Hotel room safe or reception safe ?

[observer90210]

Which of the choices would the distinguished forum members give preference ?

 

Use the in-room safe or the general safe of the Hotel at the reception ?

(assuming that either or both are available)

Edited August 18, 2023 by observer90210

[ChaiyaTH]

Hotel safe is never safe, one who is smart hides it elsewhere in the room. Maids barely have 10 minutes per room to clean anyway. As of length; ceilings usually work or above the AC etc.

 

In this case you should obviously still set and lock the safe to make them think its filled.

Edited August 18, 2023 by ChaiyaTH

[Crossy]

In my suitcase in the laundry bag with my dirty underwear and socks

 

[1FinickyOne]

7 minutes ago, Crossy said:

with my dirty underwear and socks

especially safe if you are still wearing them, 

[KhunLA]

Reception

as in room safes are anything but.

Edited August 18, 2023 by KhunLA

[geisha]

Definitely reception. I stay in Erawan area and always use the reception safe. It’s in a sealed off buro in a proper safe room.  Personally, I’d never stay in a hotel that doesn’t have one. Where I live 5/6 months a year I rent one. 

[observer90210]

Thanks to all for the comments at this point.

 

I once forgot my code in a hotel room safe in Spain and of course in a few minutes the room cleaning supervisor came up. she checked my id and opened it with a master keycode badge in a few secs.

 

I always belive to remain obviously low key in travel  and have some reserve in handing out a bulky enveloppe to the reception staff for storage in the main hotel's safe at reception.

 

The hide-in-the-luggage is a good idea, provided nobody has managed to get hands on those TSA master keys......

[steven100]

neither are safe ....  I wouldn't trust a Thai.  Room maids, reception, clerks, managers,  you name it ...they all have been caught before,  just google it and you'll see. 

 

sad that you can't leave things in your room unattended.

[save the frogs]

if there is too much theft in a hotel, the police would catch on very quickly.

so hotels are probably strict with staff.

would they risk losing their jobs over your stuff? depends on the value i guess. 

 

 

 

Edited August 18, 2023 by save the frogs

[oxo1947]

Go to your safe

Push Lock button

see the word "Super"

push 0 button 6 times.

 

If I have something of value--I usually leave in a locked suitcase ---which is no where near 100% , but probably 40-50% better then the safe.

 

You dont have to have something taken to be stolen from - if you leave your credit cards there then anyone with a mobile Phone will have your information. You should never Ever--leave your CVV number on your card -- photo it and remove it as soon as you get your card. Without it --They can not use it for internet purchases, this goes for shops as well. The last time I brought some runners from Robinson's-The girl looked at the card for about a minutes & said "your number has been removed" I said I know--but you dont need it do you, this is not an internet purchase.

[spidermike007]

Neither. In all the years I have been traveling around the world, I have always found a piece of locked luggage to be the most secure. Even with a flimsy lock. I tend to hide the lock. It seems to be enough of a deterrent, and is highly inconspicuous. I don't trust hotel safes, at all. Too easy to get into. 

[steven100]

24 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

if there is too much theft in a hotel, the police would catch on very quickly.

so hotels are probably strict with staff.

would they risk losing their jobs over your stuff? depends on the value i guess. 

 

 

 

nonsense .... please don't try to water down the fact that you can't leave things in safes in hotel rooms in Thailand. They steal it and it's that simple. 

[steven100]

5 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I don't trust hotel safes, at all.

exactly..or any staff on the premises.

[save the frogs]

3 minutes ago, steven100 said:

nonsense .... please don't try to water down the fact that you can't leave things in safes in hotel rooms in Thailand. They steal it and it's that simple. 

did you ever say one positive thing about thailand in your posting history?

 

i bet you would complain about the sand on the beaches if someone started a thread about that. 

[save the frogs]

2 minutes ago, steven100 said:

exactly..or any staff on the premises.

they won't steal everyone's luggage.

the hotels don't want to develop that kind of reputation.

 

[steven100]

8 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

they won't steal everyone's luggage.

the hotels don't want to develop that kind of reputation.

 

I didn't mention anything about luggage .... it's the safes that are not safe and anything of value in your room.  Don't ever trust the hotel staff.

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

Innkeeper's liability law in Thailand makes the hotel responsible for loss of guest property while in the hotel regardless of who may have stolen the property.

 

There is a limit of liability of 5,000 baht for cash and valuable items such as negotiable instruments, jewelry, etc. However, if the value of these items is declared to the hotel and the hotel accepts the items for safekeeping, the limitation of liability does not apply.

 

So in theory, it would be better to give valuables to the hotel for safekeeping after stating the value and getting a proper receipt.

 

 

[save the frogs]

10 minutes ago, steven100 said:

I didn't mention anything about luggage .... it's the safes that are not safe and anything of value in your room.  Don't ever trust the hotel staff.

I wouldn't leave credit cards or cash in a hotel safe. Always take with you. 

 

But if you go partying at night, you will need to leave the laptop and maybe a bulky camera behind.

 

So where do you put that stuff? 

 

[Lucky Bones]

They are both safe, if you want them to be ????????

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

Reception

as in room safes are anything but.

But that depends on the location of the safes which are part of the lobby operations. 

[Hummin]

1 hour ago, Crossy said:

In my suitcase in the laundry bag with my dirty underwear and socks

 

I do believe the hotel safe is a better place than the most common limited spaces everyone use who think they do any different than anyone else ????

 

All depening on what hotel you use of course. 

 

Countless of travels 20 years in Thailand, and never had an incident so far! With and without any safe. Everything I have is replaceable, so no worries. 

 

Do not carey anything of value, like watches, cash, or jewelry, and I can delete everything on my lap top with push on a button if they try to connect it.

 

 

[steven100]

7 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

I wouldn't leave credit cards or cash in a hotel safe. Always take with you. 

 

But if you go partying at night, you will need to leave the laptop and maybe a bulky camera behind.

 

So where do you put that stuff? 

 

even leaving a laptop or camera visibly in the room is risky,  you are asking for trouble. 

 

I'd put it in my larger bag with a padlock and the bag combination lock also. 

 

I use to have a small device that I made using a mercury switch that can be placed at the back of the laptop, or under the bag or anywhere ....   when the object is moved it emits a high pitch siren sound sound.

 

 

 

Edited August 18, 2023 by steven100

[KhunLA]

5 minutes ago, scorecard said:

But that depends on the location of the safes which are part of the lobby operations. 

I would think the reception safes are behind, in secure area, accessed only by 'trusted' employees.

 

They will take responsibility for contents, I think.

[save the frogs]

5 minutes ago, Hummin said:

and I can delete everything on my lap top with push on a button if they try to connect it.

how the hell do you do that? 

 

[richard_smith237]

36 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

40 minutes ago, steven100 said:

nonsense .... please don't try to water down the fact that you can't leave things in safes in hotel rooms in Thailand. They steal it and it's that simple. 

did you ever say one positive thing about thailand in your posting history?

 

i bet you would complain about the sand on the beaches if someone started a thread about that. 

Erm....  you were saying....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Hummin]

2 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

how the hell do you do that? 

 

if you google "how to delete your "lap top, Ipad, phone, insert operative system" tablet  if stolen " you will get a guide how to do it. But you have to hook off and register for the option "find my" by using another device you have for an instance your phone 

[richard_smith237]

To be fair to all Thai's in the service trade...   I have never had anything stolen from a room, but understand, it happens.

To be fair to all Thai's in general, I've never had anything stolen.... but understand, thieve and scammers are all around us.

 

I understand some Thai folk to be exceptional opportunists....  leaving something lying around and it can go missing... hence, out of sight out of mind... but really, just like most of humanity, the vast majority of people here are honest. 

 

I use the room safes for iPads, Passport etc...  or lock them in my baggage. 

Both are easy to get into...baggage with zip...  only a simple pen is needed.

 

 

So, to answer the Ops question: 

- usually locked in my bag or the room safe. 

 

It's been a long time since I stayed in a hotel that offered a 'main safe' in reception. 

...those were more 'back-packer' times travelling around. 

 

I guess I've been lucky.

 

 

[Dan747]

When staying in BKK and going to exchange a large amount of US $$$$ to Baht, I stay at a Fully Luxury (Named Brand) Hotel where their is a safe deposit box safe with two keys, one that is giving to me and the other key to open in a secure area that I have checked out. That to me is safer than the room safe and I have never encountered a problem. Just saying.

[stoner]

most rooms have an access panel in the bathroom ceiling. make sure when you put the panel back the paint lines match up. no on will ever look in there. 

 

use the chair from the room to stand on. 

[stoner]

1 minute ago, Dan747 said:

When staying in BKK and going to exchange a large amount of US $$$$ to Baht, I stay at a Fully Luxury (Named Brand) Hotel where their is a safe deposit box safe with two keys, one that is giving to me and the other key to open in a secure area that I have checked out. That to me is safer than the room safe and I have never encountered a problem. Just saying.

and the third key ?