(Hotel) security tips?

elakelly

Hi all - being first timers to India and having read India Mike 'cover to cover' wondering if anyone has extra security tips especially for leaving stuff in hotel rooms! We are bringing a netbook which we will not carry around all day any wise suggestions on how to best secure the stuff you leave in hotel rooms. Also how safe is it to ask Reception to hold your bags once checked out and on route later that day say to take a train etc - will the bags be rooted through if we leave them in the hotel for a few hours??
All wise counsel appreciated.
Thanks, ela kelly (india mike's biggest fan!)

Sama

I left my locked bag at a 3 star hotel for 2 weeks while I traveled and everything was fine. as for leaving stuff in your room, you can always put your stuff in a hotel safe (if they have one!) when you're out for the day.

__________________
MY INDIA, 2005-2008
"Once you have felt the Indian dust, you will never be free of it." (Rumer Godden, 1975)

Merchant

NYTimes columnist Nicholas Kristof's 15 safety and security tips for travelers:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/31/op...stof.html?_r=1

elakelly

3. Carry a tiny ski lock with a six-foot retractable wire. Use it to lock your backpack to a hotel bed when you’re out, or to the rack of a train car.


Any every heard of or purchased such a lock (see above)??? I've never come across them - are they easy to find in shops (in Ireland!)?

Thanks a million for your help.

nikhilsegel

Dear OP,

All of this depends on the kind of Hotels that you stay in. Would recommend that you clarify that for a better and more clear response!

Cheers

elakelly

Fairly nice hotels... well actually homestays. A definite step up from backpacking hostels but not your Hiltons/Radissons etc, more localised 3*ish type accom. Many thanks.

nikhilsegel

In that case would recommend the following:

If the room has a safe, dump all your valuables in the safe, most safes take my laptop as well!

If the room doesn't have a safe, put everything in your bag and lock your bag.

The simplest way to avoid theft is to avoid presenting temptation in my book.

I have found another couple of tricks worthwhile:

a) If the hotel doesn't feel too safe and has an option for you to put your own lock on the door DO THAT (I find this in smaller towns where the door has the old Latch Bolt System) I just buy a lock and use that

b) If the hotel has a DO NOT DISTURB Tag .. leave it on your door. Typically housekeeping staff will then avoid your room (less work for them). You can always call them when you are in the room

Cheers and have a safe Trip!

wonderwomanusa

I don't carry anything I can't do without, so I don't hesitate to leave my bag in my room. If someone wants to steal my undies or shampoo, let them have it.

I never leave my camera, ATM & credit cares, money, passport, etc in the room; those are the important things. If I was taking a computer, it would be on this list.

I carry my own American padlock (heavy, but worth the weight) for doors that can accommodate it. There are only a few places where I use the hotel-provided padlock...that would be at places I've stayed many times in the past 35 years and know the management and employees.

__________________
The map is not the territory. --Alfred Korzybski

Marius

Here's one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultra-Secure-Combination-Retractable-BLUE-TripNeeds/dp/B001PK0E14/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=diy&qid=1 244078384&sr=8-1

davef22

I would really try to avoid carrying a netbook. If you have a friend in town...no no not some travelbuddy you found somewhere online..but a real friend, you can leave it at his/her place(I guess if you had a friend, you will be staying with him/her). Is the netbook really needed for travel? If you are not going to use it a lot, then why bring it?. Exercise caution at all times. Do not let anyone watch it for you no matter how decent they look. If I were you,I will just carry it around. I know this is a nuisance but it is better to have it with you and have some peace of mind. 3 star or 5 star..end of the day if anyone wants to make a few bucks, he/she can do anything. I don't trust leaving valuables(cameras,visa documents,passport,watch,money ) around in a hotel in India or anywhere else for that matter.

thirdreel

Any answer to this is pure opinion, so here's my take on it. Nothing is 100% safe, but a lot of things are safer than you'd think.

Just be smart. Don't leave things where they can be easily grabbed. Lock your luggage if you know other people will be around. Pay attention to who's coming and going around your room. Keep a list of what clothes you send out for laundry. (This really isn't about keeping your netbook safe--but you're a lot more likely to suffer from a misplaced shirt than from malicious theft.)

When you check in, you might mention (in an off-hand, non-threatening way) that you read about their hotel on an Internet forum where travelers share reviews. They know that the price of a used camera or netbook is not worth the damage of a bad reputation. Not that they're making that bargain in their heads--they're not in this business to sell second-hand electronics. But they would like you to say nice things about them on IndiaMike.

The flipside of this, though, is that if you're traveling India on any kind of budget, you'll have greater peace of mind if you don't take anything you absolutely cannot lose. If theft of your laptop would be a disastrous end to your career and well-being, leave it at home.

davebluez

... either isn't as common as suspected or I've just been fortunate.

I've travelled extensively with a laptop which I've always left in my room wherever I've been. I use the laptop early morning and late at night in my room, and during the day I use pen and paper outside.

Before I leave the room I always pack the laptop away in my grubby rucksack and lock my rucksack, which probably deters the majority of naturally nosey 'visitors' in my absence, plus I don't necessarily look like I'm the kind of traveller laden down with expensive gadgets, which could also help.

If anyone knocks at my door when I'm home, I make a point of hiding the laptop before opening the door. It's as much about common sense as anything else, plus not putting temptation in full view.

Good luck, and I'm sure all will be well.

I fully accept that by posting this response my laptop is guaranteed to be stolen from my room next time I'm in India.

Hal

I hide my laptop under the bottom drawer in the more dodgy hotels. Haven't had it stolen yet.

Wildhorse

What do you mean by "bottom drawer"? Which bottom drawer?? I have hardly ever come across anything with drawers in Indian hotel room, let alone in "dodgy hotels". Or has "drawer" a secret meaning which has so far eluded me?

nikhilsegel

Hmmmm definitions definitions

drawers - underpants worn by men
bottom - Buttocks

Do the MATH!
Now you know where he hides his laptop!

Cheers

ahahahahaha (goes off laughing into the sunset)