Well you’re finally on that long-awaited vacay, and the only thing on your brain is
fun (and food if you’re like me!). But what you’re forgetting is that you’re a prime
target for thieves, who love to hit that cozy hotel room you’ve settled in! So how can
you outsmart the bad guys and keep your stuff safe?
- First of all, leave your prized possessions at home! I’m sure you have an important
something you don't wanna part with, but, hey, do you really need that pair of diamond
earrings or fancy watch on a beach vacation? And how exactly are you planning to use your
pricey laptop on a sightseeing tour? If you don't need it, leave it at home and only pack
the essentials.
- Make use of that safe! Even if you’ve decided to leave your precious things at home,
you still probably have your passport, cash, and debit or credit cards with you (none of
which you wanna take with you if, say, you’re at the beach!). Luckily, most hotel rooms
have a safe where you can store your valuables. Even if you have to pay for this service,
it's usually worth the money. Just don’t assume that in-room safes are
foolproof. The thing is that almost all hotels have an emergency way to open them, be it
a master code or a master key. And, yes, those things can fall into the wrong hands! Also,
most hotels warn that they’re not responsible for any theft that occurs in the room, even
things stolen from the personal safe! (Yeah, the nerve!) Luckily, there's one exception.
If you leave your belongings in the safe behind the front desk, it will be the hotel's responsibility
should something go missing.
- Use a lock for your electronics. Let’s say you’ve decided to lug that laptop with
you. Maybe your job requires you to take work with you on vacation. (Ew, no thanks!) Anyway,
most laptops can be secured with a laptop cable lock. Just attach it to something immobile
like a piece of furniture or a radiator. Then, you can even leave your computer lying on
the desk in your hotel room! Although, I still wouldn’t be that bold…
- Ask for a room on a higher floor. It may not always be possible to choose a room when
you check into a hotel, but if it is, go for the third floor and above. By all means, try
to avoid a first-floor room, especially if it doesn't face the hotel's parking lot. If
first-floor rooms are the only ones available, it'd better be one that opens to the hotel
courtyard or even interior hallway. And no matter what floor your room is on, keep the
windows locked and the curtains closed whenever you head out.
- Keep your room tidy. The problem with leaving things lying all around the place is that
either the cleaning staff or people outside will see your belongings. But you’re on
the 4th floor, so you’re good, right? I mean, I did just tell you that! Eh, not quite…
Don’t underestimate the lengths (or heights!) thieves these days will go to just to get
their hands on some expensive stuff. So always lock your things and souvenirs away in suitcases,
even if you’re just going out for a few hours. You can also take security luggage
cables with you – they’ll let you tie your bags to some stationary thing. Again,
furniture, radiator, take your pick as long as it doesn’t move!
- Make your room look and sound occupied even when you're out. You can leave the radio or
TV on, and don’t switch the lights off. Just make sure the noise doesn’t disturb
your neighbors – keeping the volume low but audible is best. Now, I know what you’re
thinking: “Uh, there are hotels where you need to insert a key into a slot near the
door to make everything work! What then, huh?!” Well, in this case, ask reception for a spare
key!
- Make sure you've locked the door every time you leave your room. Hold on now before you
call me Captain Obvious. There have been times when I felt like I pretty much slammed the
door closed when heading out, but then (living by my own advice here!), I checked it only
to find that it opened right up! Also, don't leave your door open or even slightly ajar
if you make a short trip down the hall to, I don’t know, help some elderly person with
their bags or something. It doesn't take much time to sneak into a room and grab a cell
phone from the table!
- Lock up everything you can, not only before you go out but also when you get ready for
bed. By "everything" I mean the room door, balcony doors, and windows. In a lot of hotels,
balconies are right next to each other, and a thief can easily climb across to get to
your room. Don't leave anything important out on the balcony for the same reason.
And one more thing: when you're in the room, use the additional lock at all times. Not
just to prevent crime but also to keep other guests from entering your room when you're
completely unprepared for an unexpected visit. (Yep, such things DO happen when they make
a mistake at the front desk and give a new visitor the wrong key!)
- Keep the "Do Not Disturb" sign on your door at all times. Obviously, it’ll keep the
cleaning staff out of your room. (Hey, unfortunately, there are those with sticky fingers!) But
it also helps prevent someone else from sneaking into your room while it’s being freshened
up. And if you decide to leave it off because you really need to have your room cleaned,
take all your valuables with you or lock them up securely. However, you should know that
the "Do Not Disturb" sign can't guarantee the cleaning staff will stay out of your room.
To make sure nobody goes in there while you're away, call reception and say you don't want
your room cleaned.
- Ask for a new set of electronic keys, not a duplicate, if you've lost yours. This way,
the lock on your door will get reprogrammed, so anybody who finds your lost key (or the
person who purposely took it!) can’t get in. And don’t assume that these high-tech
doors can’t get “picked” or hacked into. It does happen, so it’s best to use all
the other tips too in case your room gets broken into. At least the burglar won’t
find anything of value if they do get in!
- Don't flaunt your money. No, I’m not talking about “making it rain” in the hotel lobby.
I mean don’t count your cash anywhere in public. Also, even if you've bought something
awesome, don't pull it out of your bag to show your friends or travel companions. You’re
pretty much announcing the fact that you have disposable money to spend! Get it?
- Always be on the alert. If you hear someone knock on your door saying that they’re from
the hotel staff while you haven't asked for room service, call the front desk. Open the
door only after they confirm the person behind the door is indeed a hotel employee. Don’t
just count on seeing someone in a hotel uniform when you look through the peephole – you
can never be too sure. And if you’re still suspicious, don't unlock the security chain
when you open the door. It’s not paranoia – it’s just being careful and alert!
Now, just to prove that all these tips can really make a difference, check this out:
about 42% of people who were victim to hotel theft left their belongings lying around the
room; 45% didn't use the in-room safe; and almost 30% were bathing, lounging in the room,
or sleeping when the theft happened. So, stay cautious at all times and don't let the relaxing
vacation atmosphere cloud your judgment! Other than that, have fun out there!
How do you protect your things while on vacation? Let me know down in the comments! If you learned
something new today, then give this video a like and share it with a friend.
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Stay on the Bright Side of life!