The Foolproof Way To Remember Everything in Your Hotel Safe

When settling into your hotel room, you might put certain valuables in the safe for added security. But tucking your passport and laptop out of sight comes with its own set of risks — namely, that you could forget about them when packing up at the end of your trip. Even worse, you may not realize it until hours later, when you’re already at the airport. Fortunately, this dreaded scenario is easily avoidable if you take one simple precaution. Here’s a foolproof solution to avoid ever leaving your valuables behind in the hotel safe.

If the Shoe Fits…

The surest way to avoid forgetting items in the hotel safe is as simple as using a pair of shoes. Unless you have a specific reason for traveling with just a single shoe, odds are you’ll have a set of two either on your feet or in your luggage. By placing one shoe inside the safe, you’re creating a visual reminder to find the other shoe when it’s time to pack up at the end of your stay. You can’t leave without packing (or wearing) both shoes, so you’ll be looking for the other shoe inside the safe — alongside all of your precious valuables that you wouldn’t want to leave behind.

If you’d rather not use shoes, or you only brought one pair on your trip, this trick works well with anything that comes in pairs — such as earbud-style headphones, socks, gloves, or earrings. The missing part of the pair should be the reminder you need to check inside the safe before leaving. Another option is to stuff something essential inside the safe that you’d never leave the room without. For instance, you could use prescription eyeglasses or a puffy jacket if you’re visiting a cold-weather destination. 

How To Recover Forgotten Items

If you end up forgetting something inside the hotel safe and are too far away to turn around, don’t assume the items are gone forever. The first thing you should do is call the hotel and speak with someone as soon as possible. (A phone call is better than an email, as emails may not get read as promptly.) Provide as many details as you can, such as the dates of your stay, your room number, and a description of any lost objects. It’s likely the staff will then contact the security and housekeeping teams in an effort to track down your lost items.

If they find your forgotten items, the next question is: How do you get those items back? If it’s something like a passport, you may have no choice but to turn around and go back to the hotel before catching a later flight. But if it’s your laptop, jewelry, or other objects that are less essential to boarding a plane back home, there are a few convenient solutions.

If you’re willing to pay for shipping, some hotels may agree to ship the items back to you through the mail. But if the hotel is unwilling to ship the item back for some reason, try contacting a third-party service such as Deliverback or ileftmystuff. These companies will send someone to the hotel to retrieve your belongings before shipping them back to you for a fee. If you choose to go this route, make sure you coordinate with the hotel beforehand, and let them know that someone is coming by to grab your forgotten items.

Other Helpful Tips

In addition to hotel safes, it’s a good idea to be extra cautious about leaving items in closets, drawers, hanging on the back of the bathroom, or tucked beside the hotel bed. Put visual reminders around the hotel room so you remember your valuables before checking out. For instance, if you’re storing clothes in the closet, either leave the door ajar so that you can see inside, or tie something like a tie or belt around the knob so you remember to check.

Phone and computer chargers are also often left behind, especially if the outlet is tucked out of sight behind the bed or dresser. A good way to avoid this problem is by writing a reminder on the notepad provided in most hotel rooms. Then, place the note either on your bedside table or above where the outlet is located. That way, you’ll see the note while packing up, and you’ll be reminded to snag your charger before departing.

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