panamapal

Do the maids ever steal things from the hotel rooms? I have had food go missing that I was keeping in my hotel room, and I assumed the cleaning lady took it.

Nosfer

they've got little monkeys that steal stuff :P it could be true if you've been to a cheap hotel/motel. but i don't think those great hotels could let any of their employees do that.

PanamaForum.com

It's not usual, but of course it's possible.

I once lost/forgot/had stolen a pretty expensive mp3 player while I was staying at a hotel. But I still don't know what exactly happened to it.

BTW, it's always a good idea to lock away valuable belongings, including your laptop, in your suitcase before leaving your room.

0lgi

Actually this is not happening only in Panama. I have heard terrific stories in Brazil too. Every country has thieves , simply you must find the proper language to speak with them

Lalaguayaba

There will always be theft from hotel rooms as long as there are hotels rooms, and I'm not sure why anyone is surprised. Your hotel room is not inviolate, and several other ppl aside from yourself have keys--if there is a safe provided, use it, if you have to, lock truly expensive items w/the front desk (if you trust that.) That helps to preventsmonkeys, elves, and others with a light touch and access to your room from taking yr stuff.

Cheers.

Nosfer

while i was in Marseille (France) at a hotel... we were supposed to pay for everything that we take from the fridge and somehow, while we were out in a club, a lot of things dissapeared from there and we were supposed to pay for them

Lalaguayaba

Did you remember to read your bill when you checked out? Or did you dispute it? I checked into a hotel once in southern Greece, and found my minibar to be about **½ full--if I hadn't checked it then, they probably would have tried to charge me for it, which would have been a complete bummer to try and dispute in a language I don't speak.

Cheers.

Nosfer

fridge was full with everything... it was a 4 stars hotel... i explained to them when i checked out that somehow things dissapeared from there, and they said that i can't accuse them without having proofs.

coolandhot

That's a shame that they will charge you. Why do you need the proof? Why don't they need the proof?

Lalaguayaba

They need some form of proof that you did NOT drink or eat what was in the minibar--since that is the point of a minibar. Since the maid (or elves, or whatever) ate/drank out of the minibar, the items are obviously missing and YOU take the blame. The mgt. won't take responsibility since there is no proof that a crime was committed.
Got it?

Cheers.

zhinghur

nice info. I didn't know about that. I have been to Panama once, and never had such instance and neither heard about such. It may be in case of small or cheap inns i guess.

nuaeman

Thanks for the info and warnings, I guess I need to be extra careful if I stay there. Maybe I might even lay traps if you guys know what I mean