So, i have traveled before out of town with my good ren garb. But it has always been just for the weekend. My garb was never left in the hotel room unattended because it was with me ( on my body ) at faire.
But in 2 weeks my husband and Iare attending the Pennslyvannia ren faire for closing weekend. Since it also happens to be our 10 year wedding anniversary that weekend, i would like to wear my good, fancy, expensive green velvet noble / court gown.
Here is where my concern comes in :
Since it is my husband's and I 10 year anniversary, we plan on making it a second honeymoon, and spending a few days sight seeing prior to the faire.
I plan on packing my gown carefully inside a garment bag and hanging the garment bag in the closet, in the hotel room.
My concern is will my gown be safe hanging in the garment bag in the hotel room, while my husband and i are busy sightseeing.
I have heard of stuff being stolen out of hotel rooms.
So i'm like :
1. Bring the gown, hang it in the garment bag inside the closet and hope no one steals it
2. Bring the gown and hide it in the car somewhere
3. Don't bring the gown. Wear one of my less expensive gowns instead.
So i am interested in what others who have traveled with good, expensive garb have to say . Thankyou ! :)
One option is to ask the staff to keep it lock up for you.
As some one who has traveled and shipped my Queen garb (holding breath) there has been little more than a passing issue or curiosity with it hanging in the hotel for many hours. I did put away any jewelry, and such. But the worst that has happened, is that the cleaning staff had a good look at the gown out of it's protective bag. It was replaced, and arranged neatly. But I knew, and let management know what happened.
So, I say, bring it, wear it, and enjoy!!!
Thanks Syrilla ! :)
I have decided to bring the gown ! I brought it to wear it, i enjoy wearing it, so i am going to wear it ! ;D It is like what if you brought an expensive Corvette, would you leave it in the garage and not drive it ? ;D
What i am going to do is take along a second ,big suitcase for the gown alone, and pack it carefully so it does not wrinkle, inside the suitcase . ( seeing how when i received my gown in the first place from the seamstress who made it , it was packed in a small shipping box , so i should have plenty of room in this huge suitcase i have.) . Then i will put a combination lock on the suitcase.
So that's my plan. I know it probably sounds silly, and I have nothing to fret about, but like i said i have known people who have had stuff taken out of rooms.
My own sister lost a good expensive dress/ ballgown of hers once.
If you are that worried about leaving your gown in the room. Simply request that the housekeeping not take care of your room. They should have no worries about doing that.
I used to work as a housekeeper and there were several times that housekeeping was refused.
I'm glad you decided to take your gown Lady Amy, I would too and your plan doesn't sound silly at all, actually I think it's a pretty good idea, I wouldn't have thought about doing that! ;)
Adriana Rose had a good idea too, just put the "Do Not Disturb" or "Do Not Make Up Room" on your door and also tell them at the front desk.
Have fun!!! ;D
I have never had a problem with leaving my garb in the garment bags in the room. Like Syrilla, I have experienced curiousity, but nothing more severe than that.
Of course my jewelry chest stays in the trunk of the car, or locked up in the hotel safe.
I travel for work a few times a year, and I never have my room serviced while I'm gone. It's just another measure of security--even tho' any hotel staff can enter the room at any time, of course.
However, and this just might be me and maybe I'm clueless... while our garb is certainly valuable TO US, I doubt most of the general population would see it as a high-value item, like a camera, computer, or jewelry. You can't slip a noble gown in a backpack and then pawn it on a street corner very easily, after all. I'd think the only person likely to steal something like that would be someone who was *personally* interested in garb... and that's probably not going to be some average random thief in a hotel.
Quote from: Adriana Rose on October 09, 2008, 01:40:37 PM
If you are that worried about leaving your gown in the room. Simply request that the housekeeping not take care of your room. They should have no worries about doing that.
I used to work as a housekeeper and there were several times that housekeeping was refused.
Thats, what I normally do.Put a do not disturb sign on the door and keep my jewels and camera on me.
But seeing how we are going for a whole week, the room is going to need attended too . :)
So that is why i came up with my plan that i mentioned above about locking the gown in a seperate suitcase.. Thanks for the input though. :)
Typically i would not worry, or fuss over my gowns. Gowns can be repalced .( although money does not come easily ! ) But this was a gift from my husband. So not only is there the fact, that yes, it is an expensive gown, but there is the sentimental value to it too.
Thanks everyone else for the ideas.
Quote from: gem on October 09, 2008, 02:50:44 PM
I travel for work a few times a year, and I never have my room serviced while I'm gone. It's just another measure of security--even tho' any hotel staff can enter the room at any time, of course.
However, and this just might be me and maybe I'm clueless... while our garb is certainly valuable TO US, I doubt most of the general population would see it as a high-value item, like a camera, computer, or jewelry. You can't slip a noble gown in a backpack and then pawn it on a street corner very easily, after all. I'd think the only person likely to steal something like that would be someone who was *personally* interested in garb... and that's probably not going to be some average random thief in a hotel.
I know this makes sense, logically, but, unfortunately, I hear of a theft at least once a month of armor, garb, and other articles. I'm sure there are a ton more than that. People are always on the look out for "missing" items to suddenly show up on craigslist, etsy, or ebay. If you have it, it must be valuable.
Now, that being said, I always hear of things being stolen out of cars, not hotels or residence. I've kept many expensive things in hotels all around the world without a problem, ever. So, leave the outfit in your room, not your car. ;D
If you're flying don't forget that many airlines have rules against locked bags.
Quote from: gypsylakat on October 09, 2008, 07:31:25 PM
If you're flying don't forget that many airlines have rules against locked bags.
Driving ! :)
I hate to say it as I don't want to sound snobby (it's not meant that way), but I think it also depends on the "quality" of hotel you stay at as well. If you stay at the lower priced hotels you end up with a certain quality of people - both those who stay there and those who work there. Now, this is a general statement and I'm sure there are exceptions to this rule, but I think you all know what I'm saying. The lower priced hotels cannot pay for the higher quality employees, nor can they pay for effective security personnel, etc. because they aren't charging what say a Hampton Inn charges so cannot put the amount of money back into the business.
That said, we have traveled all over the east coast with our garb - and I have some pretty fine royal gowns myself - and I've had absolutely no problems at all. In fact I always unpack them out of the garment bags to allow them to "breathe" and to keep the wrinkles to a minimum so they are effectively "hanging out there" and I have had no issues whatsoever. That may just be the luck of the draw - but that's how its been so far.
Quote from: gypsylakat on October 09, 2008, 07:31:25 PM
If you're flying don't forget that many airlines have rules against locked bags.
You can use a TSA lock, which are available from most places that carry bags, such as Target or Walmart...
Capt. Marga
Quote from: Lady Amy of York on October 09, 2008, 12:08:54 AM
My concern is will my gown be safe hanging in the garment bag in the hotel room, while my husband and i are busy sightseeing.
I have heard of stuff being stolen out of hotel rooms.
So i'm like :
1. Bring the gown, hang it in the garment bag inside the closet and hope no one steals it.
2. Bring the gown and hide it in the car somewhere.
3. Don't bring the gown. Wear one of my less expensive gowns instead.
So i am interested in what others who have traveled with good, expensive garb have to say . Thankyou ! :)
I am sure this is academic already as you have gone to the Faire. I make all of my gowns and as such have hundreds of pearls/gold/silver as well as being made of Silks and my time and effort in bringing these to life.
I go all over my state and country with my gowns plus my families. One of my gowns has about $600 worth of crystals and bead work just on the sleeves and coif , another is made from Silk Taffeta and Satin and has over 100 hours of embroidery (Both machine and by hand), I put them in the closet and I have not have an issue with anything yet. Most people don't understand what you have, or the expense of it, to them it is a costume and they think Hallowe'en and don't bother them. Most of the hotels in the areas of Ren Faires know that if a costume is missing? You will blame the staff, and they are leery of losing their jobs for that outfit. We have had people steal suitcases from cars, or from airlines (USAir in particular) and a rash of trailers being stolen in the past 3 years.
You are going to be at the hotel so you will only be out for 8 to 10 hours so the thought that the employee might want your gown, and they are assigned floors so it is pretty simple for them to find said employee as you are still a guest at the hotel. I check all of my things when I leave my room, I make sure everything is there when I return. This will mitigate the time if something is taken to figure out who it is that did so. Also? For 100.00 a teddy bear Nanny-cam can be placed in your room. Ensuring that if someone is dumb enough to steal your gowns, that they are on your camera and can be brought to justice.
Personally I bring my own hangers, so that if anything is moved or changed it is noticed immediately. I know exactly what is where, I do not place my jewelry out for people to be tempted, they are in my lingerie bag that is also locked, a small deterrent but every little bit helps. To my knowledge if someone wants something you have they will take what they want, you can insure your outfits yep you can!
I hope you had a grand time and a great Anniversary!
Cilean
We went last weekend for four days, and i wore my pirate garb.
We are going next weekend again, and will be there even longer, for our anniversary. Next weekend is the weekend i plan on wearing my good gown.
We are staying in the same hotel as last weekend. It was a very nice, upper scale hotel. I am not worried about leaving my gown at all in the room.
Having traveled alot, there are some hotels that i would not consider leaving anything in the room, but this one I have no concerns about.
Thanks again for all the helpful tips. Having traveled alot, Alot of them I already do.
I always too bring along my own hangers.
I also check my things before i leave the room, and when i get back to the room.
I always keep the room neat and tidy and i close and zip my suitcases before i leave the room, that way i know if they have been gone thru.
I don't leave anything of value in the room, like my jewlery, camera or purse.
I have made use of the " do not disturb sign" too.
I also never leave anything in the car ! Just ask my poor husband how many trips he makes back and forth from the hotel room to the car, when we arrive somewhere and unpack the car. ;D LOL ! I can't help it. He does not understand, that a woman needs to have a suitcase for cloths, another bag for makeup and personal supplies, and then i am also packing for our young son too, and i always have toys and stuff along to keep him entertain. Thank goodness hotels have luggage carts you can borrow ! ;D ;D