5 Things You Should Never Put in a Hotel Room Safe Without Thinking Twice

Hotel room safes offer convenient storage, but they aren’t completely theft-proof and can sometimes malfunction. Travelers should think carefully before locking away irreplaceable valuables, emergency medications, or their only identification and payment methods. Jannissimo/Shutterstock

Hotel room safes seem like the perfect solution for protecting valuables while you’re traveling. You check into your room, enter a four-digit code, and tuck away your passport, jewelry, extra cash, and other important belongings. With everything locked up, you can head to the pool or explore the city without worrying about what you’ve left behind. But just how secure is that little electronic safe inside your hotel closet?

The reality is that hotel room safe security varies significantly depending on the property, the equipment, and how the safe is maintained. While using a room safe is often better than leaving valuables exposed, these devices aren’t necessarily theft-proof, and access problems can create unexpected complications. Before locking away your most important possessions, here are five things worth reconsidering.