We don't recommend leaving expensive tennis shoes at night on the beach and then going for a walk...haha. This was the only time we have had anything taken and my husband's toes were a little cold when we returned home to snow and he was in sandals. Unless, you count the times that I have put stuff out to save chairs too early. Then you have to go to the front desk and ask for your stuff back. It seems 6 am is the safe time over the last few years to do this. AND if you leave items by the pool at night....lost a few cups last year, sunscreen--they sometimes end up at the front desk but again as stated by others--that was my fault. Seems like last year, I left something each night at the end of our day by the pool.:beer4: surely it wasn't because I was drinking all day??? My suggestion is after you use something put it back in your "bag" so all your stuff makes it back to your room at the end of the day.
RE DSLR, s last year a got a canon G12 ( for traveling) ,, it is an awesome compromise and continues to surprise me with awesome shots.
She only brings inexpensive jewelry, and we both bought cheap (think walmart) versions of our wedding rings. We leave the real ones at home.
Like most people have mentioned, bring only a $100 camera that you won't mind loosing or getting broken. Suggest buying a water resistant camera and a couple memory cards to store photos on. After a day of taking pics I always removed my memory card and stored it in a different place than the camera. If the camera is gone I always have the pics to prove that we met great people and had a great time
Unless you are planning on taking the camera with you on excursions, you may want to leave the SLR at home in favor of a shockproof/waterproof mini camera, instead. Laptops usually won't fit into the safe, either. Is he planning on working, or writing or something? Never noted anyone complaining about theft from their room at TTR, it has seemed markedly absent.
great idea! I'm always loosing my camera, but if I took a few mem cards, it might save me some heart ache!
I had cheap faux wedding ring on for all of 4 days before pool water turned it green, so if you are taking costume jewellery, be careful how cheap you go!
For those curious on bringing DSLR kits to TTR I can speak as someone who did. My wife and I went to Mexico originally as our first ever "out of country vacation". I didn't know if we'd ever be back so I brought my DSLR kit since I knew we'd be hitting Chitchen Itza, Xel-Ha, and have a chance at some great tropical photography. I carried the entire kit (body, flash, 3 lenses, batteries, etc) as my carry-on bag so it would not be lost or "gently loaded" (aka: smashed to bits in transit). The camera never came out on the beach during peak hours out of respect for the others at the resort, and definitely never hit the sexy pool during events. I kept it inside the safe, the body with a 18-105mm tele lens fit perfectly fine inside the safe with room for our watches, passports, cash, and other valuables. Not even 1 peso went missing from our room, let alone the safe. In fact we left a tip laying out for the maid but I guess I didn't write a specific note saying take it because she even left it on the bed after making it. All things considered, if you plan on staying ON the resort for the whole trip there's not a huge reason to bring a DSLR unless you are into taking evening\morning achitecture shots of the resort for fun. I took the one below last time we went while walking off the afternoons hangover, I plan on bringing the DSLR again for some JetSki action shots.
I would pass on bringing a nice camera, and go for a waterproof one. I ditched the laptop as it won't fit in the safe, but do bring my iPad. I have left it on the charger in the room while we are gone and not had any problems. The safe is standard hotel room sized, and a great place for passports, cash, phones, etc.
Never dropped it overboard, but do have some great shots of fish from the cruise, also didn't have to worry about it when falling over. Waterproof/shockproof is the only way to go.
