Lockers and valuables storage on island beaches
You are going to the beach with a phone, keys and cash and need a safe place.
Phones, keys and cash do not fit easily with sand and sea. Some resorts offer a room safe, some a front-desk deposit and some a day locker, and others offer very little. Ask what is available and who is responsible, then carry less to the beach.
If you are still choosing a resort, our guide on how to choose an island resort is a good start. The island packing checklist has a place for waterproof pouches.
Where can a valuable actually stay?
Think of five places, and ask which ones your resort offers.
| Place | Good for | Ask |
|---|---|---|
| Room safe | Passport, spare cards, jewellery | Size, code, working order |
| Front-desk deposit | Items too big for a safe | Written receipt, hours |
| Day locker | Phone and keys at the beach or jetty | Cost, size, who watches |
| Waterproof pouch | Phone and a little cash | Rated for splashes or submersion |
| Left at home | Anything you can live without | Plan before you pack |
If a place has none of these, leave valuables on the mainland.
What should you ask about room safes?
Ask about the room in particular, not the resort in general.
- Does my room have a safe, and how big is it?
- Will a laptop, camera or tablet fit?
- Is it electronic, with a code, or does it use a key?
- Who can help if it does not work?
- Does the room need power for the safe to work?
Our guide on charging stations and power cuts matters if the safe is electronic.
What about lockers at the beach or jetty?
Lockers by the beach or the boat counter may take coins or a key. Ask where they are, how many there are and whether they are in view of staff.
Also ask whether the locker is rented for the day or the stay, and what happens if you lose the key. Our guide on rinse showers and changing rooms covers the places where lockers are often found, and the one on day-guest access matters if you visit for the day.
How do you carry less to the sea?
A simple rule works for most trips: only what you would be fine losing, or cannot leave.
- Put a phone in a waterproof pouch with a lanyard.
- Carry a small amount of cash, not your whole wallet.
- Take the room key, not extra cards.
- Leave passports, spare cards and jewellery in the safe.
- Photograph your documents before you leave home.
For a day with boat trips, take only what fits in one dry bag. Our guide on shops, mini-marts and cash machines on islands helps you plan how much cash to hold.
What if something goes missing?
Report it at once to the resort and ask for the steps. Keep receipts for anything you left at the desk, and keep photos of what you packed.
We cannot say what a resort will do, so ask about the policy before you hand anything over. Do not assume cover you have not seen in writing.
A better fit if…
A resort with confirmed room safes and lockers may be a better fit if:
- you carry a camera, laptop or drone.
- you take many boat trips and beach days.
- you travel with a group and share the keys.
A lighter approach may be a better fit if:
- you bring little of value.
- you are comfortable leaving items at home.
What should you ask the resort in writing?
- Does my room have a safe, and what size?
- Are there beach or jetty lockers, and the cost?
- Is there a front-desk deposit with a receipt?
- What is the policy if an item goes missing?
- Who do I call if a safe will not open?
With the answers saved, you can go to the sea with a lighter mind.
Common questions
Does every room have a safe?
No. Some rooms have a small safe, some offer a front-desk deposit and some have neither. We cannot confirm any one place. Ask what is in your room, the size of the safe, and whether a laptop or camera fits.
Are there lockers at the beach or jetty?
Some places have coin or key lockers near the jetty, the beach or the snorkel house, and many do not. Ask whether they exist, the cost, the size, and whether they are watched. Do not count on a locker unless the resort confirms it.
Who is responsible if something goes missing?
That depends on the resort's terms. Many resorts post a notice that they are not responsible for items left unattended. Ask what the policy says, and ask what is covered if you use the front-desk deposit.
What should I take to the beach?
Take as little as you can: a phone in a waterproof pouch, a little cash and a room key. Leave passports, spare cards and jewellery in the safe or at the desk. Decide before you leave the room.