I've read every post on the Scam page. I saw a few posts recommending keeping just enough $ on you for the day and keeping the rest in your room safe or in a safe deposit box at the front desk. However, if some hotel employees are stealing from guests, can't they just steal from your in-room safe or from the deposit box (know the combination for in-room safe or have a copy of the deposit box key)? I've never traveled in Europe, but I going this summer. So I'm just wondering about this.
Posted by
Portland, OR, USA
805 posts
Any place that provides a safe/safe deposit box for guests is required to safeguard the contents. I always put my valuables in a room safe when one exists (for example I put my laptop in there when I want to leave it in the room). At least in the US, and I assume Europe is similar, the hotel is generally not liable for valuables stolen from your room beyond a certain limited value. However, if it is in the safe they are legally liable if something happens to it.
I have never had a problem using them in all my trips everywhere I have gone.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
Most in-room safes are electronic, and you decide what the combination is, but anything is possible and nothing is fool-proof. Although I never heard any first hand accounts of in-room safes being broken into, I'm sure if has happened to someone. On the other hand even using a money belt has its risks, though its a very rare occurrence I've read reports of travelers being tackled to the ground by a group of thieves, pants being forcibly pulled down, and the money belt stolen. When I stay in a hotel I always use an in-room safe when available, its a risk I'm comfortable with.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Amy, in all my years of travel,to the States & Europe,no one has ever stolen from my safe,either in room or behind the front desk.
People often talk about this, but I have yet to have a poster come on any of the travel boards I go on( and I am a regular on a few, LOL)and say that THEY personally have ever had anything stolen from their safes. Sometimes I have read a " I heard about" posts, but sorry,"I heard about" posts are just rumors to me.
I have heard of folks who have checked out of hotels and LEFT stuff in the safe, but sorry,travellers like that have a whole set of issues I refuse to address,LOL
Another thing I see on boards ,is posts by people who are worried because their hotel requires them to leave their hotel key at the desk when they go out!.Don't they realize if the staff want in your room to steal your clothes and comfy shoes they can easily enter at any time with the master key?
Relax,watch for pickpockets, but everyone in Europe is not a theif.