Tricks to make your hotel room safe

[harvyk]

Or better still how to be a nervous overly paranoid traveler.

Tricks to make your hotel room safe | News.com.au

- You could even make your own alarm system; stack several glasses (or other objects that will make a noise) next to the door. If the door opens the objects will fall over and make enough noise to wake you. Don't forget to test your system.

Seriously? For the majority of travelers some of the items in this list to me seem overkill paranoia. Yes, take precautions such as not leaving large amounts of cash or jewelry sitting on the bed side chest, but making an "alarm system"?

Also pack everything into your bag to me almost seems counter productive, it gives the thief something nice to simply pick up and walk away with containing all your belongings for them to go through at their leisure ... No one would question someone walking through a hotel holding a suitcase...

 

[Moopere]

I usually use the door snib thing. Its mechanical and not easily circumvented without making a least a bit of noise. I use it though to stop enthusiastic cleaning staff from catching me in the shower or whatever in the morning.

 

[chrisb]

I once shared a hotel room with a coworker who packed his bag every day, locked it, then Handcuffed it to the furniture.

Then there's me who was happy to leave staff out including a laptop on the desk all day everyday. This was in a 5 star hotel in Sydney.










Sent from AFF Mobile Edition

 

[deejo77]

I have taken a bike chain on holidays once............I was young and cheap and sleeping in 8 people dorm rooms and back in those days you didn't have your own lockers like now.......so backpack was locked to my bed......I wouldn't do this in a room I had "control" of however

 

[Bundy Bear]

Being tidy doesn't always work.
One of the few times I had stuff stolen was in Cairns, we went out for a sail and left the bags on a park bench. I had one bag with a towel and some dry clothes, which was stolen, but next to that was a shopping bag with a pair of shorts and my wallet. My friend who sailed with me at the time was organized and put stuff into his bag so everything was stolen including his wallet.

So with that in mind, I hide the money and some of the expensive stuff but clothes and cheap stuff I generally just leave lying around. The really important stuff I have on my person.

Sometimes you can be lucky or unlucky, learn from it and be careful next time.

 

[JohnK]

I generally try to put something in front of the door before I go to sleep at night and if I remember put my valuables into the safe.

During the day when I out everything is in my locked luggage but nothing valuable.

I am extremely paranoid of people going through my things including shaving gear, toothbrush etc so everything is locked away....

 

[trooper]

Easy!

Just kidding!

 

[acoolbreeze]

I'm reluctant to use a hotel safe at a hotel I don't frequent.
Plenty of instructions on how to open them on YouTube...even ones using a potato!!!
Note to self; keep an eye on the guy in the hotel elevator with a bag of spuds!!!

 

[RB]

I am extremely paranoid of people going through my things including shaving gear, toothbrush etc so everything is locked away....

Maybe it stems from the Seinfeld episode with the toothbrush falling into the toilet?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

My system is:
* That I try and travel with as little as possible (Makes trip easier as well)
* That I try and travel with as little as possible of more expensive items
* That I do not use overly expensive luggage: as it can be a target in itself, and secondly it may more suggest that I have items worth taking

* If there is a door-snib, I will use it
* If I actually have something really valuable..that I use the hotel safe and not just a room safe (that way there is a layer of stay involved in any removal). I am happy with the risk of rooms safes for smallish amounts of cash, my wallet etc as I say duck down to the pool

 

[JohnK]

Maybe it stems from the Seinfeld episode with the toothbrush falling into the toilet?

That must have been an episode I have missed.

 

[jastel]

In some of the smaller and cheaper Europen hotels I have stayed in you had to put your bag in front of the door before you went to sleep as there was nowhere else to put it, when you leftthe room it went on the bed.

 

[lovestotravel]

What a joke of an article

 

[Ausbt]

"keep your door locked at all times when you are inside". Ha! If my room has a kitchen, I prefer to cook myself a steak and toast in the morning. Problem is, some rooms have hyper-sensitive smoke alarms. So my tactic is usually to wedge the door at least a foot open with the kitchen garbage bin (or similar), open the balcony doors wide open and get that piece of sirloin smokin'. If you are ever walking down a Melb/Bris hotel corrider and you smell dinner, hear loud-ish music and catch a glimpse of a guy in boxer shorts, blue singlet with a Coopers in hand, stop in and say g'day

 

[Sprucegoose]

I have never felt unsafe in a hotel, anywhere!

 

[mella2007]

Obviously stuck for an article that day.

And John no offense. But who would steal your razor? Has it happened before?


Sent from AFF Mobile Edition

 

[Heleigh]

Obviously stuck for an article that day.

And John no offense. But who would steal your razor? Has it happened before?


Sent from AFF Mobile Edition

Mella2007 - I don't think John was referring to it being taken more that someone could do something to it, he cuts himself and an infection occurs.

I could be wrong and razors are way to expensive to replace.

 

[lovestotravel]

I must admit that my toothbrush always goes back into my toiletry bag in a specific way, zipped up and then left on the bench in the bathroom

Sometimes my toiletry bag will move, as they wipe down the bench - Fair enough
Once though - My toiletry bag had been opened as it was not put back exactly as I had left it so no doubt housekeeping had a look inside

I promptly threw that toothbrush out and used my spare

 

[Mal Ware]

Obviously stuck for an article that day.

And John no offense. But who would steal your razor? Has it happened before?


Sent from AFF Mobile Edition

It nearly happened to me once, close shave...

 

[ozmille]

I am usually not too fussed about this, I put my valuables and passport in the safe and the rest is replaceable. Weirdest thing that ever went missing from our hotel room in BKK were a couple of packets of Belgian cookies and chocolates we brought as souvenir for Aussie friends. When we complained to the manager we got a letter sent to us saying "thank you for your feedback, we are glad you enjoyed your stay"...