Tips for keeping valuables safe

Morgan · 04-23-2008, 01:14 PM

I am working on a list of safety tips for my guests. I’d love to hear people’s tips for keeping valuable’s safe in the hotel. Especially from the photographers on the forum, because you travel with valuables often. I figure you’d have some great tips.

I know the best advice is to leave valuables at home. But, what about things you want to bring like cameras & camcorders? Or if someone wants to bring a laptop? Then there are passports, IDs, etc.

Also, we’ll have more cash on us than I normally travel with for tips, paying for the van rental, etc. I’m trying to pay everything in advance, but some things I can’t. There are also wedding bands that will be left in the room until the ceremony.

The main thing that makes me nervous is that you can’t trust the hotel safe. After Lisa’s guest’s safes were robbed at Dream’s Tulum I started compiling a list of safety tips. I’m trying to wrap up this project this week.

Here are the things I’m doing so far:
I bought all of our guest’s luggage locks with a combo. I know all the combos incase they forget. They can also change it if they want. (I bought them from this ebay seller for a little over $2 each shipped - factory2u2@bellsouth.net)

I’m taking multiple SD cards & camcorder tapes & swapping them out, so if the equipment is stolen, at least I’ll still have the pictures/ videos.

I haven’t decided what to do with my ring while we swim/ snorkel. One thought is to put it on my necklace, which would be more secure than my finger. Maybe multiple necklaces is the way to go incase one breaks.

If I leave the room with anything valuable left in it, I will hang up the Do Not Disturb sign so my room doesn’t get cleaned at that time. Busted by the myth busters. Don't trust this to work.

I might make a paperback safe (carve a chunk out of an old paperback book)

Or maybe get something like this: PacSafe Travel Safe 100 Portable Safe

Any other tips?

LC_Rachel · 04-23-2008, 01:18 PM

Leaving the Do Not Disturb up doesn't always work. We had that up 80% of our time there and still some days they came in and cleaned our room. Steve had his Nike resistance band (for working out) go missing. We complained to the front desk and it showed up on top of our bed the next day. WTF- we know we didn't leave it there. Anyways, this happened the first day in our room so we just tried to hide our valuables in random spots. Nothing else went missing.

Kat81 · 04-23-2008, 01:24 PM

I love the paperback safe idea... I never heard that someones safe got broke into.. its too bad those safes dont have a place to put your own lock on them...

Morgan · 04-23-2008, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kat81

I love the paperback safe idea... I never heard that someones safe got broke into.. its too bad those safes dont have a place to put your own lock on them...

That would be nice. Then you would just need to pack a masterlock.

It was an inside job. Some employees can open the safes.

Kat81 · 04-23-2008, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morgan

That would be nice. Then you would just need to pack a masterlock.

It was an inside job. Some employees can open the safes.

Hmm that is scary.. I have used those for a lot of things before! If I come up with anything I will let you know. I like your ideas so far though. I hadn't even thought of any of that.

Tlseege · 04-23-2008, 02:25 PM

Well, I agree that the DO NOT DISTURB sign doesn't work. To prove it Bryan (our photographer) did a test. He put $4 on his bed (which is where you are supposed to put tips). He then left his room and placed the DO NOT DISTURB sign on his door. When he got back, the money was gone.

What Shawn actually did (and at the time I laughed at him, but we didn't have any problems) was he brought duct tape and taped our big bills and our wedding rings underneath the furniture. It worked very well I must say... since nothing was taken and we placed a piece of clothing next to the dresser to see if anyone even looked and that piece of clothing didn't move all week.

Morgan · 04-23-2008, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tlseege

Well, I agree that the DO NOT DISTURB sign doesn't work. To prove it Bryan (our photographer) did a test. He put $4 on his bed (which is where you are supposed to put tips). He then left his room and placed the DO NOT DISTURB sign on his door. When he got back, the money was gone.

What Shawn actually did (and at the time I laughed at him, but we didn't have any problems) was he brought duct tape and taped our big bills and our wedding rings underneath the furniture. It worked very well I must say... since nothing was taken and we placed a piece of clothing next to the dresser to see if anyone even looked and that piece of clothing didn't move all week.

I thought about duct tape but wondered if it was something they checked for. I'll remove the do no disturb tip from my list.

Tlseege · 04-23-2008, 02:29 PM

Yeah, i was very worried about it. My ring is over $5,000 and his is $2,000... not to mention all of our cash. I was REALLY releaved when he slipped the ring on my finger at the wedding! :)

Morgan · 04-23-2008, 02:33 PM

This is hilarious! A pair of whitey tightys with skid marks that you hide your money in.

I won't gross you out with the back side.

Distrust Hotel Safes? Hide Valuables Where Crooks Never Look!|Gear Diary

Hartyt509 · 04-23-2008, 05:19 PM

I usually lock everything in my suitcase underneath used underwear lol if they are brave enough to rake through FI's manky underwear good luck to them lol