Can’t believe this happened to me :( [Luggage Stolen While Checking in to Hotel]
Jun 10, 2019, 1:44 am
#16
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: PHX, ICN
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Posts: 502
I thought this may have been happening as well (unfortunately in hindsite). The manager and front desk personnel stated it was the first theft they have had from their hotel in this manner — they were helpful (comped the room, free food/bottle of wine, and paid for a taxi to take me to the tourist police station and back to report the crime. I hesitate to badmouth the place on line. I still think I’m an optimist and that this was a bad luck event for me, not a recurring scheme on tourists checking in. The police did not mention any similar incidents at the hotel in the past. Just a random day where we missed our flight to Istanbul, decided to stay overnight in Athens. A week ago we stayed at the Grande Hotel Bretagne but wanted a smaller boutique place this time, last minute. Was not the Hilton btw.
i think I could have elevated the discussion to who’s fault it was since the bellman had “taken” our bags but the layout of the check in area was such that we were distracted and the exit door was close — we were directly adjacent to a square with lots of cafes and people. I was the unsuspecting antelope with a bunch of tigers around I’m afraid.
i did discuss better baggage management to the staff so this didn’t happen to others. Lessons learned — Athens indeed is a place to be on guard, at all times. Just ask any local and the stories are sad and sometimes eye opening. I wouldn’t stay at the small places next time — big flashy places for me 😂. Still love Greece though . Milos and Crete already planned for next summer 👍
1. They are doing what they can to make it up to you and taking some responsibility.
2. They obviously aren't in the business of trading free hotel rooms for a cut of whatever is in a random tourist's bag. That's a bad business model.
While they might indeed never tell you that this is a common occurrence at their hotel if it was, I'd be inclined to think that they are instead telling the truth (especially with police corroboration). That also means they are probably going to be on the lookout for the bellman's behavior as well and he'll either stop or not be there much longer since bag theft will now be something management is aware of (giving the lost revenues).
Sorry about your experience and thanks for the heads up. We've been fortunate to dodge theft so far but we absolutely would fall victim to this ourselves.
Jun 10, 2019, 3:12 am
#17
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: perth
Programs: SPG(LTG), QANTAS gold, Korean, Accor Plat
Posts: 1,500
I put all my valuables in my computer bag and it is always kept by me, never given to anyone or even put in the boot of a taxi. As far as the suitcase goes it would be inconvenient losing it but if someone is desparate to wash my dirty socks and jocks I think why deprive them of the pleasure.
Jun 10, 2019, 6:53 am
#18
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Everywhere and Nowhere
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Posts: 193
Sorry this happened to you. But as I was planning a trip to athens with family next winter, I am glad I ran across this forum. I am definitely going to find some other location for our trip. It's a damn shame that a city's reputation can be tarnished so easily here, but I have no other choice but to alter the plans. If something happened to us on the trip, I would forever regret my decision.
Jun 10, 2019, 8:16 am
#19
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,959
Sorry this happened to you. But as I was planning a trip to athens with family next winter, I am glad I ran across this forum. I am definitely going to find some other location for our trip. It's a damn shame that a city's reputation can be tarnished so easily here, but I have no other choice but to alter the plans. If something happened to us on the trip, I would forever regret my decision.
Jun 10, 2019, 9:16 am
#20
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
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Sorry this happened to you. But as I was planning a trip to athens with family next winter, I am glad I ran across this forum. I am definitely going to find some other location for our trip. It's a damn shame that a city's reputation can be tarnished so easily here, but I have no other choice but to alter the plans. If something happened to us on the trip, I would forever regret my decision.
These things can happen anywhere....traveler beware !
Jun 14, 2019, 8:55 pm
#22
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
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What a shame that you will change your plans over one thread about a stolen suitcase and a few pickpockets. Athens is an amazing vibrant history-rich city that I have stayed in and wandered dozens of times over the last 50 years and have NEVER had a negative experience. Never. What is described here could happen in any city in the world. The lesson learned is vigilance and knowledge.
So vj_Rama go to Athens, Rio, Rome , Mumbai etc and enjoy life & other cultures. These things happen all over, more some places than other....question of local economy & demographics.
Jun 15, 2019, 1:06 am
#23
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What a shame that you will change your plans over one thread about a stolen suitcase and a few pickpockets. Athens is an amazing vibrant history-rich city that I have stayed in and wandered dozens of times over the last 50 years and have NEVER had a negative experience. Never. What is described here could happen in any city in the world. The lesson learned is vigilance and knowledge.
Jun 15, 2019, 6:37 am
#24
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This is best described by a mildly profane term that in polite company means male bovine excrement.
Jun 15, 2019, 7:21 am
#25
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,959
I would agree.... but Athens is not one of these places. There is a difference in being vigilant and aware....and paranoid.
Jun 15, 2019, 10:10 pm
#26
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Jun 15, 2019, 11:03 pm
#27
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I have to say I find the fact that the hotel has a bellman whose primary responsibility is to greet and assist with luggage could even let something like this happen sounds quite suspicious to me. With the ease the OP claims it happened, this certainly was not the first time.......A TA review is definitely in order.....
To me it's suspicious that the hotel staff were so willing to let the accomplice leave before the police arrived. I wonder whether some hotel staff were in on the scheme, even if hotel management was not involved and did make some customer service gestures to the OP.
BTW, I never considered Athens or Greece in general to be especially scary in terms of street crime, but Naples, Rome, Madrid, and Barcelona would be on my list, plus Moscow and of course Rio.
BTW, I never considered Athens or Greece in general to be especially scary in terms of street crime, but Naples, Rome, Madrid, and Barcelona would be on my list, plus Moscow and of course Rio.
Jun 17, 2019, 7:21 am
#28
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Dulles, VA
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Posts: 2,757
You really can't lump Athens in with Rio de Janeiro. In my 50 trips or so to Rio, I've seen every type of crime, including muggings under the canopy at the entrance to the JW Marriott. While there is petty crime in Athens, there's petty crime in all major cities. I've seen the bag theft thing many times and I just never understand why people give their bags to some random person 2 seconds after they arrive at a hotel, or leave their stuff unattended. Also, when theft victims claim that whatever was only out of their sight for a few seconds, it's almost always far longer than that.
The basic rules apply everywhere. Keep your stuff in sight, don't leave your bag/backpack/purse sitting around unattended, don't take anything outside that you don't need. Leave the expensive jewelry at home, keep the electronics to a minimum, carry the minimum amount of stuff in your wallet/purse. One credit card, one ATM card, drivers license, health insurance card, a small amount of money. That's it. As always, with basic precautions and maintaining awareness, you'll be okay. There are always easy targets around tourist areas so your job is to not be an easy target. You'll always be a target, since if you're there you're presumed to be rich, but criminals are adept at stack ranking the easiest targets. Basically, if there are four targets and you have your stuff zipped up and are watchful, and the other three have cameras and bulky purses and the women have nice jewelry and the guy is wearing an expensive watch or the kid has a $1,000 phone in his/her hands, the bad guys will hit them before you.
The basic rules apply everywhere. Keep your stuff in sight, don't leave your bag/backpack/purse sitting around unattended, don't take anything outside that you don't need. Leave the expensive jewelry at home, keep the electronics to a minimum, carry the minimum amount of stuff in your wallet/purse. One credit card, one ATM card, drivers license, health insurance card, a small amount of money. That's it. As always, with basic precautions and maintaining awareness, you'll be okay. There are always easy targets around tourist areas so your job is to not be an easy target. You'll always be a target, since if you're there you're presumed to be rich, but criminals are adept at stack ranking the easiest targets. Basically, if there are four targets and you have your stuff zipped up and are watchful, and the other three have cameras and bulky purses and the women have nice jewelry and the guy is wearing an expensive watch or the kid has a $1,000 phone in his/her hands, the bad guys will hit them before you.
Jun 18, 2019, 10:10 am
#29
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,959
Nov 21, 2019, 1:05 am
#30
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Kathmandu, Nepal
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Sorry, this happened to you. I don't think it happened because of careless, even if I'm in your position I'll do the same thing. The main problem whenever we are inside the hotel's premise, we think our property is safe, but these peoples come with perfect plans, and they are experienced in it. Here we can't blame the hotel's staff even because maybe they were diverted by the gang's member. Better do not trust an unknown person and always keep eyes on our property. Athens is one of the best city for holidays, but these peoples are polluting the name.