[weegee]

Do not use the hotel fire stairs as a "short cut"- ever.

Interesting point (I understand it). I was at a hotel recently and some of the guests ridiculed other guests for getting off/on the elevator at the second (really third) floor. All guests pay the same for those elevators and quite often they even have security cameras in them.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

Yes- the fire stairs are there for emergency evacuation only- at other times they tend to be deserted- and in some countries the fire door LOCKS BEHIND YOU when you enter the fire stairwell. What a great set-up to be robbed, mugged, or raped! (I expect some grr-woofery from REAL tough guys who would just fight their way down the stairs through the armed robbers, etc- please spare me. I'm as tough as you are, and usually armed besides- and I stay away from these stairs).