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This question might be hard to answer since I haven't yet decided on which hotel to stay at, but in general, how big and secure are the room safes? Are the safes big enough to fit a laptop? Should I be worried about hotel staff stealing from the safe?

Most are to small for a laptop (mine is 13"). I think they Might hold an iPad or other tablet.

I think we should have a sticky on how to set and reset the room safes.

The room safes at the Hotel Castillo will not accommodate a regular size laptop [nor, most likely, a smaller laptop]. The safes are key-locked and are bolted to the floor. That being said.....I always take my laptop with me, and always leave it on the small desk in the room. I have never had a problem of any kind concerning theft at the Castillo. No doubt, the same could be said for most of the other popular hotels in the gulch.

Same can be said for SL. No worries about leaving your laptop out and no, they won't fit in the safe.

Cameras and phones are the most magical items. They tend to disappear when left unattended.

_________________
"Your love gives me such a thrill
but your love don't pay my bills,
I NEED THE MONEY!" - John Lee Hooker

Disclaimer: The above is merely the opinion of the author unless specific scientific data is included.
Your mileage may vary. https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewto ... 978#206978

The HLH has standard-sized room safes (big enough for a netbook computer). They are keyed and with a pad to set combinations. The staff is honest but they can't steal what you keep locked up.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

The Morazan has small keyed safes bolted inside the wardrobe cabinet just big enough to store wallet, passport, watches and medication. My information may be dated, but I believe there is a $2 or $3 per day fee.

I think laptops 14" (widescreen) and under will fit in the standard digital-lock safes, as I remember one or two times I put my 14" in one of them.

As of just a few days ago, your info re the size of the safes is correct - currently, there is a $3/day charge to use one (don't know why this charge is not just included in the room cost; while they may not be large enough to hold a laptop, necessary for cash, passport, etc).

Hotel La Amistad is secure as secure can be: There is an electronic room safe (prolly won't hold a laptop) and I do use the thing....mostly for my medicine (as we age we require medicine....the younger CRT throng know not what I refer to ....)....although I also keep the passport and most of my currency in the safe. HOWEVER: I have left everything else out and in the open for over 13 stays and nothing is ever missing. Nothing.

The staff isn't who a guy wants to focus on....it's the visitors to your room....and that includes fellow CRT "good fellahs". *shrug*

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

Hmmm, if i had anything bigger than what can fit in a safe, I would put the items in my luggage and lock it up with with a safety lock. For more security, you can take a bag that has a combination key on the bag and lock it up again with the safety lock.

If you can't catch someone stealing your bag as they are departing, then I don't know what to say. I highly doubt the hotel staff would steal your bag either.