Reading a previous topic on Hotel Room Safe brought to mind "Wouldn't your valueables be just as safe in your locked luggage (in with your laundry) ?" What are the chances of the hotel staff trying to break into your luggage ? Has anyone had any bad experiences ?
With a hotel safe, I knew a couple whose valuables were locked in the room safe and the battery was dead.
The desk staff was having a problem and they were ready to board their bus out.
They would be hidden in locked luggage.
Never had a problem in the US hotels.
Do you ever wonder if you were "mugged" say in a restroom and someone took the money belt ?
I don't take valuables with me. We have passports, money and a camera -
If our room does not have an in room safe (and we rarely stay where there isn't one) we always use the hotel's safe.
The hotel will keep the passports the first night/day and we quite often have them hold them the entire stay. We don't exchange money and have no other need of them out and about (we carry copies for ID in case of emergency).
I would not leave anything in luggage!!! Well, maybe dirty clothes.
Sierra,
I suspect that most hotel staff are trustworthy, but it might be possible for someone else to gain acess to your room ("Oh, I forgot my key - can you let me in?, etc.) and then they could just walk out with your suitcase. Also, suitcase locks are good deterrence for public places like airports and trains because a thief doesn't want to take the public time to open them. However, they could make short-work of a luggage lock in a private room.
Roxanne
Sierra,
Muggings in Europe are rare, while pickpocketing can be common in some areas. That is why the money belt is used.
If I were a lief who gainecd entry to a hotel room and the luggage was locked, I'd for sure walk away with it because it would indicate to me that there was a goodie inside.
Hotel safe is best, with taking everything out of it the night before you leave and packing your bags then (so as to avoid any battery issues, etc.) is probably your best bet if you don't want to hassle with a money belt on non-travel days.
Never had any problems. I always use the hotel safe in the room or at reception. I just don't like carrying around my passport. Personal opinion but I feel its more secure in the hotel safe.
My wife and I always carry everything of value in our moneybelts.I cant imagine it being safer anywhere( even a hotel safe) then under my clothing.
