,” a term used to describe work environments where colleagues and bosses indirectly discourage employees from taking time off.

The eighth annual Allianz Travel Insurance Vacation Confidence Index found that as many as 25 percent of millennials reported feeling nervous when requesting time off from their employers, as opposed to 14 percent of Gen X’ers and six percent of workers aged 55 and above. Millennial workers (between the ages of 18 and 34) are the most likely to feel guilty, afraid, or shameful when requesting vacation days.

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The Vacation Confidence Index also revealed that 48 percent of millennials are not using all of their paid time off each year, though they’re not alone. An earlier survey from Allianz found that it’s been more than a year since half of Americans (53 percent) last took a vacation and nearly four in ten workers (37 percent) said they haven’t taken a vacation in more than two years.

“Many Americans, millennials in particular, are leaving vacation days on the table which could be the result of vacation shaming — the sense of shame, guilt, or other negative feelings received from co-workers for taking a vacation,” said Daniel Durazo, director of communications at Allianz Global Assistance USA, in a statement.

“We were surprised to see that when compared to older generations, millennials more commonly succumb to these negative feelings by choosing not to take all their entitled vacation days. Meanwhile, Gen X’ers place the same amount of importance on vacations, but seem to have the system better figured out because they are the most likely to take all their allotted vacation time,” Durazo added.

This year’s Vacation Confidence Index, which represents the opinions of 1,009 randomly-selected adults living and working in the U.S., was conducted by national polling firm Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of Allianz Global Assistance USA. The survey defined vacation as “a leisure trip of at least a week to a place that is 100 miles or more from one’s home.”

The findings are consistent with a similar survey conducted by Project: Time Off for its annual State of American Vacation report, which revealed that millennial women are the least likely to use all of their vacation days. Last year’s report introduced the term “work martyr” to describe the tendency for millennials to be work-obsessed and prioritize face time in the office over the need to unplug by taking a vacation.

The State of American Vacation 2017 report released earlier this year stressed that taking a vacation can not only help you recharge and be more productive, but that it can also help you land a promotion.

But not all bosses discourage their millennial staff from using vacation days. Kim Peters, an EVP for workplace consultant Great Place to Work, says that “93% of millennials who answered our Trust Index survey and work at the 100 Best Workplace for Milllennials feel that they are able to take time off from work when it’s necessary.”

Among those whose employers made the list of best workplaces, “88 percent said they feel they work in an emotionally and psychologically healthy workplace,” Peters told Travel + Leisure. “While it isn’t the case for everyone, there are great workplaces where all workers are encouraged to take time off.”

To inspire more Americans to use all of their vacation days, earlier this summer Travel + Leisure launched Operation Vacation, a page of more than 50 travel deals and discounts on airlines, hotels, cruises, and vacation packages.

Here's How to Book The Safest Room in a Hotel (Video)

Originally published March 29, 2016.

Safety is at the forefront of most travelers’ minds, not matter how short or rote the trip. How well can you protect yourself? What steps should you take to better ensure your safety? Travel + Leisure first tackled this topic with a post on the safest seat on the airplane—and now we've got intel on the safest room in a hotel.

Rob Walker, head of information and analysis for travel security at London-based International SOS, told the MailOnline Travel which rooms are the best to book for a better chance of survival in the event of a fire, attack, or disaster. If traveling in the United States, his suggestions include choosing a room above the first or second floors yet lower than the sixth or seventh floors. The reason? Those rooms are out of harm's way in terms of burglars, but low enough that you could survive a fall if you needed to jump. It’s also within reach of most fire department ladders.

“We also recommend travelers request rooms on the side of the building further away from the lobby, which is likely to be the main entry point for any attacker,” Walker said. “It is preferable to also choose the side away from other public areas, such as hotel restaurants, as those areas can be a target area, and rooms that are not easily accessed from the street, so as not to be an easy target for criminals. Yet, ideally it is good to be near the emergency exit stairs.”

Along with having things like an emergency evacuation plan ready to go, Walker recommends keeping a few other things in mind:

• Avoid rooms with interlocking doors if possible.
• Choose hotels that are not in high crime neighborhoods.
• Make sure your room has the following: deadbolts, an eyehole, and evacuation procedures.
• Pack a doorstop.
• When you enter, prop your hotel room door open with your luggage and do a quick sweep to make sure there are no intruders.
• Have a grab bag of essentials including your passport, water, and phone charger prepared in advance.