small hotel safes - Paris

Hi Brenda. For what it's worth, I stayed at that hotel and enjoyed it. It's a small place and in my experience the staff knows the name of each guest. But I didn't use the hotel safe. I prefer having all my important papers, credit cards, etc. with me so I don't worry about them. The only electronic device I travel with besides my (non- smart) phone is an iPod Touch, which fits nicely into my day bag.

Relatively safer than leaving it in your room, etc. Hotel safes do offer a level of security but generally there is a master code that allows for the safe to be opened if someone forgets their code. I rarely leave anything behind just from the viewpoint that if it is on me, then I know where it is. Others are comfortable using the hotel safe. There is no "right" answer.

Brenda I have visited Paris many times, and always stay at small hotels, and have always left stuff in the safes... its never been an issue. I find small hotels are pretty hard to just wander into ,, so not likely someone off the street is going to wander in, its usually impossible to pass the front desk to get to the rooms without being seen, and since most staff like their jobs they aren't likely to risk breaking into your safe ... plus keep in mind, many small hotels have like only one or two housekeepers, these aren't big chain places with hundreds of people streaming through lobbies, and dozens of staff...
Some will cite how easy it is to break into safes, suppose that does happen, but personally I have never heard of anyone having a first hand account of it happening to them, but I have heard many first hand accounts of pickpockets etc.. so I figure my stuff is safer in safe and never carry more then a days worth of cash with me myself.

Brenda, I tend to have the same attitude as Frank, and prefer to keep valuables like phones, credit cards, Passport, etc. with me. Credit cards are better stored in my Money Belt and that way they're "somewhat" available if needed. Hotel room safes are not entirely "safe". They're usually manufactured fairly cheaply, equipped with simple locking mechanisms and provide only a minimal level of security. There are numerous examples on the internet of methods of compromising hotel safes, and you may find it interesting to have a look at a couple of examples: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW7M84khZy8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPNjvJdaSLs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZAeL7J4vQg Many people use them and don't experience any problems, but that's something I'll be doing anytime soon. Happy travels!

I use hotel safes all the time. I've never had a problem. Is it 100% guaranteed that someone can't break into them? No. But nothing else is 100% risk-free either and that includes wearing a money belt. I have two credit cards. I often leave one in the safe and carry one. I figure that the odds are pretty low that both will be stolen or lost on the same day when they are in different places. I also often leave my camera and Ipod in the safe when I don't need them. I had my wallet stolen once and the one thing that I learned is that there are some advantages to not keeping all your credit cards/money in the same place. I think the biggest risk with the hotel safe is forgetting that you have something in there when you go to check out.

I agree with Pat and Laura. I use the hotel room safes all the time and have never had an issue. If there is no room safe then the front desk usually has a safe place to keep items you don't want to carry with you all the time. I actually don't know anybody who has had their hotel safe broken into - but that's just me, I'm sure it has happened to some but I'm also sure the percentage is very miniscule.

I always use the hotel safes. With the up to date reviews on Trip Advisor, Booking.com, HRS.com, the Graffiti Wall, etc., how long do you think a hotel would be in business if the hotel manager was getting into the hotel safes? They aren't something that the housekeeper will have the access code or key for. If you are afraid of leaving something in there, always put something in the safe that you know you will have to remove so that you can leave.

The safe in our room jammed at the Relais Bosquet and the manager had to bring in a locksmith and stand by him while he broke into the safe. So that safe, at least, was safe! And yes, we use room safes and have not
had any problems over many years.

We have never used a hotel room safe nor left valuables at a hotel desk. We take the stuff with us or just put it in a drawer and have never lost anything. Last week at a Best Western hotel in California as we were checking in, I read the fine print before initialing. There was a $1.50 per night charge for the room safe. I told the desk clerk I didn't use hotel safes and would not pay the fee. He said, "You got it". I said, "I hope so". and that was the end of the foolishness.