1. Summary
This article provides essential tips on how to keep your belongings safe while staying in hostels. From using lockers to disguising valuables, travelers can ensure their items remain secure during their adventures. Explore our strategies for maintaining safety and peace of mind in shared accommodation.
Read Hostel Reviews Before You Stay
To assess the safety and security of hostels, scrutinize recent reviews, focusing on mentions of theft or security issues. Opt for hostels with high ratings for safety. Additionally, research the neighborhood of the hostel to determine its safety profile.
For a comprehensive evaluation, check platforms like TripAdvisor and Google to gather varied perspectives about the hostel. Reading multiple reviews will give you a well-rounded understanding before you arrive. For instance, despite glowing reviews on one site, we were surprised to find negative feedback elsewhere, impacting our stay.
Utilize Lockers
Nearly every hostel provides lockers—make sure to use them! It’s advisable to purchase a padlock before your trip to secure your items. If you forget, many hostels rental padlocks at reception for a nominal fee. Even if large backpacks can’t fit in the lockers, you can store valuables like your laptop, camera, tablet, money, and passport, thereby minimizing losses in case of theft.
Use Padlocks Wisely
If lockers are unavailable, securing your backpack with padlocks is a smart strategy. Although front-loading backpacks can be zipped and padlocked, you can still store all your valuables in a daypack and padlock it. Alternatively, a portable safe from Pacsafe can further secure your belongings, as it’s designed to resist splashes and offers extra protection.
In cases where locking isn’t feasible, try securing your backpack to an immovable object, like the bedpost. This small deterrent may be enough to discourage thieves who prefer easier targets.
Take Valuables While Exploring
If storing your backpack isn’t an option, using a daypack to carry your valuables is advantageous. Although it may feel cumbersome, having your important items on hand offers peace of mind during your adventures. Additionally, when spending a day at the beach, using a dry bag can protect electronics from water damage and theft, ensuring that your belongings stay safe.
Conceal Important Items
We once encountered theft issues at a particular hostel. To safeguard our belongings, we found that stashing valuables in the pillowcase offered peace of mind, as it made access to them more challenging for potential thieves.
Avoid Displaying Valuables
Before you set off, consider camouflaging your tech with stickers or duct tape to give them a less appealing appearance. If you have a lot of technology, keep as much out of sight as possible. Showing off expensive items can make you an attractive target. Therefore, it’s wise to be discrete and keep your valuables secure.
Consider a Pacsafe Backpack Protector
While we typically don’t recommend purchasing a backpack protector from Pacsafe due to the weight and space they consume, they can provide additional peace of mind for those particularly nervous about theft. This accessory, consisting of a robust metal mesh, can deter thieves. However, be aware that it indicates the presence of valuable items, which could draw unwanted attention.
Before deciding on a backpack protector, consider if other security measures, such as the Pacsafe portable safe mentioned earlier, might suit your needs better.
