Where to safeguard cash in Vegas?

[CountDuckula]

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In all seriousness, I wouldn't do the room safe. The maids have infinite time to look through these things (there are usually only 4 digits for the code).

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Interesting. The room safes at the Taj in AC accept a credit card in lieu of the code. You swipe your card to lock it, and it will only open again when you swipe that same card later; it doesn't matter how many 4-digit codes the maid tries, if she doesn't have your card, she doesn't open it. And they're free of charge.

Are you saying Vegas hotels don't have the same kind of safes?

-Mike

[TobDog]

GEt a safe deposit box. Most casinos offer tham. Most of the larger poker rooms offer them too, its like $100 for the key and they give you that back when you return the key upon leaving, or if you need the $100 first and the box is empty, whichever comes first.

[J.A.Sucker]

Traveller's checks are terrible. Typically, banks charge on the order of 5% to issue them. Then you have to cash them in. The casinos will take them (at the cage only, usually), but you either have to spend all of them, or you're left with some when you get back, which either requires a trip to the bank to cash them back in (where they should give you a complementary BJ for that vig that you gave them), or finding some gracious vendor that will cash them, which can be dubious even in a fairly touristy town.

I can't believe that anyone ever uses traveller's checks these days. Especially if you're travelling abroad; just use credit cards for your purchases (they will give you a good exchange rate) and take out the max from the ATM. Again, the exchange rate is fair, and the fees are 3 or 4 bucks on 300, which is much less than the traveler's checks.

For 1K, just take it in cash. It's not a big deal.

[serling]

I've always trusted the room safes. Though I usually store my MP3 player in there rather than the cash.

Traveler's checks are too annoying. However, they'd make for some good touristy deception if you plunk one down for a buy-in at the poker table.

I would go the ATM or NETeller Debit Card (to take care of the max limit problem) route -- the small charges would be worth peace of mind, no?

But really, I've never felt unsafe carrying cash as long as I've stuck to the Strip or Fremont (even at 4 a.m.).

Just when you hit the strip clubs, make sure you separate your 20s from 100s. You can't tell the difference in the dark.

serling

[Ulysses]

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Just when you hit the strip clubs, make sure you separate your 20s from 100s. You can't tell the difference in the dark.


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This is the most useful and important piece of advice in this thread. By far.

[chief444]

I've never had a problem nor have I ever known anyone to have a problem with the room safes. They are free to use anywhere I've stayed. If you're that paranoid just carry it with you. Traveler's checks are safer yet but they are a hassle. You get writer's cramp from signing them all, a 5-10% fee at most banks, and need to take them back if unused. I usually take out at least the amount you're talking about and leave whatever I know I won't need right away in the room safe. It will be fine.

[sucka]

Actually, the time you want to put some money away in the safe is before you hit the strip clubs NOT when you are walking around the strip. Whatever you do - do NOT take your entire roll to the strip joints...

[risen]

Damn, in vegas even the banks have Blackjack tables? Or was that a free pair of Blue Jeans?

[M.B.E.]

Not every Las Vegas hotel has room safes, but of the ones that do most are free. Flamingo charges $3 a day when you use the room safe but that is an exception. J.A. Sucker is being way too paranoid in thinking that the hotel maids are going to guess your four-digit code. Just avoid the really obvious ones (like "1111") and you'll be fine.

Of course you can also get a safety deposit box at the front desk or the casino cage. That's fine, but I find room safes a bit more convenient.

[chief444]

Make that closer to 1% fee for travelers checks. My mistake. Still a fair amount though if your talking about 3k+. And it's more the hassle than the fee, for me anyway.