I will be staying in 3 different apartments, Paris, Rome, Montelpuciano this Sept/Oct. I am wondering if I should feel a little more secure in an apt. v. a hotel room in terms of leaving valuables in the room. I will be using a money belt for passport, cc, etc., but I wonder about leaving other things in the apt. I assume most apt. do not have safes. Any advice on this?

Hi Barb,

I suggest that you keep your valuables in the same secure facility that you use at home.

Apartment security will be about like most people's security in an apt. at home.

I think things in theory should be more security, barring break-ins, because not as many people have access to the apt. However, the apt. agency and staff do have keys, as do probably the cleaning service, and perhaps the concierge of the building if they have (most don't any more, in my experience).

I've honestly felt that less people come and go when I'm in an apartment and have really felt that my valuables are safer than in a hotel room. We do limited stays in apartments, however, so no one has any reason to come in during the few days we are renting.

I simply hide our valuables in the same places I might at home....places that I think a thief would never opt to look. I could be wrong at times, but we've not had anything stolen yet.

Ah, so the plastic container in the freezer might work? That's where my mother used to hide all her "cold" cash. Seriously, I just wondered if many people would have access to the apt. key. cleaners, etc. I guess that's a question to ask the apt. manager.

What valuable will you leave in the room - if you take your passport and forms of payment with you people aren't really interested in anything else. No one steals second hand clothes (unless they are really desperate which a cleaner isn't), nor toiletries, nor shavers for men, or mirrors for women.

At hotels (which can open safety deposit boxes in the room without needing your code) I will leave most of my cash and passports in the safety deposit box as I trust them, and so far have never had anything touched.

What is it you are going to be leaving behind at the apartment?

I don't think you have to worry about things being stolen and keep your cash with you.

My family and I have rented many houses in Europe and so far nothing has come up missing. There is usually a clause in your contract stating that you must keep door and windows locked when you are not there, for their protection I guess.