Everyone swears by hostel dorms but I just had $40 stolen from my bag in Berlin

It happened three weeks ago at a hostel in Kreuzberg. I locked my daypack in the locker but forgot the padlock only secures the zipper not the whole thing. Someone just unzipped it took the cash from my inner pocket and zipped it back like nothing happened. The front desk shrugged and said it's on me for not using their rental lock. Am I crazy for thinking budget travel shouldn't mean expecting to get robbed? Any tips on better ways to keep small cash safe in a dorm without a real lock?

2 comments

2 Comments

wyattbennett3d agoMost Upvoted

@holly_craig nailed it - money belt was a game changer for me too.

holly_craig3d ago

That sucks and the hostel should have been more chill about it instead of brushing you off. But here's the thing - budget travel does mean you're responsible for your own stuff. Lockers with those tiny travel padlocks are basically just for show anyway. A thief with a basic tool can pop them in seconds. The real trick is to never leave cash in your bag at all. I carry a slim money belt under my clothes for the big bills and only keep a day's worth in my pocket. Also worth noting that a lot of hostels have a safe at reception where you can leave valuables for free or a small fee. Yeah it's a pain to go back and forth but $40 is a cheap lesson compared to losing a passport or phone. The world is full of opportunistic people and dorms are full of strangers.