Tips for keeping valuables safe

haha Morgan- I read about the dirty briefs. One- that "stain" looks so fake. I've seen what it looks like when people crap their pants, and it certainly doesn't look like that perfect turd stain. 2- $11 for one? I could make my own for free!

I hid DH's wallet in his sock. Now I feel like an idiot after reading the instructions. Apparently I wasn't that ingenious when picking a hiding spot.

This is a really good thread. We all need to know how to be safe. I am worried about my camera. I have a Canon EOS Rebel XT plus a couple of lenses ect. What's the best way to keep those things safe when you are not using them? I guess I just need to have them with me at all times. I love taking photos, so that shouldn't be a problem. Except for the ceremony evening. I also bought locks for everyone for their luggage but they are ones with the key. Should I get the combination locks or are these ok? I will keep searching for keeping valuables safe.

Good post Morgan. So many things I hadn't thought about... I think I am too naive and trustworthy. I will have to talk to my parents/aunts/uncles who take yearly trips and see if they have any past experiences and if they have any tips to add ot the list.

we put our small suitcase in our bigger suitcase and locked both. we kept my purse with all of our money, our passports, and our rings inside, as well as dh's professional-grade camera.

they showed us how to use the safe at the hotel when we checked in, but we never used it. some of our guests did and nothing went wrong, but you never know.

i seriously think of the most random places in a room to hide stuff.. i took out drawers and duct taped things to the bottom of the drawer and hide thigns inside lights and you name it.. put things in the safe BUT DONT always think its secure there..

my biggest tip .. DONT EVERRRRRRR let anyone clean your room. always. and i mean AAAALWAYYYYS have the "do not disturb" sign up.. if you really have to have them clean. make sure all valuables are put away and you are in the room while they clean. i just dont feel safe. its so easy for them to pocket something while they are cleaning and how can you really prove that you had it there..

ALSOO. i forgot. dont ever put ANY jewlery or valuables in your checked luggage. that is an open market for the security people. one of the brides maids had her grandmothers brouche stolen from her checked luggage and there was no way to get it back. they will always riffle through to see if something of value is in there and take it.

My advice, unless it's a business trip leave the laptops at home. If you really need to get online (on vacation!?) pay the hotel and use their connection.

Get a moneybelt, I think they are terribly underrated. They come in several styles and they make waterproof ones as well to use when swimming.

Keep anything you'd be bummed about losing on your person as much as possible. Going to eat? Bring your passport, cash, camera, etc. DO NOT think the safe is safe, sadly it just isn't. I think you're better off walking around a foreign city with $800 cash in a moneybelt than you are leaving it in your hotel safe. Btw *if possible* don't keep tons of cash handy if you don't need it right away. We had no problems using ATM's in PV, can't speak for other locales.

Never ever, ever ever, leave anything of great value in your room. Period. Thieves know about the suitcases and the socks, and maybe even the books since a lot of people mention doing that too. It stinks that you have to go so far and it is certainly inconvenient. But, if you were making little to no $$ and people wealthy enough to travel left their valuables around when they weren't, your moral compass might break too!

Better safe now than sorry later. Good luck everyone!

Not that I know of, although honestly I make DH wear it...hahaha He would have told me if our money was wet though. It's good for keeping room keys too. Google waterproof moneybelts, I think that's how we found ours and there may even be reviews.

And yes, they are thin...not like the fanny packs of the 80's that one of my co-workers still wears! Those are massive!

I remember when fanny packs were cool (atleast I thought they were). I had a neon pink one that I wore everyday in 5th grade. It was full of candy. Ahh, to be a kid again.

My grandmother bought my sister and I matching Fannypacks for our trip to Disneyland. We thought we were soooo cool. Now I look at the pictures from back then and I can't believe my Mother let me wear those and the clothes!? We won't even get into that!! Anyway, I am sooo glad you started this thread Morgan. Like Becky I never think about this stuff. I am so ignorant when it comes to stealing.