Laos forum

I carried a large amount of US$ with me , no problem. Just keep it out of sight when you can.
I never saw a place that offered a safe.

Thanks Somtam and Tsargood,

So most flashpacker guesthouses would have somewhere at reception you can leave your money (I don't really need an in room safe)?

My husbands concern is if we go swimming etc, where does one leave the money (I've seen some waterproof money holders but they are very small).

Thanks
julie

Hi Julie,

Yes most (though not all) will have some sort of facility to leave your valuables behind the desk. They often store it in envelopes and you sign across a seal so that you can tell if the envelope has been opened. These are normally then tossed in a lock drawer or something like that -- so I wouldn't leave the crown jewels there, but other valuables should be ok.

With swimming, I've also been one to take as little as possible to the beach -- ie I don't expect to need to use my credit card and passport to buy a beer and ice-cream -- and what I do take I just toss under my towel, and keep an eye on the stuff from the water. Bear in mind it is unusual for beaches to be AS crowded as beaches in say the States or Europe, so it is generally not too difficult to leave your stuff somewhere where it is easy to see from the water.

I used to bury my stuff under the sand, but on more than one occasion I really struggled to find it again!

Hope that helps!

Marian congrats and thanks for 100 posts -- I'll shout you a beer in Bangkok!

Ha - cartographer - I didn't even notice that.

I think perhaps after 1,000 posts the title should be "Newly unemployed" -- anyone who has the time to make 1,000 posts obviously isn't giving their day-job the attention they should be.

Am heading to Bangkok early November 3rd or 4th I think -- baby due Dec 8 but early Nov is the latest any airline will let my rapidly rounding other half get a flight. Will be in Bkk till January as we have to wait for the Oz embassy to convince themselves the bub is Australian.