My husband and I are traveling to Munich, Vienna, and Prague for 10 days over Thanksgiving. His birthday is next week and I'm considering buying him a portable dvd player for the plane. My question is, do you think that the dvd player will be safe in our hotel rooms while we're out visiting these cities? We're staying at Le Meridien in Munich, Hotel Ambassador in Vienna, and Le Palais in Prague. Any help would be much appreciated.

We were in those three cities in June. They are wonderful. We felt totally safe in all three, especially in Vienna and Munich. We had heard that Prague has pickpocket problems, so were very cautious about that. And someone posted here that they experienced a theft from their Prague hotel. I'd say to lock things up when you leave your room, as you would anywhere, just to be safe. A DVD player woud have been fantastic on the long flights.

troll

I agree. Especially munich and vienna are safe places outside. Prague, too, but pickpockers are also be found in munich and vienna.
Your DVD would be safe on the room but if its a expensive one, most every room has a safe to lock and secure valuables.
Enjoy your trip.

I think those are business hotels and probably many or most guests leave laptops in their rooms. But there aren't any guarantees anywhere, of course.

What does the message "troll" mean, mgmargate?

Thanks so much for the advice! I figured we'd be ok but it never hurts to ask. I appreciate it!

I haven't stayed in any hotel anywhere where room theft has been a problem, but others have not been that fortunate.
Budget or family-owned hotels may be less likely to make good on a theft than a large chain, or luxury hotel because the small places may not have the insurance or financial wherewithal.
I don't think most room safes can accommodate a dvd player, and putting it in a locked suitcase is no guarantee.
If a thief were in your room he/she could just break the luggage lock, or just walk out of the room with the locked suitcase and not be noticed.

If your own insurance will cover you for 'off premises' theft, and if your deductible is not too high or you can cover the expense yourself, then go for it. But the rule of thumb is, don't travel with anything you can't afford to lose.

here's a link to the other current thread on a hotel theft in Prague

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34535407

Thanks, Elaine, for the advice and the link. I think I'll talk it over with my husband before making a final decision. Much appreciated!

le palais in prague has a laptop safe (the new ones with the built in plug so you can charge it) i'm sure the dvd player will fit perfectly within it. it is a beautiful hotel by the way and the service was excellent. a top hotel indeed.

Le meridien is nice but i don't know why it was built where it is...not the best location for such a luxury hotel!

I've stayed at LeMeridien in Munich and despite the "concern" expressed by the post immediately above mine, we never felt unsafe leaving anything in the hotel roo. The LeMeridien is located in a building directly across the street from the main train station and is a few blocks from the Marienplatz. Despite the fact that there is also a "sex store" across the street (not uncommon in Europe) I do not equate folks who frequent such venues or such venues themselves as somehow "unsafe." Lots of people enjoy sex in various forms and some are simply less puritanical about it than others.

On the contrary, I am rather happy that a hotel of such quality IS located in an area which is extremely convenient to public transport, etc. I think you'll end up being happy with your choice and you'll feel secure about yourself AND your valuables.

topman...

i didn't express any "concern" over the area. maybe you assumed this because the OP was about crime. munich is very safe and i spend a lot of time in this area. A few blocks from marienplatz it is not, however.

i was simply commenting how i thought is oddly placed, that's all. it's not a typical location for a le meridien. i lived in munich as it was being built (and after it opened) and when i saw the sign go up that it was a meridien i was a little surprised.

i wasn't commenting on the sex shops and living in europe, i hardly need a far too trite lecture on the differences in morals in europe. i think most of us are well aware of this aspect of german culture.

how you presumed that my post was the result of some sort of puritanical view, i don't know.

We've been taking the portable dvd player for a few years now and have never had a problem with it or any of the videos we bring. I keep it in a locked bag, then put that bag in my suitcase, which I lock and leave it in the room. If someone's that desparate for it, let them have it. I've done my best and I'm not going to ruin my trip worrying about it.

Can you lock down a DVD player like you can a laptop? With the cable locks, I think made by Kensington? If so, you could lock it to a table leg and feel relatively comfortable leaving it there.