[victoria24]

but im thinking of taking the old lappy on our recce trip but getting worried it might get nicked from our RV. is thi sless or more likely to happen than in the uk? obviously the rv isnt as secure as a house and i wouldnt leave a laptop lying around in my car...

[dilanium]

It is still possible for it to get stolen, less or more likely I couldn't tell you.

At the very least keep it out of site and make sure you lock your RV. If you're really concerned about it being stolen stick it in its bag and take it with you (the great thing about laptops).

[JandL]

I think you are are over-worrying on your trip :). You will never be prepared for everything and previous experiences can only give you an example of what could or could not happen. Common sense will prevail through, dont park in a dark corner, dont leave things out on show, take your passports with you when you can. Most of all, enjoy the trip!

I would add that unless you need access to documents or applications for specific reasons, its far easier to visit an i-cafe, your going to need to be nearby for wireless internet access anyway, many camp sites have them as well. We did this around all of NZ (and the world), researched everything we needed, even wrote CVs on the road as it were.

[James 1077]

I think that you are being a bit overly stressed but it does happen (only rarely).

One option would be to get yourself a Kensington cable so that you can secure your laptop to something fixed in the RV. That way you get to bring the laptop and don't have to worry about it being nicked (I take one with me whenever I'm on holiday).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_ce?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=kensington+cable

[victoria24]

good call James :nice1

[JandM]

I don't think you're being too British (or stressed). Expect the best, but try and be prepared for anything including the worst, then things usually turn out all right.:D

[cappuccino]

... but just to err on the side of caution, back-up any really important documents (or even copy your hd before you leave the UK) and keep on a portable memory stick separate from the laptop.

[DMcG]

Forget the cable locks - they're useless.

Our office was broken into twice in three weeks - and after the first time, everyone was issued with cable locks to secure their laptops to desks. It didn't help in the slightest - a decent pair of mole grips seems to be all that's needed to rip them out. Far better just to keep it hidden (under a seat cover or undr the rivers seat).


Dougie

[victoria24]

i have solved the problem by supergluing the laptop to a large concrete block :D

[YouMeAndThree]

I guess it's just a safe hidden in a locker on the van as it would be left in a vacant property whilst you are in NZ.
Lx

[Ana&Steve]

i have solved the problem by supergluing the laptop to a large concrete block :D
Great! But that was your entire weight allowance and you must go with only the clothes on your back:D

[victoria24]

aaah! but being British, at least the laptop will be safe!

[Flutterby]

LOL, i took my Laptop and we rented a van, left it at relatives house when we knew we wouldn't need it and kept it hidden away unless the curtains were closed in the van.
But a few points to consider:
we got condensation in the van which i'm sure is not good for the laptop (more relevant to a winter trip)
The laptop MUST go as Hand Luggage and can be a pain to lug around if you have to change planes, plus some airports require you to take it out and switch it on when you go through baggage control.
Umm yeah, i think that was it!

[veronica]

do laptops have to go as hand baggage, I would have thought they could have gone as hold as they are so heavy. anybody have any other info on this.

as we run drifters backpackers we get to see a lot of backpackers with vans and cars who have laptops with them and have had no issues. common sense comes into it. if you have an older one take that, make sure any personal info on there is very well password protected, get it insured on your holiday insurance, keep it backed up all the time and don't leave it lying around, keep it covered up. If condensation is an issue save up some of those little 'teabag' moisture thingies that seem to come in everything you buy and use them. same applies if you have a good camera. make sure you regularly download your photos as we have seen some of the backpackers really upset when they have either lost or had their camera stolen and the whole photo record of their trip is gone.

[Familyofmonkeys]

A lot of airlines will allow you to take a laptop IN ADDITION to hand luggage so worth checking. There are lots of warnings in NZ about valubles being stolen from vehicles in remote areas and car parks at tourist spots.You could get a rucksac style laptop bag and keep in on your person if worried.

[JandM]

do laptops have to go as hand baggage, I would have thought they could have gone as hold as they are so heavy. anybody have any other info on this.I don't think they HAVE to. Reasons I know of why people are often reluctant to check them in: 1) they're valuable in themselves and could get stolen, 2) the information on them is personally valuable, could get stolen and used, and if lost it would be an inconvenience (despite any backups) and 3) they might want to use them on the plane. Also, the cost of a laptop would mean your whole suitcase would be pushing the limits for compensation if the airline lost it.

I've just now googled the issue - it looks as though there is a compulsion to have the laptop available for inspection, in some places at least. http://www.airsafe.com/issues/baggage.htm Several hits that came up for that search http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=valuables+in+checked+in+baggage+on+plane&aq=f&oq= are also about people seeing their luggage broken into at airports, even before it had left their sight, so I for one will continue to go with my instinct to keep my valuables with me. I do wish they'd go back to allowing a handbag or a laptop as well as your hand-luggage bag, though.

[JandM]

Just seen what FOM put - that doesn't seem to be the case if you're going through UK airports at the moment. It's an airports authority rule that limits it, for security, not what the airlines would allow.

[Flutterby]

i had no problem taking the laptop in addition to the standard hand luggage, but it was clearly stated in the airline luggage rules that computers and cameras must go hand luggage and that you could take various listed items in addition to your standard bag for hand luggage.
I wouldn't have had enough hands to take ALL the additional items tho LOL

[Tomsk]

NZ is a beautiful country and generally NZers are wonderful, friendly people, but there are a small minority, as in pretty much any country you can think of, who target RVs & hire cars that are obviously being used by tourists to steal whatever they can get their hands on. Hubby is in the Police over here &, unfortunately, there are a few low life's anywhere you go, who will try to take advantage of the fact that most travellers will have everything in their vehicle. But just taking sensible precautions helps a lot, keeping valuables out of sight, lock the vehicle, have photocopies of important documents, you know, all that stuff. The criminals are after the easy targets, so don't make it easy for them and you'll be sweet ;)

I hope you have a great trip :nice1

[DMcG]

NZ is a beautiful country and generally NZers are wonderful, friendly people, but there are a small minority, as in pretty much any country you can think of, who target RVs & hire cars that are obviously being used by tourists to steal whatever they can get their hands on. Hubby is in the Police over here &, unfortunately, there are a few low life's anywhere you go, who will try to take advantage of the fact that most travellers will have everything in their vehicle. But just taking sensible precautions helps a lot, keeping valuables out of sight, lock the vehicle, have photocopies of important documents, you know, all that stuff. The criminals are after the easy targets, so don't make it easy for them and you'll be sweet.

Very sound advice :)

Dougie

[James 1077]

Always best to take laptops as hand baggage. Large numbers of expensive items go "missing" from bags going out of UK airports and stopovers in some Far Eastern countries.

Quite a few airlines now have a "No laptops in the hold" policy for this reason.

[dilanium]

Heck they go missing in US stopovers too. We packed a bunch of DVDs in a case in our carryons but had some of the cases (the collectors edition ones) in the checked baggage. Wouldn't you know that some of those cases went missing? hmmm....

[victoria24]

in light of all the comments / poss solutions, i think taking an IT free approach for a few weeks might be the best idea. i mean, i can live without internet right?

[dilanium]

You won't have to live without the internet. There are internet cafes just about everywhere.

[victoria24]

You won't have to live without the internet. There are internet cafes just about everywhere.

its still a big step from an iphone:exit

[urban78]

Always best to take laptops as hand baggage. Large numbers of expensive items go "missing" from bags going out of UK airports and stopovers in some Far Eastern countries.

Quite a few airlines now have a "No laptops in the hold" policy for this reason.

Good point. Most airlines these days do classify laptops and electronics (as well as valuables like jewellery for example) as unacceptable items for check in, which then means that the airline can't be blamed in case of mishandling.

Jen :)

[walshy]

i havent locked my ute or closed the windows in 5 weeks and nothing stolen yet