Warning: My hostel locker broke in Berlin and I lost my passport for a day

Last month in Berlin, the combination lock on my hostel locker just snapped mid-trip and I couldn't get my bag out for hours. The front desk had to call a locksmith who charged me 30 euros to drill it open. Has anyone else had a locker fail on them overseas, and what do you use now to keep your stuff safe?

3 comments

3 Comments

linda_dixon491mo ago

30 euros for a locksmith to drill a hostel locker? That's wild. I can't believe the hostel didn't just have a master key or something for their own lockers. Seems like they should've been able to pop it open themselves without charging you. I've stayed in hostels all over and never had a locker just break like that. Now I just use a small padlock that I bought at a hardware store, not those flimsy combination ones. I also keep my passport in a neck wallet under my shirt instead of in the locker at all. That way even if the locker fails, the important stuff is still on me.

wendy1311mo ago

Oh please @linda_dixon49, it's a locker not a bank vault! Yeah it sucks to pay 30 euros but it's not like you lost your life savings. Next time just bring a cheap lock you don't care about or skip the locker altogether like you said.

miles_hall1mo ago

Agree with you @linda_dixon49 on keeping the passport on your person. I had a locker door pop open by itself in Barcelona and some random dude just walked off with my dirty laundry bag thinking it was full of valuables. Now I keep my passport in a zippered pocket inside my jacket, learned that lesson the hard way.