On Saturday night, we published a piece about how I had forgotten a wallet inside an in-room safe (read more here) and how I had to fly back to pick it up because couriers in Mexico will not transport this type of item.
Before I picked up the wallet, I wrote the piece, but it was published only after I picked it up in case any “complications” arose.
I had messaged the concierge at the Sheraton Puerto Vallarta that I would land at 9 PM, check in to another hotel, and pick it up at 10 PM. My arrival was delayed by 15 minutes; we Northern Europeans try to be on time and that sometimes causes issues in Latin America where 9 PM may mean 11 PM.
The concierge had the wallet with him and took out a HUGE book used to record all the items of value left behind by the guests.
As is usually the case with wallet or bags, they recorded all the notes and cards inside the wallet (many).
They had taken cards out because they were in the wrong order.
I don’t think that any notes were missing. A housekeeping team member in Bogota stole the most valuable USD ones.
Here’s the piece published on Saturday:
Wallet Left Behind: Case Sheraton Buganvilias Puerto Vallarta
Conclusion
It baffles me that you cannot officially send a wallet through any of the couriers in Mexico, including DHL. I guess they may have had incidents where senders or recipients “falsify” the contents as a basis for a loss claim.
As I was in Mexico, it wasn’t that bad of a hassle to come for two nights and meet a friend in the city who had flown in from the US. A fun night out after picking up my wallet.
I pointed out in the original piece that I rarely use the in-room safes, and readers left comments on how they deal with valuables and how they try to ensure that they empty the safe when leaving.
It came to my mind, after writing the piece, that I have sometimes left laundered clothes behind when the housekeeping has placed them inside a closet, which I never use for my clothes (never spread things around). I have always just collected them on subsequent stays (Renaissance Sao Paulo comes to mind).
I usually try to have some euros and dollars with me (100 to 200) if I need some cash for visas or entry permits only payable in notes. I usually use all the countries’ currencies that I rarely visit by settling the hotel folio using them and rest by a credit card.
Then I tend to keep leftover currencies of the countries that I visit once or more per year for my subsequent visits. I have to say that there are more where you rarely need cash anymore, which is why I am left with some Canadian and Australian dollars.
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You wont be able to ship a credit card outside of EU either, and in 99% of the cases in any other country as well. Just that post in EU doesnt give a crap what you send, but anything with a declaration will be a big NO to send credit card
Its not just Mexico.
I think it is legislated, but I know it goes back as far as the early 90’s (maybe 91) when I left a credit card at a car rental and they said they were not permitted to post it.
Your “closet” anecdote is like my “drawer: comment last time. The staff can overdo it!
Good you got probably mostly everything back!
I once left my wallet and passport in a Chicago hotel. Only realised at my next stop. Luckily I was returning a few days later and everything was intact. After that I remember reading someone saying they kept one shoe in their safe to force them to open it before they left. Great tip to avoid leaving any valuables! (So long as you only have one pair of shoes..)
Or as long as that is the pair of shoes you are wearing when you leave. If you have more than one pair just take out the pair you plan on wearing. Leave the one shoe out of your suitcase and put the mate in the safe. Great idea and easy way not to forget any valuables.
Sympathise with you – I also once left my wallet in similar circumstances in the Sheraton Grand Macao.
I had just checked out, but had not left the Reception when I remembered.
I rushed back to the room/area to get somebody from housekeeping to just open the door for me, but it became an enormous palaver with the Head of Security, Housekeeping Floor Supervisor and Deputy Duty Manager all being called into action to supervise my entry (into a room that was mine only 10 mins earlier. It took about 1 and half hrs, but eventually I retrieved my wallet from the safe.
I cannot believe it took that long to let you back into the room. That is ridiculous and in some cases that could cause someone to possibly miss their flight. Especially if it could mean a big difference in travel time to an airport. For example leaving 1 1/2 hours earlier to avoid rush hour.
One of the occasional hazards of travel. No matter how experienced you are or how hard you try, eventually even a seasoned traveler will forget or misplay something. Glad it worked out and was not as big a hassle as it could have been. Was impressed at steps hotel took to make sure that everything was accounted for. Sheraton did a great job. I have always liked Sheraton hotels.
Hey!! You have plenty of Indonesian Rupiah leftovers. Just in time for your next visit to Bali when the island is supposed to welcome foreign tourist once again. 😃😃
Did you contact Marriott to acknowledge the hotel’s service?
I will note it on my TA and Google reviews.