Just a little bit of a warning here.
Through my own complacence I will admit....
I was staying at a hotel in Phuket, and had left my money belt with cash, credit cards etc with the hotel in their safety deposit box. I'd previously stayed in Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Kanchanaburi, and had done the same at hotels there. Since I'd been using just the one ATM card that I keep with me, I'd felt little need to check what was in my money belt.
However, when I checked out of the hotel in Phuket, I realised that $90 had been stolen.
Own fault to an extent here because I didn't show any of the hotels the contents and get a receipt. Also, I was either stupid and lazy, or too trusting since I didn't check the contents after I'd left.
I'm not pointing the finger at any one place: that'd be wrong because I don't know who the culprits were.
I'm lucky it was only $90....my credit card was there too. It's not been used thankfully. If I can travel and only lose a few dollars, I reckon I'm doing OK.
Just a word of advice from experience.
Enjoy.....
I am one who will never trust anyone in any Asian country. Even the nicest guy will try to extact something out of you. This is surely a hotel staff who was smart enough just a small sum in the hope you would not have noticed the money missing.
If you had found out earlier and reported the matter to the hotel he / she would have been sacked.
Mu advice: Never trust anyone as there are prompted by greed. the reason: Poverty.
Check your credit card account asap. In the worst case you might find out you´ve been to the antique shop, hired a boat, bought some jewelry etc. Just a matter of precaution.
libraa, untrustworthy people are not exclusive to poorer countries. There are plenty in Britain, the States etc too you know.
Best advice, don't be paranoid, but excercise caution in any country your in.
When you register in your stuff for deposit in the safe,don't show them what you've got.Use a pouch with a zip,and use a little lock to secure.To get at it they will either have to tear the fabrick or pick the lock.
In the better places,they have a safe with 2 locks.They give you one key,and they keep the other.It takes your key and theres to open the safe.
Yeah untrustworthy people are only in poor countries. In North america and Europe, there is never any theft or robbery and never any fraud.
Seriously, if he had stolen your credit card, chances are that you have needed to get a police report and the guy could have been in troubles.
I think the whole point is that you trusted someone at what you thought was a reputable place and for no matter what reason that the money was taken your trust was betrayed.
The only persons that would have access to the hotel safe would be the management or the key persons at the reception depending on how big the place was that you were staying. I can understand that you may not noticed the loss in time to report to the management or the police before you checked out. However the least you can do is let the rest of us know what the name of the place was so others can avoid the same situation.
The whole reason for travel forums is to seek / offer recomendations and sometimes even warnings about detinations and bussinesses that people should should look forward to visiting or to avoid and even boycot. Theft is a crime no matter where you come from or where you are visiting and the only way to make a difference is to bring it to the attention of others who may be planning to use this place in the future.
Just like the posters who have been reporting facilities known for violence so others can avoid these places, you should personaly help to protect travelers who may consider using the same establishment. Let us know the name of this place and maybe the moderators will add a crime against tourists list to the thailand FAQ.
Sorry to here about your misadventure and I hope this has not put you off from returning to Thailand.
Regards From Phuket
Richard & Megumi
<blockquote>Quote
<hr> However the least you can do is let the rest of us know what the name of the place was so others can avoid the same situation. <hr></blockquote>Since the op is not sure where the theft happened, that would be blaming somebody who may have had nothing to do with it.
So I think the op is right in saying <blockquote>Quote
<hr>I'm not pointing the finger at any one place: that'd be wrong because I don't know who the culprits were.<hr></blockquote>
I have a lockable pouch that I use for my important stuff and money. Someone with a razor knife would have no problem getting in - but I would notice it right away!
A lot of the security safes have metal boxes that they slide out for your valuables - if it has a place to put a lock on the cover do it! Small lock is only about 30 or 40 baht.
Before I leave home I record the serial numbers of my travellers checks and any of the large bills ($100 and $50's) that I take with me. Knowing the ser. nos. of the big bills might help the police find the crook.
trusted partner
