Keeping money safe ….. | Debbie's Caribbean Resort Reviews Forums

If a casa doesn’t have a safe, what is a good hiding place (in our room) or other safe place to keep our money?
We don’t want to really carry all our cash around with us each day.

When I was previously married to an a-hole, I kept my money hidden UNDER the trash bag in the wastebasket but I was the one who carried out the trash all the time so he would never see it. However, if they clean your room regularly, at a casa, that wouldn’t work.

There are dozens of potential places, but when you aren’t the one cleaning up it makes it more difficult to figure out a spot that would never be seen. Envelope taped to the back of a drawer, tucked into a book in your carry-on pocket, taped to the underside of a box spring, whatever….. Best is probably just in your suitcase which you keep locked or fastened with a zip tie. Maybe in a bag with your dirty undies, unless of course the maid decides to do your laundry!

Or you could invest in one of those travel safes. There is another thread about that, yes?

	I’ve always used hiding spots like the ones suggested when not staying in a place with a safe, but given the circumstances and length of your trip, I think I would be tempted to invest in a really good quality travel safe.

	In our casa the building had a key, the casa had a key, and our room had a key; so we felt fairly secure with our belongings, even though the safe didn’t have a key. When booking, you could try telling them you only want a room with an operating safe.

To answer the PM I received…1.) I would never trust a hiding place because if the money ever disappeared you don’t have a leg to stand on. You didn’t give it to the casa owner for safe keeping and have a receipt to prove how much money there was. You can’t show evidence of a break-in into your locked luggage where the money was. You have no way of proving a theft even occurred. The police will look at you blankly and say, "How much have you been drinking?"2.) As for a casa safe… there’s just too many people with access and I simply wouldn’t trust anything to do with Cuban security.My travel safe is big enough to hold my laptop, camera, lenses, spare hard drives and all my cash, cards, passport and important documentation. It’s easily capable of foiling any crime of opportunity. It weighs 640 grams and rolls up to the size of a small submarine sandwich.It’s certainly overkill for many travellers, but for a long term stay when I’m carrying thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars worth of equipment it gives me peace of mind.Cheers,

Terry

	One thing I learned from my mother is that a hidng place is only good if you remember where the hiding place is, and that you remember that you had something hidden before you leave.

Your Mom gives good advice, John.==========================Many years ago I left $1,500 cash in my Havana casa, hidden under a huge flower pot that was never moved. Havana was the first stop on a fairly long trip through South America and I remembered the $1,500 on the flight to Bogota.When I arrived in Colombia I called my casa owner and he immediately fell into hysterical laughter. For the next few months he would email me photos of a new washing machine, a new cell phone, a big roast pig party, stacks and stacks of beer, etc. thanking me for buying all this stuff. It was pretty funny.When I returned months later he handed me back the $1,500 minus $10 for "storage fees." Even after all these years when I drop by to say hi I still get teased mercilessly about that bit of forgetfulness.

He’s such a good guy I’ll give him a plug.

Cheers,Terry

I was one of Aleido’s very first customers. We go back a looong time now. It has been a weird relationship. I’m likely his only single male customer who returned time and time again, but who isn’t gay. Neither he nor any of the many people hanging out there knew what to make of me for the first few years… I wasn’t gay and I wasn’t bringing girls back to the casa… not normal behaviour!I always tease him that he owes everything to me because I’m the first person who gave him an internet presence via Pototo and Cuba Junky and that made his business skyrocket.He’s a decent guy and good businessman. I still like stealing beers and chicken from the frig when he isn’t looking…Cheers,

Terry

I would only take out with me the minimum amount of money I need for a cpl days at a time.Visit a bank machine every few days and take out the cash you need to get through the next couple of days. That way you can carry it on you and if it did get stolen its not the end of the world.

Yes you may pay a few dollars in fees each time, but better than the risk right?!

Great advice // ideas as always guys — thank you!Terry, what a great story. Aleido sounds like a really fun guy!

Another thing hubs thought of — are there clocks in the rooms? I’m taking my cell to use as an alarm but we’d still like a clock in the room.

#10 Aleido sure has a gay thing going there. My guess is that they figured first time around you were gay like most his clients, but just to shy to bring dudes around and handled your business elsewhere?As you know in Cuba a yuma can’t be different than other yumas in the eyes of most Cubans. There’s this spot in Havana where I like to sit down with a buddy and have a drink sometimes. Always a lot of girls there looking for yumas. Every single one of them is convinced beyond doubt that I am gay because I just sit there with a smirk smile and ignore and dismiss them all and have never gone with any. When a new girl arrives and starts acting up, the other ones always tell her ‘No, forget him, he’s maricon’.That said, you sure do look gay on your photo. I am aware that gay men have a solid rep for being cleaner and neater than the average hetero, but I am sure there are gays as well who are simply filthy pigs.

#12 Wow, you sure have this down to detail. I have seen very few alarm clocks in casas in Cuba, so I would bring my own or rely on the cell.

Benni: take the cell. If you are travelling for 6 weeks (don’t know what your itinerary is) do you really want to be carrying mayo & an alarm clock? And thinking about mayo – it does need refrigeration after opening. Does this mean you are also going to bring a cooler and ice packs – or maybe a fridge? DT is right about your detail work; I just go for the easiest things to bring (at a resort/hotel) for a couple of weeks but travelling around the country with trunks of stuff that won’t be used will get to be hassle. The food issue is dicey, Cuba doesn’t have the same amenities that Canada has so I say forget the mayo. Alarm clock – crap you’re on vacation so why are you worried about the time? Vacay’s are supposed to be for relaxation, adventure and new experiences. Everything is very laid back in Cuba and you guys can live without mayo for a month and a half. Pack light; enjoy the country and things will fall into place. BTW: for someone from Texas living on the Rock, you haven’t lost your Texas twang! So charming. I look forward to your blog and will miss your postings until you’re back.

Spot on. In other words: Leave all your regular first world habits at home, including mayo and alarm clock. Bring only one thing to Cuba, a relaxed state of mind. Learn only one single word before arriving: ‘Tranquilo’

Start getting into the Cuba gear right now by taking it easy. That’s the best preperation you can do for a Cuba trip.

Benni: take the cell. …… Alarm clock – crap you’re on vacation so why are you worried about the time? …. and you guys can live without mayo for a month and a half. ….. BTW: for someone from Texas living on the Rock, you haven’t lost your Texas twang! So charming. I look forward to your blog and will miss your postings until you’re back. Thanks for all the replies. I take the cell for an alarm to get up in time for the airports. But, I like a regular clock in the bedroom — not a big issue, when I wake during the night, I can just open the cell to see the time.

Go without mayo? Hubs thinks he can’t live without it!!

I don’t really have the ‘twang’, I just write the way I talk and, yes, I still talk a lot of the Texas lingo. Hubs has even picked up a few phrases, here and there, and his Newfie buddies tease him about it.

	You can get really small travel clocks that take no space and are handy. Some even tell you the temperature, if you care to know it. Doesn’t anyone wear a watch anymore? Most have an alarm feature on them, a light for viewing after dark, and don’t need to be charged every day or so like a cell phone. Bonus, you can wear them when you swim or snorkel! (I don’t like to be late for lunch!)

	Yep, small clocks are in many stores. I’m being a cheapskate though — more money for Cuba then!

"Go without mayo? Hubs thinks he can’t live without it!!"

Haven’t read all your packing threads through to be honest, so perhaps someone already told you, but mayo can be purchased all over Cuba. It’s one of those things always on the shelves of the kiosks and CUC markets. To the point that I don’ get it. Sometimes they have no beer, no soda and no cigarettes, but there’s 500 jars of 5 different types of mayo. But I guess ‘it’s Cuba’…

	Personally I think Mayo in Cuba is very expensive. Certainly compared to the price in the UK. Mind you the same can be said of many products. Take Sugar for example, in Cuba it costs 2 CUC for a kilo bag. In England I pay 49p at present.

"Go without mayo? Hubs thinks he can’t live without it!!"

…..but mayo can be purchased all over Cuba. It’s one of those things always on the shelves of the kiosks and CUC markets. To the point that I don’ get it. Sometimes they have no beer, no soda and no cigarettes, but there’s 500 jars of 5 different types of mayo. But I guess ‘it’s Cuba’…

Well, good! One less thing for hubby to pack.Actually it was here that I was told no mayo. I’d have to hunt for the thread.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Oops! I’m sorry, it wasn’t here that I read about the mayo.It was here (under Food):

No Mayo in Cuba

"Also salad Cream or mayo – none in Cuba."

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