Packing Valuables? Avoid These Mistakes in Your Hotel Room

Odds are, you’ve put a lot of time and effort into creating the perfect look for your upcoming perfect vacation, right down to which jewelry goes with which thing. You’ve diligently packed it all, clothing folded neatly in your bag, and valuables stashed away in their own tiny boxes. You’ve put all that thought into each piece before you left the house. Now, it’s time to put that same level of thought into how to safely store it once you arrive at your destination. 

“People tend to underestimate how quickly experienced thieves can identify and target jewelry, especially in busy tourist areas during peak travel season,”Blake Asaad, the founder and creative director of Goodstone, a diamond jewelry provider, shared in a statement provided to Travel + Leisure. “What travelers consider ‘clever’ hiding spots are often the most predictable, making their valuables surprisingly easy to find.”

To help travelers keep their most precious items safe, Asaad and his team shared a list of the places they believe criminals check first when attempting to steal your valuables, along with a few practical storage alternatives that will actually go the distance in securing your rings, watches, passports, or anything else you want to ensure stays in your possession. 

The ‘Safe’ Spots to Avoid

As Asaad noted, experienced thieves don’t waste time “searching randomly through hotel rooms or luggage.” Instead, they know exactly where to go, which includes the following spots.  

Hotel bathroom drawers and bedside tables: You may think keeping things out of sight will keep them safe, however, the Goodstone team explained that these are among the first places thieves check. “Hotel rooms follow standard layouts, so thieves can search them efficiently,” Asaad said. “Bathroom drawers and bedside furniture are universally familiar spots, making them obvious targets.”

Zipped suitcase pockets: Don’t fall into a false sense of security by placing valuable items in a zippered pocket. According to Goodstone, this is a common spot that thieves know to check within seconds of entering your room. 

Front pockets of backpacks: In the same way a zipped suitcase pocket is easy pickings, so too is the front pocket of a backpack. 

Toiletry bags: Like zippered pockets, thieves also know that toiletry bags are a go-to spot. You may think you’re being sneaky tucking items between your face wash and shampoo, but thieves know this trick as well.

Jewelry rolls left on dressers: Why go through the hassle of using a jewelry roll if you’re just going to leave it out in the open anyway? If something is in easy sight, it’s also an easy target. “Anything that looks purpose-built for storing jewelry immediately signals value,” Asaad shared. “Thieves recognize jewelry organizers instantly, especially those with recognizable branding or luxury logos.”

Smarter Storage Spots

Now that you know where not to put your things, it’s time to learn where to store them instead. 

Small, unmarked everyday containers: Storing jewelry in plain containers (think opaque pill boxes and travel-sized vitamin bottles) will help your valuables blend in better with ordinary toiletries. And because thieves want in and out as quickly as possible, they are less likely to investigate every mundane item.

Place items in different locations: As Asaad made clear, never keep all your jewelry together. Separate pieces into multiple locations throughout your luggage and room so that if one spot is discovered, you won’t lose your entire collection. “Distribution significantly reduces risk,” Asaad explained. “Even if thieves find one piece, the rest remain secure elsewhere.”

Hidden pockets in clothing organizers: Rather than using the most obvious pocket in your luggage, look around in your packing cubes or clothing organizers and find a more concealed interior pocket. These built-in compartments usually sit among folded clothes, making them far less obvious, and again, are spots thieves won’t take the time to thoroughly search.

Portable travel safes: Don’t rely on your hotel for having a safe. Instead, invest in a portable safe with steel cables that can be secured to fixed objects in your hotel room to keep your things under lock and key. We’ve rounded up a few for you to try here. 

Bring only the essentials: The most effective way to protect your most treasured items is to simply bring less jewelry on your trip. While packing, assess what you’ll actually wear, and think to yourself, “is it worth the risk to bring this?” If the answer is no, leave it behind. “People often pack jewelry ‘just in case’ but never end up wearing it,” Asaad said. “Traveling with only what you’ll definitely use reduces both risk and worry.” Of course, you can always invest in a good dupe engagement ring. That way, if you lose it, you can easily replace it. 

And, one last critical tip from Asaad: “When you’re out exploring, wearing your jewelry is often safer than leaving it in your hotel room. Thieves target unoccupied rooms during the day when tourists are sightseeing. If you’re wearing your pieces, they stay with you and under your direct control.”