If your hotel room lacks a safe, the best strategy is to create "layers" of security to deter opportunistic theft. First, the "locked suitcase" method is highly effective; most room thefts are quick "smash and grab" incidents where a person looks for items left in plain sight. By placing your laptop, passport, and extra cash inside a hard-shell suitcase and using a TSA-approved lock, you make it much harder for someone to access them quickly. For even more security, use a cable lock to tether your suitcase to a heavy, immovable piece of furniture like a bed frame or a desk pipe. Alternatively, use "hidden-in-plain-sight" containers, such as an empty, cleaned-out sunscreen bottle or a diverted "hairbrush safe" for cash and jewelry. If you have extremely high-value items, you can also ask the front desk to hold them in the hotel’s main vault, which is legally much more secure than an in-room safe. Finally, always leave the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door and keep a light or the TV on low volume when you're out to give the impression that the room is occupied.