In Reply to: How much cash can you posted by stanmorelamb on Tuesday, 26. April 2011 at 14:13 Bali Time:
There are many posts here about money being stolen from in-room safes - just scroll though the archives. I have the same safe as is mostly used in Bali here at home & anyone who has access to a key (ie many if not most hotel staff) can get into your safe. Here's an example - our in-room safe wouldn't work - one of the guys who sweeps up leaves came with the key to open it. Not the manager, not a security guy.
I'd rather pay a few $ on withdrawal fees than have my cash stolen. Once cash is gone, it's gone forever & most hotels in Bali couldn't care less about your loss. And the police won't do a thing even after you pay them an exorbitant fee. I only take the cash I can afford to lose.
You could look at getting a prepaid travelcard from, say, CBA - costs are pretty low & you get 2 cards with different pins so if one is lost or stolen you have a second one.
I know many people take cash, only cash, use their in-room safes & never have any problems. I prefer to be careful. I put some money in the safe in an envelope padded with paper with a few other things so it looks like I am using the safe solely. I also put something light on top of my things like an elastic hairband so it's easy to tell if anyone has had a rummage. I hide my valuables in several places in my locked bag - in the used undies bag is a fave.
Seems like you are taking a lot of cash & I think you'd be crazy to trust an in-room safe.