11 Travel Safety Tips for Americans Visiting India

2. Choose safe accommodation

Prioritize hotels or guesthouses with 24/7 reception and recent guest reviews for safety reasons. Check whether the property has secure locks, CCTV, and staff on-duty at all hours. Avoid ground-floor rooms facing a busy street when security seems limited or unattended night. Read multiple recent reviews and look for repeated mentions of staff helpfulness and responsiveness to guest safety concerns consistently. Book through reputable sites or directly with hotels to confirm amenities and keep booking confirmations handy in email and phone. Ask hotels about their emergency procedures, nearby hospitals, and the fastest route to the station or airport for visitors. Consider small guesthouses that have strong local reputations, but confirm door locks, staff IDs, and late-night access policies too. Use hotel safes for passports and extra cash and keep a hidden base amount of local currency for use. If traveling with family, ask for adjoining rooms and child-friendly facilities, and check crib availability before travel. When booking short-term rentals, read host reviews carefully, confirm building security, meet the host if possible, and verify emergency exits with staff. Keep a simple card with your hotel address in local script so you can show it to taxi drivers or ask directions easily.