Is it safe to leave valuables in your hotel room? Here's how to tell, according to experts. getty It's that moment of hesitation before you head out the door. The one where you ask, "Is it safe to leave my valuables in my hotel room?" It happens to me often, not just because I practically live in hotels, but also because I often help travelers whose belongings are stolen.
Hotel security has been a hot topic lately. One recent survey found that thieves are becoming increasingly bold, taking everything from bathroom fixtures to the grand piano in the lobby. And the question always is: Could you have avoided the theft? Before we get to the answer, here's some good news: Hotels are generally safer than home-sharing accommodations, according to Harding Bush, associate director for security operations at Global Rescue , a provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services.
Hotels staffed around the clock make it much harder to commit a crime. "With Airbnb and Vrbo, there is no inherent support network for guests," he adds. But theft is still possible.
Based on my experience of mediating travel complaints, the worst types of thefts are the ones you don't notice. Thieves will enter your room when you're not around, steal something, and you don't discover it until after you've checked out. That makes it much more difficult to file a police report or catch the perpetrator.
And that brings me to the number one piece of preventative advice: Pack like a minimali.
