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Hiding valuables in your hotel room
Every hotel tells you not to leave valuables in your room. They suggest using the hotel safe, and for the most part that's a good plan. But what if the hotel safe isn't safe? What if the "safe" is merely an unlocked drawer at the reception desk? This is too often the case with hotels in the developing world.One option is to always keep your valuables with you. This isn't always convenient or wise, such as if you're going out on a pub crawl where you might be bum-rolled or attending a religious service where it would be inappropriate to bring a camera. So if you must stash stuff in your room, here are some ideas.
Under the mattress: This old trick is surprisingly effective for small items if you take a few precautions. First, make sure to stash your passport/money in the middle of the mattress, where it can't be found by simply pulling up one corner. Also, spread out some clothes or a book on top. The cleaning staff will be less tempted to disturb the bed. Finally, make sure to do this after the bed has already been made for the day.
Hiding in plain sight: In the Edgar Allan Poe story "The Purloined Letter", a clever thief baffles police by hiding a stolen letter in plain sight by refolding it and adding a different address. People make assumptions about what they're seeing, and thus are easily fooled. A pile of worthless papers can easily hide a passport. A few dollars left carelessly in plain view keeps the thief from looking further.
These are two of my favorites, and in twenty years and 28 countries of travel I've never been robbed. (Well, I got my pocket picked the first hour I was in Pakistan, but that wasn't in a hotel room). Looking for fresh ideas, I decided to ask a creative group of people--authors. Here's what they came up with.
Lock your suitcase: Brenna Lyons says, "have a locked suitcase. Someone could steal the entire suitcase, but that's extreme. Or they could get lock cutters and cut the lock off...also extreme."
Hide stuff in other stuff: Brenna Lyons again, "One thing I've done before is get a dark-colored plastic bottle and place something small and valuable, wrapped in tissue and/or plastic, inside it. If it looks like shampoo or something, people don't tend to look twice. If you have one of those little clear toiletry cases with a bunch inside, and one or two have valuables in them, they really don't look. If you're really inventive, you can put something like shampoo or lotion in the container over or around the valuables (either using a plastic bag or a smaller bottle)." Jean Hart Stewart has a hollowed out paperback she uses to hide stuff, and she puts it with a bunch of real paperbacks. She better not have destroyed one of my titles!
Taping an envelope in a hidden place: I do this too, but Bob Nailor describes it best.
"Bring a spare envelope and tape. 1) Tape to bottom of trashcan and DON'T USE IT! Housekeeping won't move it.
Lock your suitcase: Brenna Lyons says, "have a locked suitcase. Someone could steal the entire suitcase, but that's extreme. Or they could get lock cutters and cut the lock off...also extreme."
Hide stuff in other stuff: Brenna Lyons again, "One thing I've done before is get a dark-colored plastic bottle and place something small and valuable, wrapped in tissue and/or plastic, inside it. If it looks like shampoo or something, people don't tend to look twice. If you have one of those little clear toiletry cases with a bunch inside, and one or two have valuables in them, they really don't look. If you're really inventive, you can put something like shampoo or lotion in the container over or around the valuables (either using a plastic bag or a smaller bottle)." Jean Hart Stewart has a hollowed out paperback she uses to hide stuff, and she puts it with a bunch of real paperbacks. She better not have destroyed one of my titles!
Taping an envelope in a hidden place: I do this too, but Bob Nailor describes it best.
"Bring a spare envelope and tape. 1) Tape to bottom of trashcan and DON'T USE IT! Housekeeping won't move it.
2) Tape to bottom of desk, table, or inside of drawer.
3) Tape it to the inside of bi-fold doors, on a solid section, if available. As the doors are opened, the doors close on themselves, hiding the envelope."
Where do you stash your stuff? Share your secrets in the comments section!
Where do you stash your stuff? Share your secrets in the comments section!
Filed under: Hotels and Accommodations
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
Fabricio Mar 29th 2010 4:08PM
I never risk it too much. I pretty much carry with me what I can't afford to lose. Thieves look for money or jewelry anyway. I'd say if I have to leave a computer or money at a hotel I would never leave money behind.
MJ Sep 7th 2011 11:43AM
Mama always said, "never take a thing on vacation that you 're gonna miss; and, never leave anything in your hotel room that you will regret losing." I carry money and passports in a Cross Body Journey handbag that thwarts would-be thieves and hard to lose because it never leaves my body. We apply a warning on the electronic equipment stating each has an electronic tracker embedded in the device.
2ndStoryMan Sep 7th 2011 11:43AM
Don''t Travel period.
EdanaSchmidt Mar 30th 2010 10:41AM
I always carry a large safety pin and a small felt bag. I put jewelry and any other small items in the bag and then safety pin it inside the lining of the drapes or between the double drapes.
Bren Mar 29th 2010 8:18PM
Hiding things in a kotex or sanitary protection box saved me from theft a couple of times in my life. Most of the burglaries are done by men, and most men seem to have a fear of women's protection. Good Luck!
Gayle Mar 30th 2010 9:49PM
Good ideas but,just like we are reading this so are the ones who take your things.
ELIZABETH Sep 7th 2011 9:50AM
AMEN TO THAT! WHAT YOU READ SO DO THE THIEVES. WHY ADVERTIZE TO THE THIEVES WHERE YOU HIDE YOUR MONEY?
Imnotanut Mar 29th 2010 8:22PM
Umm.... if I've found a good hiding place, you expect me to post it so every thief on the net will see it?? ahhh... NOOOO
yeppers Mar 29th 2010 9:12PM
Thank you! That is exactly what I was thinking when I saw the article. Why the heck would you want a thief to know your hiding spots. Do you think they don't have internet. What a bunch of bafoons!
Marie Sep 7th 2011 9:51AM
Exactly! Ben Franklin said it best: "Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead."
Patti Sep 9th 2011 2:16AM
I agree. Now that you've told every thief in the world your ideas, there's nowhere safe! Thanks a bunch! Now I even have to strap $, I.D., etc. in a plastic bag small enough to fit under my bikini, WOW! HOW?
Harold Mar 29th 2010 8:24PM
Generally drapes have wide bottom hems. A good place to stash folded money.
trpt2345 Mar 29th 2010 8:35PM
I have been known to leave cash in the Gideon bible, no one has ever looked there.
queeenbee1941 Mar 29th 2010 8:35PM
Now every thief in the country knows where to look!!! For crying out loud!!!!
phil Mar 29th 2010 8:35PM
you can hide your flat stuff under the ironing board cover. i will start looking there now.
lauren Mar 29th 2010 10:44PM
Best advice I 've ever gotten is that whether you leave your cash in the room or take it with you always split it up. Never take it all, leave it all or hide it it together. Safe travel.
linda Mar 30th 2010 12:26AM
OMG! when will people learn to not, divulge secrets? WHEN I ASK???????
tg Mar 29th 2010 8:45PM
The best thing is take a real dirty pair of underware and put on top on suitcase and a dirty kotex with ketchup on it to look like blood. I have yet to have onyone move this . take it with you in a zip lock.
oliviaah Mar 29th 2010 11:53PM
This works great for customs too...I always pile my husbands dirty whities on top, trust me, NO ONE wants to dig below.
Verum6 Mar 29th 2010 8:42PM
Why would anyone leave their passport in their hotel room??? It is not like passports are so large as to be inconvenient to carry along.