Phuket

maxcherry · #1 10-12-2004, 20:54

I found this snippet of info below:

Don't keep your valuables in a hotel safe deposit box.
This is a thought one.
Some safe deposit boxes are the most unsafe places for safekeeping,
the reason is that not all staff really care for their guests.
Entrust your valuables only to respectable hotels,
which you have to decide by yourself.

It is on this page http://www.phuket-info.com/dodont.htm

About to do my first trip and I am gobsmacked about this especially since I just changed a load of Euro into Baht?

tintin · #2 10-12-2004, 21:17

OOOh yes this is true! There are gangs, who are organising strange things in some hotels!

They watch what you put in the safe! When you did not return it after a trip, they try to break into your oom, and steal it! They watch you sometimes for a few days!

Other thing, you are trekking for a few days! You creditcard is save!!!!

The personel of the hotel knows when you come back. They take your creditcard go shopping with it!!! And in time....they put it back! So no complaint or anything!!! Nice don't you think so! You come home and you cannot hold de cc-company for responsable, because the card was never reported stolen!

gregor200 · #3 10-12-2004, 21:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxcherry

I found this snippet of info below:

Don't keep your valuables in a hotel safe deposit box.
This is a thought one.
Some safe deposit boxes are the most unsafe places for safekeeping,
the reason is that not all staff really care for their guests.
Entrust your valuables only to respectable hotels,
which you have to decide by yourself.

It is on this page http://www.phuket-info.com/dodont.htm

About to do my first trip and I am gobsmacked about this especially since I just changed a load of Euro into Baht?

I allways put my passport and ticket into the safe. - and my money somewhere into my big bag, between clothes. If they see the safe locked, they don´t look around in the room.

I have a lot of things like camcorder, digital camera, notebook around in the room, but had never problems with it. Hotel staff and bar girls can be trusted, but be careful of ladymen. They are often in need of quick money. Don´t take them to your room.

aussie dollar · #4 11-12-2004, 02:25

what about safe at front desk not in room
guess not safe either ?

aussie dollar · #5 11-12-2004, 02:54

reckon your right i havent had any problem
and safer in the safe than in my back pocket or backpack
get plastered and could loose them.

Jaws · #6 11-12-2004, 04:28

Been there a dozen times or more an never had anything stolen either by BG's or hotel staff from my room or the safe.( as for tintins comments about the cc I find that very hard to believe. )

JayBee · #7 11-12-2004, 05:22

I have never had a problem in this regard, wither with safes or things in my room. At a big hotel, I think the safe may be better, because the employees come and go and may not be well known to the managers. In the small places, usually the staff is very well known to the owner and if there is someone who is not honest, then they would soon know about it, and get rid of them, and it unlikely they would hire someone who wasn't well-recommended to them in the first place.

Many BGs and FLs may not be honest when it comes to how old they are, how long they've been in the business, whether they have other boyfriends and most of all, whether they "love you long ti-i-ime," but they are not thieves. There is a big difference between lying and stealing.

So, while most of us never had a problem, things do happen to someone, and someday it could be you. You have to keep your wits about you, and in each situation, be aware of the "vibes" in your surroundings, and make the best decisions you can, based on what seems like good common sense.

JayBee

Mac · #8 11-12-2004, 05:56

I have never ever had a problem in Thailand - exactly the opposite. As I may have reported in another post I got myself a little bit super maow in the Tiger complex and lost my P800 Mobile phone. It must have fallen out of my pocket. The next day I was walking along the Beach Road and a TG I did not know came out of nowhere and handed it to me. It had not been used - before you ask!

I think that apart from very occasional bad apples the main likely culprits for theft are the more down at heel foreigners who roam the beach. They can be identified by their deep tan and constant smile! Nevertheless if you consider that the average Thai wage is around THB 6,000 per week then leaving THB 30,000 lying about in the form of a Video or Digital Camera is tempting to anyone.

Mac

LivinLOS · #9 11-12-2004, 11:11

Low season.. When money is tight, thats when things get rougher..

Lots of stolen mobile phones.. Drugged drinks and knockout drops.. stuff like that..

Dont be fooled into thinking its all a wonderland, I dont know a single long termer that has not lost a phone to a pickpocket or room thief at one point or another. In the last month or so I personally have lost 1 digi cam and 1 expensive mobile. Not bitter about it, my fault for being to drunk to watch my stuff.

geespot · #10 11-12-2004, 12:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Low season.. When money is tight, thats when things get rougher..

Lots of stolen mobile phones.. Drugged drinks and knockout drops.. stuff like that..

Dont be fooled into thinking its all a wonderland, I dont know a single long termer that has not lost a phone to a pickpocket or room thief at one point or another. In the last month or so I personally have lost 1 digi cam and 1 expensive mobile. Not bitter about it, my fault for being to drunk to watch my stuff.

It happens, same the world over..................... LOS is not an exception, only difference you get robbed with a smile

That said most Thais are good law abiding citizens (not I diddnt say honest!!!)

G

tintin · #11 11-12-2004, 12:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaws

Been there a dozen times or more an never had anything stolen either by BG's or hotel staff from my room or the safe.( as for tintins comments about the cc I find that very hard to believe. )

Well find it hard to believe, but be warned! I have travelled to many countries, in Asia, Africa Australia.... Never I had anything stolen!

Except in...LOS!!!

1. my virginity (kidding!!)
2. my case with my money and cc and passport IN the hotel-room while sleeping, in Chiang Mai.
3. My camera while it was loading, just for one hour with the chip of 250 pictures in it at the end of my trip.
4. The motorbike I rented at the beach at Kamala! Costed me 25.000 Bath to the renter!

The n I don't talk about the scams they try to put on you etc! People are all so nice, you think it will not happen to you but be aware!!!

stevem · #12 11-12-2004, 12:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by geespot

It happens, same the world over..................... LOS is not an exception, only difference you get robbed with a smile

That said most Thais are good law abiding citizens (not I diddnt say honest!!!)

G

G, you beat me to it. It seems guys have the impression that you will get robbed, mugged, pick pocketed, drugged and whatever else, once they set foot in Thailand. While yes it does happen, but it also happens everywhere else on this stupid planet we fondly call earth!!!

LivinLOS · #13 11-12-2004, 12:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by tintin

4. The motorbike I rented at the beach at Kamala! Costed me 25.000 Bath to the renter

A not uncommon scam is to make you leave a passport and have paid eyes on the street watching where the bike regularly sits, they have a spare key so.. If you have said "I wish to rent it until XX cause I leave the next day" They know they have you with 0 time to solve the problem.

I was even in the cop shop when a farang was in exactly this setup.. The police were being nice but explaining there really was nothing they could do.. The asked the Thai guy to go and get soemthing, as soon as he left the room the copper said directly to the farang "Look we believe you this is the 4th time he has been here with a 'stolen motorbike' and farang passport in the last few weeks.

To be fair there really was very little the police can do in that situation.. When the guy came back the officer examined the books etc and spotted the claimed 'new bike' which the guy wanted +-50k for was really a couple of years old.. He then bartered the Thai fella to hell (the rentor even got pretty pissed about it so you know if he was getting pissed at the police they were really pushing him) and it got to the officer banging the table and forcing the issue.. The guy had to cough up 20 - 25k IIRC..

Despite a lot of people say about Thai poloce in my few years here I have had more than a couple of run ins.. Some which were even my fault

and every time I have been treated very fairly, politely, even above and beyond the call.. Even times when I was out of order just being given a light warning.. I really do have to say Patongs boys in brown seem very fair, just keep your cool.

LivinLOS · #14 11-12-2004, 12:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevem

G, you beat me to it. It seems guys have the impression that you will get robbed, mugged, pick pocketed, drugged and whatever else, once they set foot in Thailand. While yes it does happen, but it also happens everywhere else on this stupid planet we fondly call earth!!!

Totally agree.. Thailand is much safer than any of Europe or America I have been.. You can walk the streets drunk at 6 AM, etc..

There are a few 'scams' but very little violence (non falang) as long as you keep your cool at all times.. Dont try to force a Thai to back down, loosing face to a farang is not easy for them especially when they know that everyone around will help them.

stevem · #15 11-12-2004, 12:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Despite a lot of people say about Thai poloce in my few years here I have had more than a couple of run ins.. Some which were even my fault

and every time I have been treated very fairly, politely, even above and beyond the call.. Even times when I was out of order just being given a light warning.. I really do have to say Patongs boys in brown seem very fair, just keep your cool.

Having had contact with most of the MIB in Patong and Kathu at some stage, I agree most of them are good guys. Some of them even go out of their way to help with things.

Same goes when dealing with any situation involving Thais, be cool and respectful, and you will come out the other side OK.

tintin · #16 11-12-2004, 13:03

Well mine stolen was not a scam! I rented it from Jeff, the dutch guy I rent the house from. In the contract there was stated 25.000, but a few days later he found the document of his purchase, wich said 23.000, so that is what I payed!!!

He had no other bike, and everewhere else, 40-50.000 bath was clamed if it was lost! So I was still lucky!

LivinLOS · #17 11-12-2004, 13:32

As you just said who it was I would echo that theres no chance of a scam.. Jeff is a stand up guy.

maxcherry · #18 13-12-2004, 15:34

Thanks for all the feedback guys/gals. It was just that I got very concerned when I saw the warning posted on http://www.phuket-info.com.

Nicke · #19 13-12-2004, 16:02

I included that advice beacuse I want people to be aware that safety boxes is not always safe, but in Phuket and at decent hotels there are no known problems. But I have heard of problem elsewhere in Thailand, especially in the North.

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxcherry

Thanks for all the feedback guys/gals. It was just that I got very concerned when I saw the warning posted on http://www.phuket-info.com.

Gringo69 · #20 14-12-2004, 07:23

In all my travels through Asia I have never had a problem using hotel safety boxes...
I have read stories where people have gone away for a day or two on a trek and their credit cards have been used for a shopping spree(they find this out when they get home)...
Then again I guess it would also depend on what accommodation you use...