Leaving laptop in hotel room Thailand
Replies: 25 - Last Post: Dec 20, 2012 8:50 PM Last Post By: PhiMeow
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Leaving laptop in hotel room Thailand
I've heard that you should not leave any valuables in guest houses in Thailand when you go out for the day. Is there a certain level/price range of a hotel when it begins to be safe to leave valuable items in there? My main thing is I have to bring my laptop. I have to have to lug this around everywhere I go. Is there somewhere valuables can be safely left when leaving a hotel room?Thanks!
2
Lock it away in a holdall or case and make sure no one knows you have it. A simple small padlock will do just keeping it away from the eyes of others.Any reasonable hotel where only the maid might see it, such a thing should be safe. It is normally only in cheap guest houses where it might be stolen. Where a place has wifi, I tend to leave my laptop out and leave it downloading.
Obviously a latest model laptop has far more chance of being stolen than an old one, and mine is fairly old in appearance though it does what I want it to. you could always put a few bits of sticky tape on it to make it look old and look like they are holding it together.
Note: I found in Bangkok that I needed one of those fan platforms (plastic with a fan in their centre, running off a USB plugged into the laptop) as it overheated otherwise. They are cheap to buy at the Pantip Plaza and elsewhere.
3
My laptop is almost 5 years old and worth nothing (except the data and having to replace it). Even if I lock it up in a bag they could still take the bag. Can you generally leave valuables with the front desk? Also are your things generally safe on the beach while swimming? Maybe some rooms have safes?5
I generally leave mine locked in my suitcase.Even if I lock it up in a bag they could still take the bag.
If someone really wants to steal some thing they will. Leaving the laptop locked and out of sight is just less temptation for the casual thief.If the hotel has a hotel safe at the front desk, you can deposit that there - make sure you get a hotel receipt detailing what you put into that safe.
6
Is there a certain level/price range of a hotel when it begins to be safe to leave valuable items in there?Nope, dodgy staff operate in all classes of hotels. People report thefts from time to time, but in 6 years of visiting Thailand for long periods several times a year, it has yet to happen to me.
Like the above posters, I hide valuables away out of sight in my bag, so as not to leave temptation in plain view. Of course, during the day I would usually take my computer with me in my daypack (it's a small netbook). I would usually only leave it unattended at the hotel for a few hours during the evening when I'm out for a meal and a beer.
7
I take a Netbook and other electronic gear on every trip and put it in a Packsafe bag, refer link. It provides an added level of security and peace of mind while out and about.http://pacsafe.com/travelsafe-12l-portable-safe
8
I leave all valuables either in the room safe if they fit in it or in the cupboard where the safe is. I then lock the cupboard with a Pacsafe retractable cable lock. I also have a computer lock which I use if I leave the computer out. If someone is determined to get your stuff they will but most theft is opportunist so it's really just keeping it out of sight. The Pacsafe retractable cable lock is also great for tying your case to something really heavy or fixed so it can't be easily taken.12
Use a Kensington lock (may be fcg was referring to one when she said 'computer lock'). You will need a solid piece of furniture too to anchor it to - not something flimsy that can be ripped off. Failing that I also leave mine in a locked bag - make sure the bag is always locked even when there is no computer. Get a hard drive and back it up regularly - Synctoy is good for backing up photos and documents but a regular backup is important.There are hotels I go to year after year and am known - I trust them - better than using price as a guide.
Paul
13
Always lock my things in my bag and keep them out of sight. In all these years I lost nothing. No money, no cards, no electronics although I staid at really ceap places too.Just don't flash your items to anybody and you will be fine.
The only time I got my money stolen was in a very fine hotel in London :-)
14
I find that it really depends on the hotel or guest house and how well you know the place. I have this concern but I always stay at the same place in Bangkok and have never had a problem leaving my stuff in the room and out in the open..When I travel I find the same type of mid range hotel in the 500 baht range and have never had problems.
