Hotel/condo safes and small laptop/tablet

[InlandSea]

Are most in-room safes in hotels and apartments big enough for a notebook/laptop that has a 12.4" screen? I know there's no standard size, just trying to gauge what others have encountered in recent years. thanks!

[Gottfrid]

As you know, size does not matter. It´s all about safety. ???? When it comes to hotel safes, that it basically like leaving the laptop on the bed as cleaning tip for the maids.

[phetphet]

it depends on the safe. I have managed to put my laptop in some hotel safes, in others it won't fit.

My 11" ipad normally fits OK.

 

They are not really secure, but apart from carrying it all day, what can one do?

 

The only thing I have thought of is to take a photo of the computer and other contents in the safe as proof that they were indeed put there. Most theft from hotel safes is usually staff.

 

 

 

[InlandSea]

6 minutes ago, phetphet said:

it depends on the safe. I have managed to put my laptop in some hotel safes, in others it won't fit.

My 11" ipad normally fits OK.

 

They are not really secure, but apart from carrying it all day, what can one do?

 

Yeah, I am not sure there's another option other than hiding it somewhere. I expect that a long-term condo rental wouldn't have the same security concerns, but I guess that depends on who you rent it from. I don't mean to be overly paranoid; I'm really just trying to figure out what size of laptop/notebook that I want to buy. Thanks for the info.

 

 

 

 

[BigStar]

3 hours ago, phetphet said:

it depends on the safe. I have managed to put my laptop in some hotel safes, in others it won't fit.

My 11"【28 cm】 ipad normally fits OK.

 

They are not really secure, but apart from carrying it all day, what can one do?

 

The only thing I have thought of is to take a photo of the computer and other contents in the safe as proof that they were indeed put there. Most theft from hotel safes is usually staff.

 

 

 

What can one do, indeed.

 

My solution was to get a cheap throwaway laptop and tablet. No banking or shopping apps, no automatic logins, passwords kept in Bitwarden. I don't much care if they're stolen. I lock them in my bag. 

[Mickeymaus]

I always put it in a trolley suitcase (don't know the exact name - the small ones with wheels) and left it at the reception. There are cameras and there is other staff. I travelled years like this and never had a problem.

[pomchop]

Been carrying laptop into hotels all over Thailand for a decade ++.  Leave it on the desk.  Never had a hint of  a problem.  Maids are not the sticky fingered thieves that many seem to accuse them of being. 

 

Bigger problem would be guys bringing ladies of the evening back drunk then passing out and said young lady gets a laptop is my guess.  Either that or a fellow farang traveler  if staying in a hostel or super cheap room that can be broken into in about 10 seconds.

 

 

[KhunBENQ]

Room safes differ in size.

All I can tell that my 14" notebook fits in a half decent hotel safe. Taken so many pictures but never of the room safe

Not the super primitive type with the wheel handle to open.

Many Some room safes take up to 17" notebooks.

Just checked one from a four star in Pattaya and 15" notebook/laptop would be the maximum.

But really to be sure you would have to ask at the accommodation before booking.

[ballpoint]

Does your laptop have a slot for a Kensington lock?  If so, you can get keyed and combination types.  Wrap the cable around a desk leg, or other immovable object, plug the end into the slot and lock it.

 

 

Though, in over 35 years of staying in hotels all over Thailand, I have never used a hotel safe, and never had anything stolen.

 

 

[JackGats]

Laptops are not much in demand among petty thieves. I've left my laptop in condos and hotel rooms in Thailand for years. I don't see it as a risk. Not many 3 and 4* hotels have in-room safes big enough.

[ed strong]

You wont get it in most safes.

 

Ive never put my laptop or phones in any safe just leave them in the room and as mentioned Ive never had anything nicked and probably spent hundreds of nights in all manner of hotels.

 

Only thing i have had taken was a camou baseball cap, which a lady of the night took on her way out of my room one morning, no payment had been made so i looked at it as a good deal.

[Xanthe]

On 2/11/2023 at 6:41 PM, Gottfrid said:

As you know, size does not matter. It´s all about safety. ???? When it comes to hotel safes, that it basically like leaving the laptop on the bed as cleaning tip for the maids.

In twenty years of my visit to Thailand and keeping my laptop in hotel outside the safe (in my bag when I am out), I never had anything stolen. 

[Gottfrid]

11 hours ago, Xanthe said:

In twenty years of my visit to Thailand and keeping my laptop in hotel outside the safe (in my bag when I am out), I never had anything stolen. 

What can I say? You´re a lucky guy.

[ArnieP]

An alternative, which I always use, is a security box at the cashiers. There are large boxes as well as the small ones. 

 

They are safe.

 

However, the safety box key is the punter’s responsibility and one has to take care not to lose the key or there’s a fine!

 

 

[JackGats]

8 hours ago, ArnieP said:

An alternative, which I always use, is a security box at the cashiers. There are large boxes as well as the small ones. 

 

They are safe.

 

However, the safety box key is the punter’s responsibility and one has to take care not to lose the key or there’s a fine!

 

 

Yes, a safety box at front desk is the safest of all. Very handy for things you don't use often like passports, emergency cash, credit cards, banking smartphone. Hardly practical for something you will use every day like maybe a laptop or a smartphone you use nearly all the time. 

[Medvedia]

A lot of hotel safes are too small for laptops, and even with bigger ones, security is questionable since staff can often override them. I prefer to keep valuables in a proper safe I trust rather than relying on hotel units. If security is a big concern, it might be worth it to buy home safe options that offer better protection and enough space for electronics and essential documents.

[noobexpat]

On 2/13/2023 at 7:42 PM, ballpoint said:

Does your laptop have a slot for a Kensington lock?  If so, you can get keyed and combination types.  Wrap the cable around a desk leg, or other immovable object, plug the end into the slot and lock it.

 

 

Though, in over 35 years of staying in hotels all over Thailand, I have never used a hotel safe, and never had anything stolen.

 

 

 

I have a stick-on Kensington lock on the front cover of my laptop. 14 inch ones don't seem to have the slot.

 

Had to buy it from shoppee i think. Works great.

[Carmine6]

I travelled with a 15 inch laptop for years and about half of hotels I stay in had a big enough room safe.  A fair amount of time it just barely didn't fit.  So 12.4 will likely fit in most, but I mean over half, and not 80%.  I have a 14 inch one now and it fits much more times.  I stay generally in $60 to $80/night places, and the more expensive the more likely they are to have a large enough safe.

 

As backup, I carry a cable lock that has a connector in the middle  I loop that around something to the connector and then put that lock end of the loop into my backpack with the laptop, and then lock the zippers together.  Sometimes I have done that with my suitcase, though it is rarer to find a place to wrap the cable around that works for the suitcase versus the backpack.