My 20-year old daughter is leaving for a Mexican vacation next week. Previous guests at her hotel have reported theft of their valuables (and they suspect it was the staff). I've just read today that digital room safes have a SECOND code for management to be able to open them. And I assume that room safes with keys have master keys for management also. So it looks like in-room safes are not so safe after all.

Of course, she plans to spend all her time at the beach and the pool. Is it advisable for her to lock her valuables (money, passport, etc) in her suitcase? Are there any better options?

Also I'm going to Mexico in 6 weeks (to a better hotel). But now that I know room safes are not so safe, I'm concerned about what to do with my valuables while I'm out for a day of snorkeling. I know many people insist that you need to have your passport with you at all times when abroad, but if I'll be in and out of the water all day, is that possible?

moneybelt most important for me

everything of value there

always swim with buddy system

and watch my stuff...

I'm not much of a lie-on-the-beach type but I LOVE to snorkel and dive. I have a small waterproof bag (like the ones we use when we're rafting but sized down) that I can keep a dry shirt, a light-weight beach towel, my passport, etc. and I just throw the loop over my shoulder and snorkel with it. Of course I don't want to lose my passport and ATM card but it's a bummer to find your towel and clothes missing, too. Sounds extreme but it's easy and hasn't failed me when I'm in a situation where I don't feel safe leaving my things elsewhere.

I lock my passport in the hotel safe. In some of the smaller properties that don't have a safe, I hide it in a suitcase and lock the suitcase. I know I should carry at least a copy of it around, but, I usually forget. I'm sure one of these days this will be a problem, but my passport is at the point I need to order new pages, and I've never had a problem.

As for what to do with 'stuff' while snorkeling, I find someone on the beach to watch my towel, sunscreen, that kind of stuff. I've met some wonderful people that way.

I would say that you stand a much greater chance of having things stolen from your suitcase than in the room safe. We have traveled all over Mexico and the Caribbean and used room safes in every hotel and have never had a problem. If this hotel has a record of this happening why in the world does she want to stay there? If they steal from the safe you can bet suitcases will be ripped open and things taken. I suggest she get into a decent hotel ASAP!

We leave passports in the room safe. For money, room key, etc. my husband carries a waterproof wallet.

If you named where you are going, people might be able to be more specific.

In Puerto Vallarta, upon check in at my budget hotel, I make up a ziplock baggie with my passport, one credit card, $200USD, my return plane confirmation code, my tourist card and take it down to the hotel's safe at the front desk.

Locking things into the suitcase gives a bit of protection (as it is very obvious if someone steals it) but I certainly wouldn't use that method to keep a bunch of cash.

No you don't need your passport on your person when you are swimming at the beach.

Leave your room key at the hotel front desk when you are out. Pick it up each time you return.

Reisender - Unfortunately it's spring break, all her friends are staying there because it's one of the few hotels in the area that allows 18-24 yr olds to book. It is not our idea of a good time.

People have posted that the maids have come in even at 9:00 at night pretending they're going to fix something. And maids leaving room doors wide open during the day (for their friends to come in and help themselves?). Management just laughs - so how can I trust a hotel safe staffed by the same management?

I read this morning that in-room safes can be (and have been, all over the world) broken into. So I guess her best bet is the suitcase, while she's at the pool. I don't trust other partying 20 year olds to keep a watchful eye on her stuff while she swims. If a hot guy smiles at them, they'll forget all about watching her valuables.

Actually all her friends will be in the same boat. Maybe they'll have to have a "designated watcher" instead of a "designated driver".

Hopefulist - I'll see if I can find a waterproof bag like you recommend for when I go in 6 weeks. On at least one of the snorkel tours my son and I will both be in the water at the same time with the guide - so no one will be available to look after our stuff.

This is sooooo not my experience with room maids in Mexico(!) I hestiate to comment. Mine have always been friendly and honest to a fault.

Yes they leave the door open as they work, but it's certainly not so other people can come and steal your stuff.

Some people travel with something along these lines where you attached your own "safe" to something nonmovable in the room.
www.pac-safe.com

Seriously I'd just use the inroom safe and hope for the best. How much cash are we talking here? Or what kinds of things are you worried about being stolen?

The BEST security it to leave valuables at home, carry only a small amount of cash, and use ATM cards as you need peso.

p.s. I'd worry more about the "hot guy" stealing her valuables, than I would the hotel maids or staff.

succeed - Here's a link to the type of bag I carry; I think this one is smaller than the one I use but it will give you an idea:

http://www.rei.com/product/722805

Check out campmor.com and sierratradingpost.com also. Happy trails!

Suze: I'm sure most of the Mexican hotels are wonderful (I've been more than pleased myself) but the one she is going to is a party hotel that caters to 20 year olds for spring break. The standards are very low (as is the condition of the hotel itself). The 20 year olds enjoy the partying, except for those who end up with stuff stolen.

I don't want her passport, ATM card, ipod (which she can't live without), and minimal cash stolen. It's likely more about the inconvenience than the value.

Yes, there have been reports of the maids leaving the doors open long after cleaning the rooms. So anyone can come in and steal the bags. I guess she'll be better off taking a chance on the in-room safe because of that.

Hopefulist: those water-proof bags are perfect for MY trip. Thanks for the links !

Suze: if she did cable lock her suitcase to something in her room, something that cannot be moved, what would it be? If there were a certain style of headboard, it might work. But if not, are there any other non-movable items that you can think of?

I went to a local dive shop and asked for a product to store my passport and money in that could be attached to my body while I snorkled.

The guy told me to just put the valuabes in 2 ziplock bags (one zipped inside the other) and shove the double bags in my wetsuit.

Your daughter probably won't be using a wetsuit but if she wears a one piece suit she can stick the ziplocks in there. I tested it out in a bathing suit in my bathtub and the paper contents came out bone dry.

For the real thing, after hours in the water being pulled on an innter tube with my valuables double zipped in my wetsuit, my passport and pesos emerged in perfect condition.

Have a good trip.

atravelynn:
Wow, that is such an easy solution. I can go get a box of zip lock bags and it will take care of the problem for her and all of her friends. Fabulous ! And it will work for my vacation too. Thanks !

Worth a try but most of the people I know who have tried this over the years end up sorry at some point. A wet passport is unlikely to be accepted. Maybe 3 bags?!?

First do not believe all you hear. The Safes are I am sure 99% secure.
Second NEVER CARRY your passport around with you. Make a a copy & carry it with your drivers license. In 25 years of Mexican travel I have never had to show my passport to anyone other than the Airline & Immigration. You do need it to cash Travelers checks at some banks but they have become so unpopular it is really not a factor.
If You lock it in the suitcase you have a much bigger chance of losing it. If you leave all in an envelope at the front desk THEY Are responsible but trust the safe
On the beach I take a waterproof watch, paperback & enough money for the day. You can but for about a dollar a "neck tube" made out of plastic that is waterproof for you daily money. Leave your room key with the front desk.
As I say in 25 years of doing the above I have never lost any thing!

First of all, we are very particular about the places we stay. Even with that, I use a Pacsafe as my main piece of carry-on luggage. They come in all sizes, but I prefer the small, backpack size. It has a wire mesh and a cable that you wrap around a permanent fixture in the room. A thief would have to bring in a cable cutter to get into it (most don't carry those around). It certainly deters the common thief. You can find them for around $100 on sale at various online stores. Money well-spent.
For swimming, we have waterproof gadgets that go around the neck. Specifically designed to hold a key, credit cards, money. We use them alot.
Lots of gadgets out there that do provide some piece of mind. Do some searching and you'll find whatever you need.

When I think about it, I may have triple ziplocked my valuables under my wetsuit, as you suggest Hopefulist. I know I used just 2 bags in my own bathtub. I made sure I took numerous ziplocks with me on my trip to be prepared for the many snorkel sessions. I ended up using the originals again and again.