I think that exterior vs. interior corridors are generally considered a distinguishing characteristic between a motel and a hotel (although not always).

Anyway, is a location with an interior corridor significantly safer than a location with an exterior corridor? Any statistics or anecdotes on the issue? Any locations where exterior corridors would be a particularly bad idea?

I don't know of any statistics, all I can tell you is that as a single woman I prefer to not stay at exterior corridor hotels. I prefer controlled access interior corridor hotels. If the hotel isn't controlled access and had multiple unlocked access doors, you probably aren't that much better off. I also prefer to not stay on the lower floors also for safety reasons.

I agree with Cynic. As a businesswoman who travels a good bit, I always prefer an upper floor as well as interior corridors. Safety is an issue to consider when traveling alone. My company is very generous as far as my hotel allowance because they want me to be safe. It is especially important because I often spend late dinners with clients, returning to the hotel well after the busy hours of a weeknight.

Another thing I do to ensure safety is get to know the staff at the hotel.

I am female too, and I often travel with my daughter and we've stayed in both types of places. We've not had any problems, but I started to wonder if perhaps I was taking too large a risk with the exterior corridor properties.

I would always take the interior corridors.

The word motel used to mean exterior rooms and you could drive up to your room, now, with Hampton Inn and other such interior door motels-the narrow definition no longer applies.

Also, even if I'm alone, I always register as Mr. & Mrs. (no price difference), so no one would know I'm alone in the room.

Years ago I was driving alone from Georgia to Boston via Washington, DC. Stopped in North Carolina (the furniture area) on a Sat. night at a motel with exterior corridors. Had expected city to be busy - but, not thinking, of course it was empty being a weekend usual furniture business peple around.

I am usually not a fearful-of-random-crime type person - do homecare nursing in some fairly rough areas - but I felt uneasy and unsafe all night. I even considered moving a bureau against the door. I think it was the deserted nature of the area that creeped me out - but I might have been almost as fearful in an empty hotel with inside corridors.

I also agree with "cynic"
In addition I prefer not to be at the end of a long corridor,I know being close to elevator or stairs can be noisy but to me it is better than being isolated. and I don"t like rooms with sliding glass doors.
I also use a "lock" apparatus I purchased at a travel shop. It inserts between door and the strike plate of the lock. I always have felt "uneasy" that hotel personnel have pass keys-
I realize it is necessary but I think traveling alone makes one extra cautious...
However, even with all these considerations, I still love to travel alone.

I too register as Mr. & Mrs. I was once in an exterior-corridor motel and (luckily) I awoke when someone was trying to get into the room. He seemed to have some kind of device that was playing with the safety latch thing. I have a little personal alarm thing that I carry with me ($5.99 at Rite Aid) and I pulled the trigger. It is VERY loud and was enough to scare him away and give me a minute to call 911.

Another thing I do is leave the radio and a light on when I go out to dinner. When I return to the room, just in case some stranger is watching, I open the door and say "Hi I'm back!" so that they think someone else is in the room.
I used to leave the TV on but someone told me that TV's should not be left unattended since if they blow a tube they could start a fire.
I prefer exterior corridors, first floor, since I also once experienced a hotel fire and so get a claustrophobic feeling on a top floor with indoor hallways. Hotels pay so little these days that I don't necessarily trust the employees...last weeks' inmate could be next week's security guard.

Okay, I'm paranoid, but I now put some coins in a glass and place it on the doorknob so that it will fall and make a noise if someone is turning the knob...and I am thinking of purchasing a little window alarm too!
P.S. Did you know that there are parts of the U.S. that aren't on the 911 system? If you are in a small town...make sure you check on how to call for help if needed.


I know, I know, I need to find a line of work that doesn't necessitate travelling!

I am a male who travels almost exclusively on business. I have had occasion to stay at both types of motels many times.
as a Male I consider convenience first most of the time. I like parking at my door.
However, I do advise others, especially ladies traveling alone, or those with children to take precaution. Always lock the door with whatever devices are available and look into a lock or warning device you can bring with you. As another poster mentioned, the lodging industry does not always hire the best people out there. Many times I have been given a key to a room that is already occupied, or someone has been mistakenly assigned to the room I am already in. Very unnerving at 1:00 AM, although I presume that the poor guy with the key to my room was more frightened than I was.

Tracy, quick thinking! and glad it worked. I gave my daughter a door stop (wedge shaped) that has a battery alarm if the top plate is pressed down (as in -the door opening over the top of it ). She still uses it even with her hubby and 2 children with her.

I have an adjustable metal bar with a u-shaped top for under the door knob and the non slip bottom for the floor. My hubby failed to open the door when we tested it. Of course, he didn't try as hard as a SWAT raid but as a burglar (or worse) would.

The parent corporation travel office of the company I work for has a policy against booking enployees in a venue with exterior corridors. If that's all that's available they encourage changing the venue of the meeting rather than use that type of facility. (I understand this is only partly for safety concerns - but even more because of issues around theft which is much easier/more common in facilities with exterior corridors - they got really tired of replacing stolen laptops.)

Wow, this is interesting! I have travelled alone and when checking in, when asked how many people in the room, naively said "just me". From now on when alone, I will book rooms as if my husband were along and request 2 room keys.

Several of you have mentioned devices that you have (door wedge with alarm), other lock apparatus, etc. Will you share with us where you have purchased those items? Travel specialty store, etc? Thanks so much! Also, one of you said you like to be near the stairwell or elevator shaft. While a room by the elevator might be OK, I think a room at the end of the hall by the stairwell would provide a too quick getaway for an intruder.

Good advice here.
Gail's story reminded me of a family vacation in Virginia when I was a teen. We were in a motel room that had a foul oder. There were no other rooms available, so my mom, aunt, cousin, and I slept with the door wide open all night! The moms put their handbags under their pillows, and placed a cup full of pennies where someone would trip on them. Don't think I'd try that nowadays, but it made for quite an adventure and great memory.

Mightisis, I have a doorstopper I bring with me. I think I got it from my parents to use in my home. I just wedge the thing in under the closed entry door so it would be more difficult to get into the room.

I prefer the interior corridors after an incident where some person on the 3rd floor outdoor corridor was shouting to people in the parking lot past my bedtime. I didn't fear for my safety, just my sanity.

Last year my mom and I stayed at a Ramada. It had an interior corridor, but all the doors were unlocked and people were coming and going all the time. Who knew if they were all guests?
We also had to stay on the first floor because my mom is elderly and couldn't handle the stairs.

I keep the Do Not Disturb sign on my door from the time that I check in until I check out. I take it off during the afternoons so the maid can come in.

This usually keeps anyone from my door. I've never had a problem however, I've never stayed in an exterior room hotel by myself.

Exterior room hotels are more suburban than city center.

So sorry Mighty, I don't recall where I bought the things-I'm pretty sure it was thru' catalogs.

There are so many travel websites now, you should be able to find something. Wish I could have been more help.