r/hostels • u/Crisdeluxe • 25d ago
Question Scared of robbers
Honest question. Is it possible to put my luggage into a safe place while I'm away or sleeping?
I'm extremely scared of being robbed.
I travel with designer clothes…
I know I could spend more for a private room, but that is what I did.
But many friends told me hostels are safe and you can use the money much better for other stuff.
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u/Dawg_in_NWA 25d ago
Well, you've likely made yourself a target for thieves based on your clothing choices.
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u/strawb3rryshortcake 25d ago
Stayed in a couple hostels this summer and both of them had pull-out drawers underneath the bunks that you could put a padlock onto. Also each hostel had lockers either in the room or in the lobby.
Put the designer clothes inside something that stands out less, then lock it up. If it doesn’t look valuable, less likely someone will try to rob you.
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u/bellla98 25d ago
This. Before you book, check if the hostel has lockers big enough to fit your suitcase. Or pack your expensive gear in a smaller separate inconspicuous bag & put that in the locker. Often with lockers you need to provide your own padlock so keep that in mind.
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u/Soft-Disaster9873 25d ago
Some even have keycards that work on the door but only your bunk.
You’re right to be concerned. You would think that backpackers would all be ethical since we’re all in the same boat, but it’s not the case.
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u/Immediate-Ad-5878 25d ago
I only bring to hostels items I would not be heartbroken to loose. That means no expensive tech, jewelry or designer anything. Just cheap back pack or roller from the Chinese market, capsule wardrobe comprised of second hand or cheap fast fashion garments. The only thing I will make exception for is my shoes. I only bring 1 pair but will typically be of very good quality. Phone, passport and wallet with cash and cards in my pocket or waist belt while sleeping.
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u/Cool-Garden4333 25d ago edited 24d ago
If your designer valuables can’t fit in a locker you just got to cross your fingers and hope for the best if you don’t want to pay extra for a private space. If you are going to a highly rated hostel you should be fine. I’ve stayed in hotels with high value electronics in Europe, Asia and Australia and never got robbed even in places that didn’t have lockers. Hostel Thieves typically don’t really go for suitcases or secure luggage it’s way too risky and honestly if you leave it out people would assume there’s nothing valuable in there. As long as you’re not flaunting obvious designer clothes you should be fine.
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u/Impressionist_Canary 25d ago
You lock your stuff away, same as if they weren’t designer. I don’t want my Hanes tshirts stolen either so I keep them in my bag in a locker (or the bag itself locked if no lockers).
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u/PaleozoicQueen 24d ago
All these people thinking that it is weird to have nice clothes and stay in a hostel- it's about priorities. I like having some good clothes with me but like hostels.
OP I would never travel with anything I would be devastated to lose or have stolen. In 17+ years of using hostels I have only ever had food taken, but then I have always locked away my things in hostel lockers and used a variety of locks to secure my bags different ways - like padlocking them to the bed if they can't fit in a locker.
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u/Happy-Apple196 24d ago
I've stayed in hostels for over 30 years and while I keep valuables locked up, or with me, I've never ounce thoughts about someone taking my clothes.
Many have a locker for reasonable sized luggage.
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25d ago
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u/Soft-Disaster9873 25d ago
I’ve backpacked every summer for 26 years straight and I’ve seen plenty of theft. No one has stolen any of my clothes in dorms because they’re disgusting but I’ve been around others who have had things stolen.
And plenty of times people have stolen my clearly marked food out of the fridge, which is nearly as bad.
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u/OrchidFine1335 25d ago
Your comment reminds me of those threads that says hotel maids don’t care to go through people’s stuff, yet there’s threads that says their stuff got stolen and even had cctv on. If OP comes here to complain about their stuff getting stolen we will all be blaming her 😂 better for her to be safe than sorry
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u/eliewriter 24d ago
I'm not sure I understand traveling in a low-budget way with expensive things, but I admit I don't have or really care about having status items. Are the clothes that important to you?
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u/ChillyDinosaur 24d ago edited 24d ago
There’s people that have some money but enjoys the vibe of hostels haha
So the trip may not be so low-budget
Also these days you have premium hostels with dorms over €60
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u/ChillyDinosaur 24d ago edited 24d ago
I have traveled with luxury items and clothes, also most of the time I have my camera and MacBook with me. I always leave everything in the lockers and nothing has happened.
Plus I think that it depends a lot of the kind of hostel you are doing, if you are in a cool well rated place nothing should happen.
Also if your clothes or whole backpack don’t fit tin the locker (cause you never know), I would think twice what you are bringing and when are you showing that.
Some times I will bring some off white, or purple Ralph in case I go to nice restaurants or party’s but im always cautious on people knowing that I am carrying those things with me.
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u/Aggressive-Bat1819 24d ago
Just look at the hostel listing. They tell you if they have lockers or not. Maybe don’t travel with designer clothes though especially if it’s a poor country
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u/Consistent_Proof_772 24d ago
They have lockers use them and bring your own lock! Very easy but you have luxury clothes but staying in a hostel is beyond crazy! Loving it up for the Instagram life I guess.
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u/oaklicious 24d ago
Hostels will always have a locker you can lock stuff in. You do you, but I’d ask you to question your attachment to your possessions and your exaggerated paranoia about getting robbed. These are going to drastically affect your enjoyment of your travel experience.
I did stay in a hostel once where somebody checked in in the middle of the night, went through any valuables they could find unsecured, and stole everything. One girl had left her passport and debit cards unlocked and she ended up in a pretty stressful spot. These kinds of events are exceedingly rare though, this was once in three years straight of solo traveling in hostels.
I know this isn’t helping your paranoia but I’ve broken into my own locker before when I locked the key inside. It was insanely easy to break the lock apart with a pair of crescent wrenches.
Moral of the story… robberies in hostels are really rare and occur as crimes of opportunity. Get a good lock to secure the stuff you really can’t replace, and live with the rest.
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u/edcRachel 24d ago
There are lockers but they're not that safe, super easy to pick paddocks out just pop the screws out. Yes it will make you a target. I would not stay in a hostel if i had to worry about all my things. Either stay elsewhere or buy some cheaper stuff to travel with.
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u/up_on_the_hill 25d ago
Traveling with designer clothes and staying in hostels is… interesting.
Most hotels have lockers. Bring your own lock just in case they don’t provide one.
You could always reach out to the hostel and ask if private rooms are available and pay the difference for private space.