How safe is your cash ( Safe deposit boxes )

[Crocket]

Hi All

After recent experiences in Greece of money stolen from my safe deposit box in the hotel reception,

How safe are the safe deposit boxes in Thai hotels, would you consider leaving say £500 in cash.

Be in Hua Hin soon.

King regards

Crocket

[hhfarang]

Not safe at all. I was recently in a Bangkok hotel and the last occupant left the safe locked with a credit card. I called the front desk and they sent a housekeeping person with a master code to open the safe in 5 seconds.

[Korkenzieher]

In Thailand I have had money and / or travellers cheques removed from safety deposit boxes twice - one in room (Phi Phi), and one in hotel reception (Samui); once from my clothing while on a scuba dive (Lanta) and once from my person while drugged (Samui). I have not (so far) had any problem in Hua Hin or Bangkok whether in a hotel, bar or private room. The only robbery I have experienced in HH is from those nice chaps in the brown shirts who occasionally step out in front of the motorcycle.

On the second part of that question, £500 is far too much to leave lying around in any circumstance, or to carry. You are putting temptation in the way of people not well suited to resisting it. Find a better way.

[Johan]

I have a very big safe but no money inside. I bought it for my important papers. My money is in my bank where it belong. You want it, take my card and ask me the pin code with a gun or a very muscular guy, then you will hit the limit very fast. All of this for a few bahts...

To be clear, never leave any money in the safe, it's the first place where people will start looking to find your money. Also if their is a safe someone must have the master key to open it, how you can prove that you have deposited cash inside ?

[Korkenzieher]

Of course, I would have suggested the OP uses a bank account if possible but it may not be possible or appropriate for him. Without knowing more about his circumstances it isn't easy to make suggestions.

However, in any circumstances - and not just in Thailand - large amounts of cash are a liability and some people aren't too worried about what they have to do to get their hands on it, just so long as they do.

[Spitfire]

To be honest, I'm not really sure what this fascination is, or where it comes from, with having large amounts of cash/gold etc just lying around in safes/wallets/homes/safety deposit boxes and all.

Perhaps vanity maybe? Makes little sense when there are so many thieves around that are incapable of resisting such a bounty and will go to all kind of lengths to get it as they know the law enforcement agencies are, at best, ambivalent on this issue .

[Crocket]

Hi

Thanks for all the replies decision made.

Cheer

Crocket

[johnnyk]

Why have that much cash laying around? How much is needed to get through a 24-hour day or even a weekend? Surely not 20K+ baht.

[hhfarang]

or even a weekend? Surely not 20K+ baht.

That's easy for me and the missus on a weekend to Bangkok. I usually buy my 3 month supply of meds, a few months supply of books, we do a little shopping for clothes or household items that are not easy to find in Hua Hin and eat out a couple of good meals each day. Throw in round trip gas, drinks, taxis, and maybe some entertainment and it's easy to go through 20k in a weekend. If it's a trip for a medical checkup or other business it can easily go to 20k per day (not just a weekend).

That said, I don't usually carry more than 10k at any given time as ATMs are readily available.

And single guys may need large amounts of cash on them as their usual entertainment can easily run up to several thousand in an evening and I don't think that form of entertainment takes credit cards.

[PeteC]

......And single guys may need large amounts of cash on them as their usual entertainment can easily run up to several thousand in an evening and I don't think that form of entertainment takes credit cards.

There was a story once about a girl carrying a credit card swiper strapped to the inside of her thigh....but that's a story for a different forum. Pete

[Dr Mike]

I have a friend who carries two wallets--one is his 'Robbery wallet" with$20 and some phony cards--his real wallet he has in a specially made deep pocket.

[Irish Kev]

I have a theft proof safety deposit box, it's called my Wife. Try and get money out of her.

[Crocket]

Hi Again

Hi Again

I do appreciate you saying there are plenty of ATMs but as a visitor we are charged a minimum of £5 every visit which soon mounts up over a 3 week stay.

Has anyone any ideas to get around this daylight robbery scam

Regards

Crocket

“If you want to feel rich, just count the things you have that money can't buy”

[PeteC]

A lot of the risk involved depends upon the quality of the hotel you're staying in. Yes of course there are cheap hotels with honest staff and there are 5 star places with dishonest staff. The odds are though that in a higher class hotel your belongings will be safe in the electronic room safe, and even more safe in their main safety deposit boxes. Places like that are usually very careful of the type of people they hire as staff. Keeping their reputation is paramount.

I would try to avoid a place where all the deposit boxes are directly behind the front desk and visible to all. Too many people can see what you're putting in and taking out.

The odds are in your favour no matter where you stay that nothing bad will happen. I wouldn't worry too much and if you are that worried, I would probably carry the cash with me in my shoe, money belt or some kind of hidden pocket as mentioned above. Just try to select lodging that has a good reputation. Perhaps mention where you're thinking of staying to get some feedback about what the Hua Hin expats think of the place(s). Pete

[Korkenzieher]

Adding to that, depending how long you are staying it may be worth looking at a local bank account - anything over a month, and it may be a good option.

Also, check out loadable pre-paid cards - http://www.compareprepaid.co.uk/ - they usually cost about 1% to load up. Just make sure you can use them to get cash when out of the UK.