Hi everyone,
I will be travelling to China, particularly Shanghai and Beijing. However I don't feel very safe leaving my luggage in the cheap hotels or hostels while sightseeing. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to lock it up, what is safe and what isn't? Thanks for any info.
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Firstly, when you are travelling you should ahve good
insurance and never take anything so precious that you
would be heartbroken if it was stolen. Always keep the
obvious things ON YOU like passports and stuff. But as for
clothes and stuff, it really shouldn't be a problem. I had
padlocks on my pack as a deterrent, but generally people
won't want to steal knickers and socks. I didn't have a
single problem in the three months I was there with theft -
but that is not to say it doesn't happen. For convenience,
I would leave it in your room, but just don't leave
anything precious there.
Have locks on all your bags, including the one you carry
around and carry the really important stuff, but do leave a
bit of money and info on credit cards and a photocopy of
the important pages of your passport in one of the bags
left in your room so that if the bag you're carrying is
stolen (highly unlikely but possible), you will be able to
get by. I think this advice applies in any country, not
just China.
I never had any problems with theft and i stayed in fandian
(cheap hotels). I tended to trust lonely planet's
recommendations for places to stay, afterall if things are
stolen from these hotels they will get bad reputations and
business so they protect your things! In family run
establishments you can always ask them to keep your bag in
their rooms and they should oblige, but I really don't think
its necessary. Chill out and enjoy the holiday. If you want
to know where where i stayed just mail me.
...left luggage windows in train and/or bus stations? If
you're moving in and out of town on day or overnight trips,
they might be an option. I'm not sure if there is any
liability clause, implicit or explicit, when leaving bags
but I haven't had any trouble. Also, don't forget to check
the time the windows are open and, of course, the cost,
which usually isn't too bad even for extended periods of
time.
If you can convey the impression you are staying there, posh hotels are a good place. For example book a room, go to left luggage and drop off your stuff, then later cancel the reservation. Works a treat.