A stay in a hotel is intended to be a restful experience, and the security of your valuables shouldn’t keep you awake at night. Keeping necessary documentation to hand is essential but it can attract the wrong kind of attention. For this very purpose, a key safeor electronic locker safe is now a standard feature of many hotel rooms, which allow guests to secure valuable items and retrieve them on departure. Here are 5 benefits to using hotel safes.
1. Your Own Combination
Sensible travellers will use a safe to reduce the risk of losing an item during the course of their trip. Most modern hotel safes allow guests to formulate their own access code via an electronic keypad. These have largely replaced older models that used a cylinder lock and a key, the advantage is that there is no key to lose and the locker is usually located in a secluded location. It is advisable to check the safe before leaving the room for the final time. The safe can be unlocked centrally by reception in the event of a guest forgetting their code – so it is best to use a memorable sequence, such as a significant date.
2. Insurance Compliance
Your insurance policy may not cover items that are not secured in a room safe, or held by reception. It is best to check the details of your policy as the theft of documents and other items will spoil a holiday, and finding out you are not insured can ruin it. It is easy to overlook an item and then realise later that it is missing, so the use of the safe can be vital in checking that you have everything with you at the end of the day.
3. Helping you organise your day
The lack of a physical key can be an advantage as they are prone to falling out of clothes when participating in physical activities or swimming. The trick is deciding what to keep with you – some items will have to be retained at all times, such as credit cards and money, but some items will only be required when needed, such as passports, insurance documents and driving licences. Keeping all of your money with you at all times is never a good idea – only take as much as you need, unless you are off to the Casino!
4. Protecting delicate goods
Testing certifications for safes are some of the most rigorous for any item. They are tested for heat and flame resistance, vulnerability to tools, dropped from a height of 15-30 feet, and blown up with explosives. As travellers now often take laptop computers and digital cameras, these will be far better protected in a safe than left outside, as they are vulnerable to dust and moisture.
5. Avoiding Bureaucracy
Not using the safe properly can lead tounforeseen delays when trying to leave the country due to waiting for replacement documents. This can disrupt travellers’ flight schedules, or if they are part of a group, potentially delay the whole group itinerary. Embassy staff are used to receiving unorthodox requests at odd times but nobody appreciates being woken up to issue a temporary passport at 3 o’clock in the morning.
This article was written on behalf of Traka, leaders in sophisticated Electronic Security Systems. Visit their website for more information on access control and electronic locker systems.