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Leaving valuables at the hotel may run risks

Travellers entrusting their luggage with the staff of their hotel should think twice about liability issues, according to Sophie Butler's travel advice column.

Although leaving your luggage at the hotel front desk after checkout may be a convenient option for those with later flights, loss and theft are still issues to be considered. Different rules apply in different countries, so travellers should look into travel insurance options before taking off.

A couple on vacation in Barcelona tried to outsmart pickpockets by leaving all their valuables and luggage in the care of their hotel's staff, but they were later informed that their luggage had been "misplaced."

The hotel responded sympathetically, helping them contact the British Embassy and consulate for new passports and report the case to local police. The hotel then gave them a free room for the night, paid for new air tickets to the UK, and gave them €600 to immediately replace belongings as well as €1,000 and a weekend in one of their top suites at no charge.

The hotel discovered four months later that the luggage had accidentally been shipped off with a group going on a cruise, and the hotel manager contacted the couple. In return for the missing bags, the manager requested that the €1,000 be returned, to the protests of the couple.

The hotel eventually returned the baggage without being reimbursed the €1,000, leaving all parties involved unsure as to who was right.

Miles Quest from the British Hospitality Association (BHA) says that within the UK, hotels accept a high level of responsibility for luggage. "In London, the liability for a single article goes up to £750 and can be a maximum of £1,500 in total," Quest said. "Elsewhere it's £50 or £100. And if a hotel agrees to take a bag for safekeeping, it is responsible for the full value."

Unfortunately, not all countries have such accommodating policies. For this reason, it is wise to invest in a travel insurance plan that can cover whatever the hotel does not. However, it is advisable to read the fine print, as many conditions may apply to cases of missing baggage in which theft is not directly evident.


Follow these links to find out more or to get a quote on Travel insurance, UK airport parking, UK airport hotels or UK airport lounges.



Zoe Westof Editorial


17/12/2007



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