travelerngk

There were two of us girls who stayed in the hotel for three nights. We didn't have much to complain about in the hotel during the first two days, except for immediate allergic reactions to something in our room - for which we just opened the windows during the night.

On the last day, three hours before my flight, we checked out and took our luggage to the breakfast area. I put my purse down along with my coat and went to go get food in the same room. It was only after we finished eating that I realized my purse was not there! My friend's purse, on another chair, was still there. It was the only time on the trip that my purse contained my passport, all my cash and credit cards and my camera. I strongly advice not to carry all your money and passport in purses but rather in a money belt. But since we were taking a taxi to the airport in less than half an hour, I didn't think to wear the money belt.

The staff was completely not helpful and shrugged when I told them what happened. The breakfast staff did not make ANY effort to look for it and acted as though it was not their problem. The conceirge blamed the other guests in the hotel, which was completely rude for the guests who were eating their breakfast! While I had not ruled out the other guests at the time, they were all families, some with small children, making them unlikely candidates. The woman suggested that I should check my luggage in case I had packed it in there, because obviously I would pack my purse into luggage that I planned check in. They did not have the US Embassy's phone number on hand and only offered to look for it when I threatened to call the police. The ONLY help they provided us was to call a cab to take us there.

On the other hand the embassy was very helpful, I had a new passport made in less than an hour (a new record!!). Please always carry a PHOTOCOPY of your PASSPORT, it sped the process along. With some sort of miracle I made the flight. My only regret is I did not have time to call the police (in which case I would have definately missed my flight) and whoever did it (I STRONGLY suspect the breakfast staff) got away with it completely.

I urge people not to stay at this hotel please. I do not wish this experience on anyone.

internetwiz

Instead of carrying a copy of your passport, scan it and email to yourself. It will be a lot easier to track down than looking through your papers.

Sorry you had to experience something like this.

yk

I'm sorry this happpened to you. You probably let your guard down because this was your last day of your trip and you felt "safe" in a hotel.

Unfortunately, this is never the case.

I would never leave anything valuable out of sight at any time.

I have heard and read so many stories about tourists having their purse stolen at fancy restaurants (they put their purses either on the floor or the back of their chairs). One of this even happened at Maxim's in Paris.

At least you were able to get your passport reissued so quickly.

GSteed

Sorry...I sympathize with you and do know of your frustrations. This is a good time to consider a travel vest. Purses are targets! Today I watched both men and women carrying keys in one hand and a purse or bag in the other. Anytime they needed to do something involving hands, they set the purse down!

SeaUrchin

A shame you learned the hard way never to let your purse out of your hands or your sight. A breakfast room is a perfect place to steal a purse especially with a buffet bar close by. We get preoccupied with the buffet and momentarily lose track of our purses, this is what a thief is counting on. Glad you had a happy ending at the embassy though.

CptDondo

Well, stealing is common everywhere, but more so in Prague...

A couple of things to keep in mind:

Never carry a backpack
Never carry a purse

There are professional gangs that pickpocket people in Prague. It's possible that the staff helped themselves to your purse; I've had similar things happen but typically in state run roadhouses, not in private establishments.

Keep in mind, though, that cultural differences dictate behavior; most East Europeans can seem to be pretty dour and unhelpful while in fact you are having trouble communicating - you are frantic, and you're perceived as rude.

Czechs can be cynical and have a dark sense of humor.

If you can find a translation of the story of Emperor Charles IV and the knight Busek z Velhartic you will get an insight into the Czech mindset....

SusieQQ

What a shame! But, of course now you know to never let your guard down. Would you leave your purse behind and go to a buffet at home or even hang it on the back of your chair while eating? Not me. It always is on me. Stealing is common everywhere, just not Prague.

djkbooks

It's a real shame this happened to you, but it's not the hotel's fault that you carelessly left your valuables unattended. I don't think it was realistic to expect the breakfast staff to look for your purse. It really wasn't their problem.

I see handbags left atop luggage in front of hotels all the time unattended and wonder who could be so careless. Also, at airports by phones.

If I do carry a purse, it's one with a shoulder strap long enough to go over one shoulder and under the other arm, and it's small/lightweight. And, I never, ever, set it down anywhere.

Christina

I'm glad to hear the Embassy was helpful, and this is a good tip about the Hotel Central (which I know of and have recommended, just for a cheap, central location).

However, as others' opinions, I do not agree that you should be mailing yourself scanned copies of your passport (a lot of good that would have done you in a hotel lobby, after having checked out). Well, I don't believe in sending around important information in cyberspace, myself. It's surprising how many people On Fodors wouldn't think of sending a CC number in an email to a hotel for a deposit, but would readily send around scanned copies of passports, CCs, etc. by email.

I carry a purse, and I have not been pickpocketed anywhere, and I've been to Prague three times. I am just careful with it. In this case, it was the fact that you put your purse down and left it, I believe, not the fact that it was a purse. Now I know a money belt would help a lot of people, so for those who do have trouble keeping track of things, it might be a good idea, I agree.

ter2000

How dreadful for you and what a way for a hotel to leave a bad impression. I had my purse stolen in a similar way from a bar in Lisbon back in September (hanging on the back of my chair - I know!), and the staff couldn't have been kinder or more helpful. They personally escorted us to a police station where there were english-speaking staff, and even waived our bill! As a result I'd have no problem returning to Lisbon - I can't say that I'd have the same reaction about Prague if I'd had your experience.

yk

Yes, actually theft occurs everywhere. I just recalled a recent story my MIL told me. Someone she knew had her purse stolen at Legal Seafoods in Boston.

ekscrunchy

Really bad news. But hopefully others will learn from your experience. Unfortunately this kind of happening is not limited to cheap hotels in Prague. I have heard several times of purses and other valuables being stolen from the breakfast rooms of ultra- luxury European hotels under similar circumstances. Never leave things unattended!!

Jean

"This kind of thing is not limited to cheap hotels in Prague." Every few months in our local newspaper's crime report, there's a story of a woman who left her purse in a grocery cart, stepped away, back turned, to get something off a shelf or select and bag produce, and returned to the cart to find her purse was gone.

Travelerngk, I'm sorry this happened to you. All I can say is that it's better it happened on the last day rather than the first.

FainaAgain

My co-worker put his backpack on the floor in McDonald's (San Francisco). After lunch he came back to work empty-handed.

Can happen to anybody anywhere.

WillTravel

I am really impressed you were able to get new passport pictures and a new passport and still get your flight! Is the passport picture studio right by the embassy?

This is a good reminder to be more careful. Thanks for telling us.

nytraveler

I saw exactly the same thing happen in a restaurant in Greeenwich CT - a very upscale area.

The answer is simple. Never let go of your purse. There are thieves everywhere (and yes, they stay in hotels and eat in nice restaurants, too)

adeben

This is almost the classic story about how to get your goods stolen anywhere in the world. That is, in a public place, leave your valuables somewhere visible and walk away from them. They won't be stolen every time, but you certainly increase the chances.
The staff in the hotel were correct in one aspect of their behaviour: IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. And there is little (or nothing) that they can do to resolve it.
The bright part of the story lies in the speed of passport replacement. It seems, from this and other reports, that stolen passports can generally be replaced within hours, particularly if a police report of the theft is presented. A police report will also be needed if any insurance claim is to be made.

dutyfree

Sorry this happened to you but you NEVER leave your purse or luggage away from you no matter where you are these days-this is one of the reasons why they ask you if your luggage has been out of your sight at the airport during checkin. Think sinister thoughts such as a bomb,etc. slipped in?

Also, want to remind everyone that has caused some problems for some of my crew members is leaving your luggage by the back of a taxi or van thinking that it will be put in immediately by the driver. Have had some situations lately in Europe and South America that someone has come by on motorbike or walking and just grabbed the luggage ever so quickly. SO....always stay right next to luggage to make sure it gets in the trunk or back of van.

Mambo_

It's a shame such a thing happened to you. And you lost all your photos? I, too, would have asked the staff for help. But they must have felt like it was your mistake for leaving it unattended.

There are really talented thieves everywhere. I once had my purse stolen in the FAO Schwarz in NYC. My purse was sitting on the floor for just a minute, BETWEEN my feet, while I picked up one toy to look at it. That quickly, my purse was gone. I had two friends with me, standing right next to me. None of us even noticed that anyone had been close enough to us, to swipe my purse. Now, that's talent!

The good news was that FAO Schwarz felt awful about it. They ushered me to a private office, so I could call my credit card companies, etc. They then brought me a bottle of champagne and a box of chocolates to take with me. I thought that was really nice of them.

And, the story ended well. The next day, I received a phone call from my office in Denver. They had received a call from a person in a small shop in NYC, who had found my purse in the back of his store. My business card was inside, so he'd called my office.

I went to the store, and my purse was intact, even with credit cards still in it. Only thing taken was my cash. I gave the shop owner my champagne and chocolates! I was a lucky duck after all. Except my credit cards were cancelled. Good thing I was with a friend who could put my hotel room on her business credit card, or I don't know how I would have been able to leave that hotel!
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