Do you use those hotel safes?

[Lsbcal]

I came across an interesting comment on a security blog (https://www.ici.org/viewpoints/view_17_cyber_06 ):

If you are starting to notice how physical security and information security are linked, it is because they complement each other. This brings me to the ubiquitous hotel room safe—a misnomer if ever there was one! Most hotel room safes use an electronic number pad that require you to enter a “secret” four-digit code to lock and open the safe. Common sense would tell you that there must be more than one way to gain access to the contents of these safes—for example, if there is a malfunction with the safe’s electronics. Next time you check in to a hotel room that has a safe, look to see if it has a metal nameplate on the front, with the safe’s logo. These are usually screwed on and can be removed to reveal a keyhole that can be easily manipulated to unlock the safe. Importantly, the safe can be relocked the same way and the nameplate replaced without you ever suspecting an unauthorized entry.

And here is an article with a video showing a hotel employee in Spain stealing: https://www.corporatetravelsafety.com/safety-tips/how-safe-are-hotel-room-safes/

I recall that Rick Steves mentioned off hand that he never uses hotel room safes. But he did not expand on the why. I think it is partly because it is too easy to check out and forget your stuff. So he just recommends a money belt or similar security measure.

We have used hotel safes with no issues but I'm thinking of not doing so in the future.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

Back when I traveled overseas for business we were instructed to never use a hotel safe for confidential documents, but to always have keep such documents on our persons. That included carrying rolls of drawings to dinner, if need be. Obviously, this encouraged us to severely limit the size and quantity of papers carried, and to deliver them to the client (or lock them up in their office) as soon as possible.

Stands to reason that if a room safe is found locked after a guest checks out, the hotel must have a way to open it. So it's not really secure.

 

[Red Badger]

Damn!!!
I always locked my passport in those safes (years of biz travel in Europe, Mexico, Asia). Never again! Thanks for the awesome tip. Luckily, my backpack has some features to frustrate pickpocket, so I guess it stays in there and with me. Again, thanks for awaking me from my slumber

 

[NoiseBoy]

I use them regularly to hold my iPad, passport, and any extra cash or valuables I may have on me. I have watched a hotel maintenance guy work on the one in my room, so I know that there is a passkey, but the alternative is to carry it all around with me which has its own risks. For instance, I leave a list of CC numbers and contact phone numbers in the safe in case I get mugged or otherwise lose my wallet. I am under no illusion that these things are bank vaults, but again, I don't want to carry a full sized iPad around with me all day and I don't want to leave it laying on the desk in the room. Also, hotel staff honesty can be helped by removing the temptations from their eyesight.

 

[braumeister]

I occasionally use it for valuables, but nothing really critical.

Had a problem with one just a few weeks ago when it wouldn't open for me. Kept giving me an error code when I put the combo in.

Called for help and a maintenance guy showed up with an electronic gadget about the size of a multimeter. He fiddled with it, then held the probe up to the safe door and it opened. Turned out my iPad was pressing on the safe door from the inside and it prevented the mechanism from working properly. Turning the iPad sideways kept that from happening again.

 

[audreyh1]

I came across an interesting comment on a security blog (https://www.ici.org/viewpoints/view_17_cyber_06 ):

And here is an article with a video showing a hotel employee in Spain stealing: https://www.corporatetravelsafety.com/safety-tips/how-safe-are-hotel-room-safes/

I recall that Rick Steves mentioned off hand that he never uses hotel room safes. But he did not expand on the why. I think it is partly because it is too easy to check out and forget your stuff. So he just recommends a money belt or similar security measure.

We have used hotel safes with no issues but I'm thinking of not doing so in the future.

He said he's never had money stolen from his luggage inside a hotel room. He thinks hotel staff value their jobs - it's quite a different exposure than when you are walking out in public.

We stash extra cash, backup cards, and passports in our locked luggage once we check into a hotel, and we put the luggage away if there is room in the closet. I never use the hotel safes as I figure some folks at the hotel know how to get into those. In the meantime they would have to unlock bags and search through them to find our valuables. And, yes, too easy to leave something behind in the safe.

 

[DrRoy]

Only used one on a cruise for DW's jewelry.

 

[Lsbcal]

I use them regularly to hold my iPad, passport, and any extra cash or valuables I may have on me. I have watched a hotel maintenance guy work on the one in my room, so I know that there is a passkey, but the alternative is to carry it all around with me which has its own risks. For instance, I leave a list of CC numbers and contact phone numbers in the safe in case I get mugged or otherwise lose my wallet.....

For those lists I use Lastpass's "secure notes". I can do the list on a spreadsheet, then print it out at home. Then I take a photo of it and attach it to a secure note in Lastpass. Lastpass is installed on my phone and DW's phone and my tablet.

Might be other ways to do this like a password protected file on one's phone. I haven't tried to do this.

 

[Lsbcal]

...
We stash extra cash, backup cards, and passports in our locked luggage once we check into a hotel, and we put the luggage away if there is room in the closet.
...

Sounds like a good practice. Maybe we will go that route next trip.

 

[Bestwifeever]

We use hotel safes all the time and have never forgotten something in them or had anything removed from them. I'm not going to worry about this.

 

[RobbieB]

I've been using hotel safes for 40 years, I'm not worried either.

 

[Lsbcal]

We use hotel safes all the time and have never forgotten something in them or had anything removed from them. I'm not going to worry about this.

Not saying anyone should worry about this. But I do like to collect best practices.

 

[YVRRocketSurgery]

I posted this in the Passport Storage/Security thread. It's a locksmith easily opening a hotel style safe with a strong rare earth magnet.

Personally, I usually carry my stuff around with me but will use the safe and stuff items in my luggage and lock it. What I choose is likely situation dependent: If I'm staying in a hole in the wall hotel, the area I'm travelling in, what items I want to protect, etc.

 

[Bestwifeever]

Not saying anyone should worry about this. But I do like to collect best practices.

Of course, and the sites and videos were interesting and made me think about it. We lock up ipads and chargers and maybe $300 to $500 in cash. We carry our own passports (and xeroxes of same in each other's wallets). Ipads of course need our Pins/passwords or more to use so probably not very attractive to thieves. If we lost the cash, oh well, and the ipads can be locked from our phones, but I think multiple password entry attempts will also disable them.

I don't think I'd be any more comfortable locking things up in a suitcase. That's pretty portable and/or easily sliced into or the lock cut out.
I do worry about debit cards getting skimmed in an ATM but our bank might make that good as they have in the past. And lost luggage is always fun to deal with

A couple of months ago we were in Las Vegas and I noticed housekeepng locking the wheels on the cleaning carts to block the open doorways of the rooms they were cleaning and requiring people returning to a room while it was being cleaned to activate the lock with the cardkey before they could enter.

 

[braumeister]

A couple of months ago we were in Las Vegas and I noticed housekeepng locking the wheels on the cleaning carts to block the open doorways of the rooms they were cleaning and requiring people returning to a room while it was being cleaned to activate the lock with the cardkey before they could enter.

I think that's an excellent practice. Wish it were more widespread. I've never seen it done.

 

[Texas Proud]

Just like anything out there... it can be hacked or broken into....

As an example.... do you lock your doors? The answer is probably yes (not always as I do know of one guy who did not)... but a thief can easily get into your house if he wants...

Same with car... same with gym, same with hotel safe...


But, the safe offers more protection than just leaving things out in the open... so DW and I use them...

BTW, DW has had things stolen out of her luggage, but it was not locked... maybe if it was nothing would have gone missing...

 

[Sunset]

I've used them before, didn't notice any problem.
Normally it's the passport, and yes wallet left inside...

Sometimes when I travel I leave guns in the safe as carrying them around would be awkward to say the least. I would notice those gone right away and I don't think they would be attractive to steal as is too noticeable.

I like that milockie idea, even if I just borrow the idea and use a thin short cable with a bolt inside, and a loop outside for a padlock.
Will make it obvious and hard to be sneaky about opening it.

I've also used a cable lock to lock suitcases together in the closet, which makes opening them awkward as well.

 

[marko]

Lived in hotels 200 days a year for 30 years. Nothing is ever truly safe, but for passports and such a room safe is better than putting them in the underwear drawer.

However, I ALWAYS left it unlocked and open when I was in the room at night and before departure. Power outages and emergency evacuations (fire alarms etc); you needed to have that stuff in hand asap.

As a side note, I always left my room key in the same place at night in case I had to leave quickly (fire alarms etc) and/or find the key in the dark.

 

[Lsbcal]

...

As a side note, I always left my room key in the same place at night in case I had to leave quickly (fire alarms etc) and/or find the key in the dark.

Nowadays I just gently fold my pants with all the stuff in them when going to bed. For outside the US, I use one of those money baggy thingies looped in my belt (running down the leg). I'm not leaving in the middle of the night without my pants.

 

[Rustic23]

Never used a Hotel safe, but always use the safe on a cruise.

 

[Bestwifeever]

Nowadays I just gently fold my pants with all the stuff in them when going to bed. For outside the US, I use one of those money baggy thingies looped in my belt (running down the leg). I'm not leaving in the middle of the night without my pants.

That's a great idea--I'll suggest it to DH, although he probably would happily run out without any pants

 

[Ronstar]

We use hotel safes with no problems, but only during the day or evening when we are out of the room. Usually put my iPad and camera in the safe.

 

[Sunset]

We use hotel safes with no problems, but only during the day or evening when we are out of the room. Usually put my iPad and camera in the safe.

isn't that when staff would steal from them

 

[brett]

Yes. We have used them for years of travel. Never an issue.

We are aware of the limitations but from our perspective this is better than 'hiding' valuables in our room or in our luggage.

We do it to protect ourselves and protect the staff. It is all too easy to misplace an item and mistakenly think that it has been stolen by staff.

 

[Gotadimple]

He said he's never had money stolen from his luggage inside a hotel room. He thinks hotel staff value their jobs - it's quite a different exposure than when you are walking out in public.

We stash extra cash, backup cards, and passports in our locked luggage once we check into a hotel, and we put the luggage away if there is room in the closet. I never use the hotel safes as I figure some folks at the hotel know how to get into those. In the meantime they would have to unlock bags and search through them to find our valuables. And, yes, too easy to leave something behind in the safe.

+1 for all of these reasons.

- Rita