D-SLR and Hostels/Budget Hotels???

unreggd

Im goin to London for my birthday in feb with my mates. Stayin in a budget Hotel, with very good reviews, and I wanna bring my 350D, but not sure if i should or not

I always think:

1. Its an expensive camera, so im fvcked if its lost/stolen

but on the other hand

2. I'm a photographer, and i'll prob never get anywhere, or miss out on some class shots, if I'm to scared to bring my camera anywhere

Same happened when I went to Madrid, wanted to bring it, but in the end i didnt, yet the Hostel was grand, and the doors were locked with Keycards


Any suggestions/experiences on this??

cheers

shepthedog

Its definitely best to bring it.. No point in traveling to all these great places if you dont feel comfortable enough to bring it. Most hostels nowadays are secure and should have no problems. You'll regret it if you dont..

John

If you're not sharing a room with strangers you should be fine as you'll most likely have it with you when you're out and if you're out but don't want to bring it, lob it in a locker. If they don't have locker facilities in the rooms themselves they will more than likely have a safe in the reception if you want to leave it in there instead of leaving it in your room.

isadub

tongue-in-cheek, but if you're a photog, your camera will never leave your side!:D

Since it'll be Feb & cold, maybe you could put a nifty-fifty on it and holster it on your belt with a small camera-pouch-bag(?), under an overcoat. You'll be okay on the street & in the pubs but you probably won't be able to get into nightclubs...

rahtkennades

Bring it with you for sure.

I've brought a fairly large and fairly obvious camera bag with me when travelling everywhere for nearly 20 years now, and never had any problems.

If you're staying in shared rooms, you'll probably have a locker so you'll be okay. If not, make sure your luggage bag/backpack has a lock on it and keep it near your bunk.

When you're going out, you'll have it with you all day and evening.

If you're going out on the beer, find a safe place for it that's not obvious if there isn't any safe/locker in the room.

Get travel insurance. It won't cover you for the whole loss, but better than nothing.

Most of all, enjoy the results!

janmc

Definitely bring it. I left my then expensive digital camera at home when I was going to Palermo, because of the warnings about muggings etc, and I've regretted it ever since.

Travel insurance will cover you if the worst does happen.

tnkrbell

When Ive stayed in hostels and in dodgey hotels Ive always brought my camera with me.Best thing as well to bring is a numerical pad lock with you and just lock it into your suitcase whatever type of bag you are bring with you.

pansyflower

a numerical pad lock
I had one of these and had to remove it [at home] with a metal cutters when it jammed.:o

unreggd

Thanks everyone!

Im a frequent traveller so know most of the do's and donts

I'll either have it on me, or in a locker, or locked in my case, which is on/under me bed

theres 8 of us in a 12-bed room so ders a chance of a few strangers, but shud be ok, ill defo ring and ask about the lockers

thanks again, and ill post the pics when im back, wooooo!!

FreeAnd..

theres no point having it if you dont bring it...even though it costs money, try not to be too attached and accept that at any time anything could happen to it...it doesnt mean that you have to be reckless but its better to have it and not need it than, well you know the rest...I used to be the same about an old sony cbershot that cost me around 500 pounds i think (was well ripped off). I never brought that anywhere in case it got stolen but as soon as I got an slr i knew there was no point having it if i didnt plan on bringing it almost everywhere with me...just my 2 cents

Sebzy

Always bring your cam with you but if your paranoid like me just use you camera bag as a pillow.

dozed off on my trekker classic many times It's quite comfortable too with all that padding.

CantGetNoSleep

I'd bring it too, i've been in loads of hostels and almost all of them had fairly secure looking lockers

One thing I would say is that your travel insurance may not cover it if it is stolen, a lot of travel insurance policies have a single itel limit of €250 or so, and deduct maybe €60 further as an excess to each claim, so you'd want to check your policy document before you leave

Ricky91t

If you're travelling on the tube be warned....Some stations can bo dodgy and worst of all if they grab your cam and jump out the doors as they are closing you wont see it again as you'll have to wait till next station to switch trains and then go back.If you do take it buy a photography backpack keep both straps on also watch your wallet to alot of tube stations have pickpockets but you'll see signs warning you most of all ENJOY:D:D

kensutz

Never had a problem on any of the tube stations even as an away supporter travelling down with a group from Norwich. Use common sense.

trishw78

Ditto on the Common Sense. I've travelled to a few dogy place in my time, and I've never had any trouble, in fact I've been pickpocketed twice in Dublin in the same place.

Fajitas!

Frequent traveller here... Would bring my camera. Even the ****tiest hostels I've stayed in have been grand, especially if it's just your mates in the room, but there should be a safe otherwise.

I bring my camera everywhere.