Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
How to secure ebooks in Europe?
Old 04-05-2012, 03:07 PM   #1
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Lsbcal's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: west coast, hi there!
Posts: 8,808
How to secure ebooks in Europe?

Let's say you check into your hotel and then want to leave for dinner. What do you do with the electronic gadgets like ebooks (for example, a Kindle Fire) if you do not have a car trunk to stash it in? It would seem to be a bit of a pain to ask the front desk to look after the stuff every time you step out. Perhaps taking too much of a risk leaving it in the room. I suppose one could just bring it along in a little day pack.

Any brilliant thoughts out there?
Lsbcal is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 04-05-2012, 03:13 PM   #2
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Houston
Posts: 1,448
What kind of hotels are you staying at where you're worried about the theft of a $199 item? And if the hotel is overrun with thieves, I don't know why the front desk staff would be any less likely to pilfer your Kindle than the housekeeping staff...
soupcxan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2012, 03:34 PM   #3
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Lsbcal's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: west coast, hi there!
Posts: 8,808
Quote:
Originally Posted by soupcxan View Post
What kind of hotels are you staying at where you're worried about the theft of a $199 item? And if the hotel is overrun with thieves, I don't know why the front desk staff would be any less likely to pilfer your Kindle than the housekeeping staff...
Do I detect a little sarcasm here? I do tend to be cautious. It's not just the $200 item but the data stored on it and the inconvenience -- lost Kindle Fire means no easy internet access, lost maps, lost books, etc. When I'm in the US I secure my laptop in the car trunk when at a hotel and leaving the room.
Lsbcal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2012, 04:04 PM   #4
Administrator
MichaelB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 40,584
No brilliant thoughts, but it is something real that I had to deal with for many years, in the US and abroad, and mostly in nice, business type hotels. I travel with a small suitcase and a briefcase that each can be locked with decent external combination locks. Things we cannot afford to lose, such as passports, cash, backup credit cards, go into a hotel safe or stay with me. Things that would be a major loss but are replaceable, such as the laptop, go into the briefcase, which then stays with me or into the suitcase, always locked. I have had a number of things taken from us in hotel rooms but never anything from the briefcase when it was inside the suitcase.
MichaelB is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2012, 04:56 PM   #5
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Lsbcal's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: west coast, hi there!
Posts: 8,808
Thanks Michael. We do have one of those loop locks for securing suitcases to a fixed post or something (used particularly when on the luggage rack in a train). That might just work in a hotel room too.
Lsbcal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2012, 05:15 PM   #6
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 129
Most hotels have either a safe in the room for you....or you an leave it at the front desk and they will put it in their safe. Just don't forget its there!!
itsmyparty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2012, 06:02 PM   #7
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
donheff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 11,317
I frequently leave laptops, e-readers, cameras and tablets in hotel rooms and have never had any stolen. I'm sure it happens but staff get fired if a couple of reports of theft come in so I doubt most take the chance. If ther is a safe and it fits I use it, otherwise I just toss the stuff in my unlocked bag.
__________________
Idleness is fatal only to the mediocre -- Albert Camus
donheff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2012, 06:34 PM   #8
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Lsbcal's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: west coast, hi there!
Posts: 8,808
First, I'm not proposing that all travelers should be as cautious as me. It's OK to take what might be just a minor risk. Second, I'm not really questioning the honesty of most hotel staff. But rooms do get broken into.

If it happens once to you and you experience a major inconvenience on your trip, will you change your habits? If the answer is yes, why not avoid the problem now.

OK maybe I just have an overactive imagination but humor me please .
Lsbcal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2012, 09:03 PM   #9
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 26,820
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lsbcal View Post

OK maybe I just have an overactive imagination but humor me please .
Very reasonable precaution, IMO. I've been happy to find an in-room safe in my recent hotel stays. Like you say, losing my cheap, 4 YO net-book would be more a major inconvenience issue than an economic loss.

Might be worthwhile to ask the hotel about that prior to booking. And get the size if you have a larger laptop, some would not fit the safes I've seen.

-ERD50
ERD50 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2012, 03:18 PM   #10
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Houston
Posts: 1,448
Let's say you don't want to leave valuables in your hotel room so you bring them with you. Are the odds really better that you won't (a) lose it (b) get pickpocketed (c) get mugged than your hotel room would be robbed?

I just don't think a $199 gadget presents an irrestible target compared to stuff that every other tourist has in their room or on their person, so why worry about it?

If you really cannot bear the thought of being without it - why bring it on vacation - it would be much safer in your house. Unless it burns down, or is robbed, or flooded, or there's a tornado, or...
soupcxan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2012, 03:53 PM   #11
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Chuckanut's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: West of the Mississippi
Posts: 17,171
I lock my valuables in my suitcase and leave it in the room. Never have had a problem. Money, credit cards, ATM card and passport are in my money belt which is with me at all times.
Also, a copy of my itinerary, and emergency number is in the money belt. Having taken these precautions, I really do not worry about it.
__________________
Comparison is the thief of joy

The worst decisions are usually made in times of anger and impatience.
Chuckanut is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2012, 04:06 PM   #12
Administrator
Alan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: N. Yorkshire
Posts: 34,054
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuckanut View Post
I lock my valuables in my suitcase and leave it in the room. Never have had a problem. Money, credit cards, ATM card and passport are in my money belt which is with me at all times. I really do not worry about it.
+1, except we don't have a locking suitcase.

I have also traveled a lot in Europe, both on buisiness and on vacation. If there is a safe in the room I'll use that for the laptop if it is large enough.
__________________
Retired in Jan, 2010 at 55, moved to England in May 2016
Enough private pension and SS income to cover all needs
Alan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2012, 10:52 PM   #13
Recycles dryer sheets
inky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 125
I just ordered one of these portable safes for a two-month trip I am planning to Asia. It should fit my netbook, SLR camera, iPod, and other valuables.

Pacsafe Anti-Theft Bags & Travel Security Products | products | Travelsafe 12L
inky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2012, 10:49 AM   #14
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Lsbcal's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: west coast, hi there!
Posts: 8,808
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan View Post
+1, except we don't have a locking suitcase.
Our suitcases don't actually have an installed lock system. But on each of the two zipper pullers there is a metal eyehole that allows you to loop a small lock through.
Lsbcal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2012, 10:58 AM   #15
Administrator
MichaelB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 40,584
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lsbcal View Post
Our suitcases don't actually have an installed lock system. But on each of the two zipper pullers there is a metal eyehole that allows you to loop a small lock through.
That's like ours. Except the one with the eyehole that was cut off by TSA because we had locked it with TSA compatible locks.
MichaelB is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2012, 11:03 AM   #16
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,401
I use the safe for smaller valuables if there is one, and I prefer to stay in hotels that have one. If not, I put valuables in my suitcase and lock it. This applies to passport, money and jewelry. I usually do not lock away electronics such as computer and Kindle.
Meadbh is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Best places to retire Purron Life after FIRE 162 03-29-2013 01:59 PM
I'd like to ignore a moderator SecondCor521 Forum Admin 94 04-14-2012 04:15 PM
Sell in May and Go Away? Mulligan FIRE and Money 70 04-11-2012 08:46 PM
Open to suggestions Badger Other topics 14 04-05-2012 02:37 PM

» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:42 AM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.