Jetting off for some much-needed sun, sea and sangria? Planning a city break? Perhaps your job takes you overseas or you regularly attend business meetings in the capital?
Choosing a hotel is often one of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make. We’ll bet you want the best room for a fantastic low price, with access to a host of facilities on-site – not to mention a continental breakfast to start the day off well, right?
Whilst these are all important factors to consider when deciding which hotel to stay at, you also need to think about the security measures in place.
The mere presence of a security guard on the doors can put your mind at ease, knowing that you’ll be in safe hands throughout the duration of your stay. However, having access to a security safe in your hotel room will allow you to store any valuable items that you don’t intend on carrying around with you – but equally don’t want to leave on show.
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of using hotel safes.
The benefits of having a hotel safe in your room
· You don’t have to take your belongings everywhere with you
Whether it be the beach, an excursion, local supermarket or conference room, having access to a safe in your hotel room allows you to secure the items that you don’t necessarily need at the time.
Instead of carrying a wad of cash around, you can lock some of it away inside the safe. And you needn’t worry about having to take your expensive gadgets wherever you go, preventing them from being stolen or damaged.
· You can keep important items together
There’s nothing worse than arriving at the airport or train station only to realise that you can’t find your passport, boarding pass or train ticket.
Having a safe in your hotel room will help you to organise your belongings – keeping your itinerary and any other important documents in one place – ready for when you need them. This not only saves you the hassle of having to find a hiding place for your valuables but also reduces the risk of them going missing.
· They offer flexibility
Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of a hotel safe is the fact you can add and remove items whenever you like. You won’t need to join a queue at reception and ask a member of staff to retrieve your belongings.
To put something in the safe or to take something out, you need to enter the code and open the safe door. It’s as simple as that.
Why hotel safes aren’t always secure
· They’re easy to access
Usually, the hospitality staff at a hotel will have a master key that allows them to gain access to every room – as well as the safe.
Even if you have chosen your own numerical combination for the safe, it doesn’t mean that employees at the hotel won’t be able to open up the safe and see what’s inside. They’ll probably have a master code that grants them access.
· They can be opened on command
If you happen to forget the code or the safe door isn’t opening after you’ve tried countless times, inform the front desk and they should be able to open it using a master key or code.
Ideally, the staff at reception should ask to see some ID before they send a technician to help open the safe. If they don’t, they could hand over the contents of the safe to the wrong person.
· There are multiple modes of entry
Though it depends on the specific model of safe used in the hotel room, hotel managers are likely to have more than one master key system – in case the key holder is off.
The harsh reality is, anyone who has an access card, key or override code can open any safe in the hotel, which is especially concerning if they end up in the wrong hands.
Will your valuables be secure in a hotel safe?
Many guests take a risk and store their valuable possessions in a hotel safe. However, there are a few basic security measures hotel managers can implement to maximise security.
For example, they should make sure the safe is installed professionally using the appropriate bolts. It’s also a good idea to change the override code regularly and, when entering the code on the keypad, staff should do so secretly.
To find out more about hotel safes, or to invest in a top-quality security safe, visit eSafes today.
