Hotel safes are WAY too vulnerable (do this instead)

Hello from Jakarta, Indonesia! In a previous video, I shared why I don't use hotel safes for my most important items (i.e. my passport & cash) and in this video, I share, in a hotel I'm staying at now, the PROOF that hotel safes are a joke... and what I do instead).
If you want to go down a rabbithole of educational entertainment, be sure to check out the Lock Picking Lawyer here on KZbin: / lockpickinglawyer
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TIMELINE + LINKS
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Some of the links below are affiliate links. For example, as an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you!
0:00 - Intro
Travel Passport Wallet: 🔗 Bellroy Travel Wallet on Amazon: amzn.to/3IozOMa
0:24 - Hotel Room Safe: Expectation
0:48 - REALITY of Hotel Safes
1:04 - Breaking in (easily) lol
1:38 - What I Use Instead
2:14 - Real Life Result
2:34 - The Whole Point...
3:13 - Are YOU Ready for Travel?
The One-Bag Travel Backpack I use: 🔗 Pakt Travel Backpack: shrsl.com/3ugyu
Compliant with all international and domestic carry-on size restrictions.
I said it in a previous video but I want to be perfectly clear. I am a firm believer that most humans on earth are good - and that includes hotel employees.
For me, I'm just about mitigating unnecessary risk, and IF you happen to be very-rarely targeted by a very-rare bad hotel employee or anyone else that gains access to your hotel room, chances are, the hotel room safe is the first place they'd look (especially if they know the safe's superuser code-breaking system).
The chances of being targeted in any hotel you stay at have got to be less than 1%. But for me, knowing that in the super rare event my hotel room is targeted, the time it would take to rifle through every conceivable hiding spot AFTER failing to find anything of value in the hotel room safe just enables me to TRULY enjoy myself exploring when I'm away from the hotel.
#Travel #TravelHack #Safety
Want to connect more?
Instagram: @mauricemoves / mauricemoves
Let's Get It Together!
DISCLAIMERS:
Some of the links above have an affiliate code, if you purchase gear with these links I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Unless explicitly stated, this video was not paid for by outside persons or companies. This means that the content of this video and my opinions are 100% my own, and were not vetted or paid for by any third party.

[@hjewkes]

SLPT: Alternatively, enter super user mode and change the super user password. Now its your safe

[@thebaker8637]

All electronic security containers will have a key backup in case the battery fails, especially in a hotel. The keyway is usually hidden under the plate with the safe’s name on it and the keys used to secure these “safes” are ridiculously vulnerable and usually keyed alike. So it’s likely hotel room staff that know the supervisor code will also have the master key.

[@kal911.1]

I am the captain now 😂

[@edbennett8461]

Thank you for this information. For some reason my code was changed in my hotel. I could not believe that I forgot my password. My hotel charges 100 dollars to open the safe if a guest forgets his or her password. In order to avoid this charge, I searched youtube and found your video. Your steps helped me open the hotel safe with no problem. According to a TV news report, 60 percent of these hotel safe thefts are caused by the hotel employees.

[@RafaRodriguezOfficial]

Another trick: hang the do not disturb sign when you leave the room. Everyone will assume you're napping inside

[@Walaby50]

So many hotels still will clean your room. Had to complain many times in my life already about that…

[@defaultworkouts]

not true. I had maids come in many times at diff. hotels even with the sign. they are THIEVES. watch your back.

[@muanjoca]

Leave the TV on as well

[@moefritz9568]

Just leave the wife in there, works great.

[@hilalrefaiehhilal.designs3795]

The don't care, they just barge in, they just go in, why? because most cleaning teams finish at 4 ( for example ) and they have to clean everything before they hop on to other jobs elsewhere

[@cherylchoudhary1552]

Two things: if you are afraid you will forget your passport when you leave, whether in the safe or in another spot, set an alarm on your phone. Second, hotel employees are usually not stealing things, but when the rooms are open for cleaning, they aren't checking IDs for anyone that comes back to the room. That is a bigger threat to your belongings. Love the safe demo! Now everyone is going to be recoding safes! 🤣

[@carterhayes4624]

Excellent thinking outside the box! I just did two weeks in Thailand and came up with another effective technique, I opted to keep my stack of cash hidden inside the room safe. I did it by using magnets to securely hold the cash to the inside top of the box, when you slide it all the way up against the front it's virtually impossible to see, especially if the safe is mounted at waist level. I left a couple hundred dollars in small bills in the safe in plain sight as a decoy but the main stash was totally hidden from staff and lady visitors while still being easily accessible to me. I was also thinking about mounting a hidden spy camera aimed at the safe to capture a thief in action

[@ropro9817]

Great tip on the room safe! Did not know that! However, with the curtain crease hiding spot, tbh, I'd be too worried about leaving my passport behind when I checked out. 😆

[@fjorddenierbear4832]

Or what about the unlikely, yet not impossible scenario that an employee enters the room to replace old curtains, and then they end up throwing away curtains + your passport? My preference is to hide stuff in a spot that is inaccessible unless someone makes special effort - such as standing on a chair or even ladder to access a spot near the ceiling.

[@moderndroneman]

The safe works in so much as travel insurance usually only covers items left in the room in your hotel safe. If you stash your iPad somewhere you think is clever and it gets stolen then tough luck claiming for it. If it gets stolen from the locked safe then it’s an easy claim.

[@KristofferYiFredriksson]

Great tip, thanks for sharing. Safe travels.

[@dawnmcelligott1334]

Holy wow! Thank you for the information, next time I fly out of country, I will definitely rethink the safe….

[@sydnehan477]

Love your channel and incredibly insightful travel/efficiency tips! Could you talk about good travel insurance and esims sellers (if you know of any) for Malaysia, Singapore and Japan? I know you've been to all those countries multiple times and I'm a first-timer for the first two. I'd really appreciate this and any other advice/tips you might have about travel to those countries/SEA for first-timers!

[@loridoyle3591]

I get the comments about now those few bad actors know where to look, but I appreciate this so much! I didn’t know how easy it was to break into those mini safes, so I’ll be looking around the room for an equally hidden place for those few valuables i might be leaving in my room. Thanks again for a great video!

[@chinaman1]

I still use hotel room safes. But I always take a video and/or photo of all the items I have placed in the safe. In the event that someone decides to open up my safe and take my things. I will have actual proof that I have things in there.

[@zaphod2]

Thank you very much, you saved me a lot of time

[@MH_6160]

that clip idea is amazing.

[@JohnW118]

Brilliant idea, still a viable place to use. HOWEVER, I never ever leave my passport behind, ever. And some extra local cash (a significant amount). In any foreign country encounters with police are always a possibility (hopefully remote) without those two items a person is sunk.

[@sameeralazawee7524]

Very good >>>>>> Thank you

[@corinardh8635]

Wow. Thx fir info

[@spawsh498]

Great! But knowing myself I would probobly forget that I even have a passport or where I hid it

[@edwardfletcher7790]

It's super important, thank you for exposing this !!

[@kanadiankorner]

The safe info is absolutely wild. Yikes! I've often wondered about what KZbinrs do to safeguard valuables. A whole video about this would be amazing (not sure if you've previously posted something comprehensive). What about laptops and camera gear? Any tips for securing those valuables? Feels almost impossible in some respect.

[@OldeGuarde]

I think Pelican cases work well for that. Or just place it in your luggage and lock it with your own lock. For additional security, you can throw an air tag/smart tag in there. So if someone were to steal your luggage, you can track it.

[@davidkay1386]

Super smart move.

[@alexanderpedersen1401]

Good trick!

[@jouwenlee7829]

Thanks for the hack code! 😂 Same here, never trust the hotel safe. In fact, I bring my passport and credit cards, cash with me at all time. One never know if SHTF, would one still have time/resources to go back to hotel to retrieve the passport, especially when need to leave that country ASAP. Thanks

[@PMichaels]

Awesome info and trick! I just checked my hotel curtain and found a passport there… 😮 The name says “Jason Bourne.” Is he a friend of yours? 🤔 Great video!

[@doel_the_daring]

Yo I wanna see a video of you showing your 5 panel hat collection 🙌

[@petermarin]

You should really really make a video about best carry on luggage!

[@Walaby50]

I love the idea of hiding the passport, but i would probably forget it when leaving 😂

[@bigbrowntau]

The other option is leaving a dummy wallet in the safe. An old used wallet with a few dollars, fake cards etc.

[@antonsozy9626]

How about updating of super code? Then when you leave you will change it back to default.

[@drofwarcnwahs2108]

Security by obscurity. Well used approach for everything from physical security to cybersecurity. Far less useful for the latter. Just remember that it is only good for criminals doing a quick superficial search but for the most part this is perfectly fine.

[@WasabiKu]

How about asking the hotel manager to change the super user details if they're default - then if anything happens you'll both know only compromise would be from them in the senior management - heck they might even thank you and reward you for pointing it out to them

[@cionm7077]

Maybe in a first world country and good rated hotel...Doubt management is going to bother and most likely will tell you they will change it after you leave.

[@JessieS]

That's some James bond shit right there 👍

[@ploverlittle532]

What if you are hiding something heavier and bulkier

[@KevDaPirate]

make more videos like this

[@hvmz]

mantap bang

[@DCuerpoJr]

Agreed. Never trust the hotel safe. Think about it. Hotel cleaning staff have to reset the safes after every time a guest checks out. So they all know the super codes. I worked at a hotel when I was in college and can confirm that we were taught how to access and reset safes (along with how to open a dead-bolted door from the outside) because sometimes guests forgot their stuff when they checked out. So we'd have to open the safe and mail their stuff back to them if they've already left on their flight.

[@scott1572]

You are probably correct on most of this but the safe is left open. Why would it need reset? The number remains only until it is unlocked

[@DCuerpoJr]

@@scott1572 Because the staff don't know if the previous guest set a code for the safe and never used it. Plus, not all hotel safes reset after unlocking and opening it.

[@BenWeeks]

You could booby trap the clip by installing a tiny spy cam across the room. If the wallet is taken and an employee took it-you then have proof and they can be fired by management. (Assuming that is, that management is not working with the thief and already getting a cut.)

[@juanvillanueva2848]

Wow

[@Bob-cares]

U r saving lives

[@Kingjay814]

I don't think I've ever left a hotel without my documentation on my person. I kind of rely on safes for valuable yet replaceable items, my camera, Nintendo switch, etc.

[@carterhayes4624]

I think your passport may be visible from the outside of the sliding doors or window though

[@veggiecations]

now they will be checking the curtains to find our valuables...

[@pavelow36]

If you follow some OSINT podcasts, one suggestion is to have a printed sign that says "Recording On Going" and put that on your bed in good view. If you have a hidden cam (so cheap to buy online) you can actually have one in there recording any movement. I travel a lot and I haven't done that suggestion yet. What I do instead is if I'm going to a dinner and I don't want to carry my laptop with me, I leave it on the front desk of the hotel. They have a safe there and you will get a claim stub for it so you can get it when you get back. For passports, wallets - I just bring it with me always.

[@WingMan1964]

There has never been a time when I felt the need to leave my wallet and or passport in the room. Those items are always on my person when I leave the room.

[@BenJoeMarkland]

Just don't get mugged or your bag stolen, then you can't get home. I keep paper copies with me; the rest stays hidden in the hotel.

[@carterhayes4624]

You never stayed at a hotel with a pool or worked out in a gym? I opted to also get the passport card when I renewed mine, that was a positive decision, small enough to carry in my wallet and useful for currency exchange I.D. purposes or anything else that may come up, also waterproof

[@VEVOJavier]

I always leave my passport in my room whenever possible. The risk of losing it while out and about in the city is infinitely higher than leaving it at your hotel with cameras recording everyone coming in and out.

[@JasonBagley]

Taking your passport with you everywhere you go is a BIG NO. It's the LEAST valuable thing to steal from your hotel room and the MOST valuable item you can lose if you're out and about.

[@razrxt898]

THE BEST SOLUTION would be to get Security to come up to the room and let you change the superuser and CC codes until you check out.

[@Oto_Travel]

So how did you get this super user code? And now the whole world knows it.

[@ivan.457]

Holy shait if that is the case in most hotels then that is so wrong!!!

[@scarlettfrancesca]

While that might be a decent idea for a wallet, what do you do about jewelry or other items that you want to keep safe? It would be nice to actually feel confident leaving things in a hotel room and not think that everything is going to get stolen.

[@thatanimepfpguy]

Use a portable safe with a steel cable and fasten it around the pipe under the sink

[@jackeddemon]

If they make a carbon fiber or titanium paper clip, I’ll edc one

[@user-rm7ul1we1m]

How about under the bed ?

[@robertwilliamson922]

Well……now everybody who searches on KZbin knows the curtain trick.

[@wilcoxtactical3716]

Just bring a lockbox in your luggage thats locked to your suitcase.

[@robertwilliamson922]

No….I travel one small bag, carry on only. 21 litre bag with a three litre crossbody sling. I don’t being lots of luggage and a lockbox when I fly in the world. Never check bags. My bag always stays with me.

[@MikeHoncho884]

That’s a clever spot for your stash! There are so many other clever spots!!! I would never put anything in a room safe! Besides the decoy! All the old credit card gift cards and put them into a fake minimalist wallet. I carry that in my pocket while I’m out and about on vacation. Always put it in your right rear pocket. That way if you get robbed you reach and give them a couple dollars with all your fake credit cards I usually throw a few massage parlor business cards in with the credit cards. Maybe a couple Las Vegas prostitutes business cards. Lol What of my favorite spots is if there’s a boxspring under the mattress I’ll peel back some of the black material on the bottom and reach up inside and clip a wallet or whatever I’m hiding up inside the boxspring, and then reseal up the boxspring. But make sure they’re not changing out mattresses for new ones!!! lol Another thing you can do is peel back some carpet or unzip a cushion on a couch or chair and put whatever you’re stashing on the backside of a cushion and zip it back shut. Another thing you can do is bring good quality painters, tape in your luggage and tape, a manila envelope under a table or under a drawer or against the back of a drawer if the drawers removable take it out, tape your package to the back of the drawer make sure the drawer shuts all the way make sure the tape is not visible. Under the bathroom sink inside the top of the safe, but be sure to leave a little dummy cash and an old watch that doesn’t work. They’re going to be in a hurry to get in and out of your room. They won’t notice fake stuff. They think they’ve got a good stack of cash, and it could be photocopies. The biggest thing is to secure yourself in the room too so no one can come in and take you by surprise while you’re sleeping . Put a small towel swinging door lock after you lock it. That way all the sliding space is up with towel material. They will only be able to get the door open just a sliver they won’t be able to do the rubber band trick to bypass secondary door lock, you know the one with the swivel that hooks onto the little ball . They make some really nice locks they’re available on Amazon. You put a metal plate into the striker plate and use a device to block the door shut and it’s easily removed in case of emergency. The wingnut ones worked really really well but don’t forget to bring two one for the connecting room door.

[@JazzLowrider]

I have a better idea, my passport and credit cards stay in my pocket all the time when im sleeping, under my pillow, that's it no safe no blinds no BS

[@Rolex_Sir__]

Hotel staff’s watching this vedio : hmmm interesting

[@AnthonyCATan]

thanks to you now everyone know how to crack a hotel safe .... hahahha ... you're still advised to put your valuable belongings in the hotel safe though because the hotel have an insurance on it and will cover theft ...

[@morewings]

Instead of playing pirate and treasure chest, you could just leave your docs at hotel reception safe.

[@qiaraazzahrah1826]

I know this hotel HAHHAA😂

[@BisnesPyry]

Seems like the easiest way to forget your stuff to the hotel room

[@yehi3456]

What reasons would you not bring your passport or wallet with you while traveling

[@lukem2889]

Personally I never bring my passport out day to day. Too much chance of losing it, dropping it, or having it stolen somehow. That's my way home, so it's always kept somewhere safe. I'll keep a photocopy on me or in a bag if it's needed, that coupled with another piece of ID (like international driving permit) is typically all you should need on a day abroad.

[@robertwilliamson922]

@@lukem2889. I keep mine in a front zipper pocket on my cargo zip off pants. Never lost my wallet or passport even in many months of travel in south Asia. Never carry your wallet or passport in a back open pocket. Front pocket with zipper or heavy duty Velcro closure.

[@jamesthestickman9535]

what if you foget your wallet

[@dustsky]

And just like that, the thieves out there enriched their knowledge database. Cool tricks, though! TY!

[@summoner2100]

yes, that works all very well until you forget that you put your important passport in the curtain when you leave

[@ironwolph]

This is kind of bad advice because then you Are risking leaving your passport behind when you change hotel rooms? You should clip it to your dirty clothes or something

[@davidrobertnewman]

The clip didn’t hold my 16” MacBook Pro to the curtain. Now the thief can steal a broken MPB. :-P

[@jennifermcmillan2588]

Dude you’re just showing ppl where to look …

[@kevinowen7388]

Smart bloke. should consider a career in detective work 👍😎