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Hotel security for travel anywhere

I leave soon for Colombia on Dec.12 and have some questions regarding hotel security, not specifically for Colombia but in general.
I am not a experienced traveller so apologies if I sound naive.

1. Is it secure enough when in a hotel to leave my passport, atm cards and camera equipment in a locked rucksack which I plan to lock onto something permanent in the room, radiator, bed etc?

2. I have read somewhere on here not to use room safes but to use main hotel safe for passport and atm cards. How does this work?
If room safe is not secure then how is main hotel safe?

Again I have not done much travel in foreign countries so apologies for the naivety of these questions.
Any help is much appreciated.

Cheers

By MacGringo on Dec 1, 2005, 14:29 in Friendly Talkzone.

Gator says on Dec 1, 2005, 15:01:

In Room Not Very Safe. 1. NO

2. Hotel safe deposit is generally the best-usually located directly behind the main desk., do not use the room safe except for the camera.

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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MacGringo says on Dec 1, 2005, 15:18:

Gator, so is it best to keep my tickets, passport and atm, credit cards in the hotel safe deposit?
Should i put all of these in some kind of wallet or envelope and ask for a receipt?
Are people on the hotel desks generally ok with you asking to get things from the safe, for example, if you asked for your atm card each morning to go and get money and then returned and asked them to put the card back in the safe, is this the way it should be done? I mean, would they see this as a hassle to them?

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Mr. Hollywood says on Dec 1, 2005, 17:20:

Mac Put it ALL in some kind of fanny pack or other small bag. Don't ask, for example, "Can you bring me my ATM card" but, rather, "I'd like my bag please." Take whatever you need in a relatively private manner and give them the rest in the closed bag.

You don't really need anyone knowing what you're leaving the hotel with and when.

Personally, I'm a fan of finding REALLY obscure hiding places for my irreplaceable valuables instead of trusting a hotel with them but that carries its own set of risks.

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zulmita says on Dec 1, 2005, 17:47:

Why not? Why dont you try to rent an apartment in Bogota Colombia Lodging?

or they have a B&B service and is very secure, you can try depending on your pocket!! but is cheaper than a hotel room.
You would´nt loose nothing if you ask!!

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