Hi all,

Well I am FINALLY heading off in just a couple of weeks now for my first serious travelling adventure :mf_gap:

My question is - in hostels where you can't fit your pack into a locker, or they don't have lockers, what do you do with your pack? Is it 'safe' to leave it next to you during the night?
I don't want to get a pacsafe as I know I'll be too lazy to use it, and never use it again after the trip. But I was thinking of some kind of small cable lock to attach my bag to the furniture in the room! Obviously I won't leave valuables unattended in the bag, but stories of people losing their whole pack freak me out!!

Any advice from the more seasoned TP's??

Chels

most peple just use the bike chains lock things and just lock it to the bed or somthin else

not exactly seasoned, but all i hear about is people talking combo locks or, like you said, a bike cable lock thing (dont know what its called exactly...)

Most of the places i went to either had a small locker where you put your lock on and a room where you could keep your big bag. I kept a small lock on my big bag just to keep people from rifling through it but i really was not afraid of it completly disapearing. I kept everything important with me and I never left my daybag anywhere. as for chaining it to the furniture, I cant remember anything that was strong enough to chain it to! :blink2:

How stupid do I feel now - :blush: :doh: - a bike lock - of course! And I already have a cable-type one of those = perfect. So much for thinking outside the square...

Cheers guys :smile:

when you guys say a bike lock, do you mean the usually black "U-Lock" metal type with a key? or those plastic tubes with the chain inside, and the combination lock? cause i can pick one of those combination locks in under a minute :blink: (youth spent poorly :nono: ). i'd say any lock that has a key is a good idea (and maybe take a spare).

:cheers:

i was talkin bout the wirey chain ones... :lol: i know the plastic tube ones with the chain inside ya talkin about.... i also perfected the art of picking them and stealing my mates bike and hiding it (youth spent well)

oh and you can get better qualtiy chain bike lock things just depends how much you want to spend on one dont get the crappy chain in plastic tube ones

Cable lock it and then lock the zippers.

Unless your pack is extremely nice, or your smelly clothes look temping, I wouldn't worry about it. Without a locker, its nearly impossible to deter a determined thief. Even a pair of sissors will bypass the best lock on your pack.

Hostels usually keep your passport for you- if you don't, always carry it around. Otherwise, just be discreet about where your valuables are.

I say just keep all your valuables on you and have a combo lock on the zippers (at least deters the casual thief). Although people stealing your whole pack can happen the probability is rather low.

ev

The main pack with clothes and stuff in it should be fine, the best thing is to get to know everyone in your dorm. Act a bit mad you know crazy, so their a scared of you then they won't dare touch your things. :sly:

Maybe I should stop answering questions when I'm bored at work, I give really bad advice. I was just pure lucky my stuff didn't get nicked. I left my day pack in the bar so many times it's a wonder.

You could stuff a wild ferret in the pack to surprise anyone who opened it..??

Note to self: Before next Joker Misadventure ™, find a wild ferret to stuff into pack. Fuck locking it!


:blink2:

:lol1: :lol: ...wild ferret... :lol: :lol1:
:cheers:

Alot of times you can get a feel for how cautious you need to be. Be discrete and don't flash anything around you don't want people to notice. I never had a problem with my pack in the hostels and was never once tempted to go through someone else's dirty clothes.

I felt bad for the dude at the airport who searched my bag (German customs) 'cause I had a gross wet towel right at the top of it. Bleh. :( lol. Happens when you need to shower and catch your plane like 30 min later. hee hee.

Jenn