Keeping Your Things Safe In Hotel Rooms

[Plantlady]

oh my, I'm buying a bicycle lock on my next trip into town!

We're bringing a laptop on our trip this summer, because DH is in grad school, and has classes while we're on vacation. I was *thinking* about storing it in our trunk.. but, worried about the heat. I think putting it in a locked up suitcase might be a better bet.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

My point about being on-site is the physical difference in the sizes and layout of the buildings. You cannot compare a huge resort with 900 rooms with key card locks and security personnel to a two-story motor inn with 50 outside rooms and a key to get in. I know crime happens at the DLR hotels and stated that in my original post. I don't have a false sense of security when I am onsite and stated that as well.

Not saying that anyone has a false sense of security, but I think it is easier to feel safer in the nicer places, when in fact anyone could steal something from your room. The employees are all human, and just because it's a nice place with security, a good layout, and key cards, doesn't mean that they won't have a theif on staff. That's all it takes.

Fact is there is no guaranteeing anything at any hotel/motel. Someone else said the best solution is just to never leave anything of value in the room. That's pretty hard to do also, unless you never buy anything on vacation, and take EVERYTHING including all your souvineers you buy, and things like laptops, cameras ect.. with you any time you go somewhere. That's pretty unrealistic! In the end you just do the best you can to secure your items, but there is always a risk. That's the risk you take when you travel period, nothing is full proof.

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

The sales clerk at the luggage store at my mall told me to use security ties (about 40 colored ties for $5.99) to put on zippered bags, so that you could tell if someone tried to get into your belongings.

Very very good idea and much cheaper than buying a lock. I know we those ties around the house, I'm going to pack them right now so I don't forget. Thank you!

Not saying that anyone has a false sense of security, but I think it is easier to feel safer in the nicer places, when in fact anyone could steal something from your room. The employees are all human, and just because it's a nice place with security, a good layout, and key cards, doesn't mean that they won't have a theif on staff. That's all it takes.

I agree. I think it is easier to feel safe somewhere that is more upscale, but truth is theft can happen anywhere, and it's horrible.

 

[bumbershoot]

Be sure to bring something to cut those security ties open!

 

[keishashadow]

my son is a policeman, i've heard it all

a locked suitcase is just shouting to a thief "the good stuff is in here" , while it may deter a casual attempt,
if somebody really wants to take your stuff they will, whether bolted to floor/locked or not

if something is really valuable & won't fit into the room safe, give it to the desk to go into the hotel safe

 

[momto2nenas]

We take our stuff to the front desk while we are in the parks. I believe they call it the "hotel safe" but really it was just a room behind the front desk area. Even though its not technically "locked up" it is safer than in our actual room I would assume..

 

[katy621]

I will bring my Ipod & Nintendo DS with me. Luckily I'm not going to bring alot of stuff with me like cramming my purse with things. This time, I'm definitely going to play it safe, but I will keep my valued stuff in my purse.

 

[LOVEDISNEYLAND]

So, after reading mystic_path's recent post here, it got me thinking about keeping your personal items secure in your room while you're gone and can't keep tabs on them.

I'm planning on bringing little envelopes and notes to stick in w/ my tips for housekeeping while we're away in the parks, so they know exactly what is meant for them, so no confusion can occur. We're staying at the Disneyland Hotel, so while I know Disney is #1 in service, I'm still a bit worried. What happens if something goes missing? Do you simply report it to the hotel management and hope for the best? How do you prevent hotel theft from happening in the first place?

We're all bringing expensive gadgets that we might not always bring inside the park. Video cameras, Digital SLRs, iPods. Even further than that, I plan to buy presents and souveniors which I'm not gonna lug around all day just to keep safe.

So how do you keep the maid's possibly grubby paws off your stuff? Bring a suitcase that has a lock and key? Maybe this is a paranoid post, but I think we've all been trained to keep things hidden from the maid when your leave your hotel room for the day, and your personal items and cash are inside.

PS. This post is in no way meant to imply that all maids are theifs but I've heard one too many horror stories to not be a bit concerned and to try and be prepared.

I have a suit case with the lock in it and would ALWAYS place the lock on it when going to the parks. That's my best suggestion for you! Good Luck and hope this is helpful

 

[tortugaverde]

Honestly, I would never tie anything up... or chain anything to the furniture in a hotel room. I have traveled in the US and abroad, stayed in cheap dumps and in nice places... and I have NEVER had anything stolen. Perhaps I have been lucky, or perhaps I just don't have anything worth stealing ! I never bring anything but a camera, clothes, shoes and then whatever we buy at our destination. I take the camera everywhere, so that would be hard to steal unless they came in while we were sleeping!
Honestly, I would be sad if my things were taken... but it would not make me change my hotel habits. When people have to resort to theft, something has gone very wrong for them in life. Sure, everyone has a "choice"... but not all of those choices come easily, nor naturally.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Is the in-room safe at the Hojos big enough for a laptop? I've only stayed in one hotel in which the safe was big enough for my laptop.... it would be great if Hojos is the next one.

I usually put it in a suitcase and lock it OR I put in a drawer and hide it under dirty clothes (mostly underwear!). Last year while in Hong Kong, I had a problem with the laptop that caused me to keep it running continuously for 1 week. That meant it had to stay on the desk in plain view for that long. I guess I was playing with fate (and I won). It wasn't the easist thing to do... to leave your hotel room with it in plain site.