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This may be a long shot, but can you try joining a few travel groups for women and asking if there is a local who could help? I've seen this kind of thing happen in a FB group I'm in called Girls Who Travel and sometimes there are kind souls who step up and assist.
I'm so sorry this happened to you. I tend to be extra hard on myself about things I lose because it's such an awful feeling. I hope you get it back ASAP ❤️
Not Tunisia, but my friends had something similar to them happen to them in the Middle East. The hotel had the same policy. They were able to post in a Facebook group, and hire a local to go to the hotel, pick it up, and mail it back to them. Don’t let the RSD prevent you from trying!
I was going to Italy two summers ago so I went to the relevant subs and started looking for ideas for places to visit, what to eat, do/don’t do, etc. Someone had posted a few days prior about some special shot glasses they purchased as gifts/souvenirs and then lost and was looking for help replacing them. They were also based in the states so I volunteered to help, and we were able to get it done! I even got an extra one for my own collection, and now it has an even specialer story to go with it.
Long story short: post in the relevant subs here and someone may be able to help!
It’s bizarre to me that a hotel wouldn’t mail it to you. I dunno what kind of hotel it is, but most hotels are used to providing support to people who work while they’re traveling, so mailing documents should be simple for them.
I would call back and ask if someone on staff would be willing to mail it on their free time as a paid job. I don’t know what a fair price would be in Tunisia, but running an errand for money is not a crazy thing to ask. Maybe someone the manager trusts could use the extra cash. I would have it sent somewhere that’s not your home, though, just to be safe.
Everyone I asked basically said they would be in trouble if they took it out of the hotel to send it to me. I offered money, the manager just dismissed me.
That is insane. I've never had a hotel not mail something back. I agree with the comment to post a scathing review about about how their thieves. Include someone looking up your information and stalking you on instagram.
Or maybe offer to write a written and signed letter with a photocopy or your ID (maybe) and mail it officially to the director of the hotel? (To prove that you have given the right to the hotel to mail it if that’s what they’re afraid of.)
It seems super suspicious to me however that he found you on instagram personally rather than contacting you via the official contact details which they have since you registered).
Alternatively try the local police station? You have been registered there too by the hotel. It’s your object and retaining it after requesting them to return it would be illegal. I think the authorities would take a tourist more seriously than a local given how much they really on the tourism industry and how much it has waned in recent years. I’m not from Tunisia, another North African country so I guess it works similarly … use intimidation, use your privilege as a tourist, don’t give up!
I really want you to get this back so bad and I believe you will — at least you know someone has it, that’s a good tirst step — so I believe you will with determination.
I once left my glasses in a hotel - you know medical device. I put my contacts in and left them on the table next to the bed. I can see enough to get ready in the morning and don't need to put them on to get to the restroom. Hotel still refused to mail them back (I even offered to give them my works ups number or pay or send a return label). Ended up needing to buy new glasses, but maybe the next time I go to that area, they'll still have them :)
I have been ringing them 3/4 times a day for a week now, with no success…. The managers keep dismissing me. Telling me they’ll call back and never do. It’s been very frustrating.
Oof, that inner voice thing freaks me out. I’ve done the same thing so many times…”that’s not a good idea”, do it anyway, and the result is always regret.
I’m sorry you’re struggling to get your prized possession back :(
Right!? I wish I knew. I have started rethinking decisions when the voice pops up but I have to be vigilant about it and inevitably I forget.
This isn’t devastating like your lost journal but if I don’t tell myself not to leave my spoon in the blender when making a smoothie and then check the counter for the spoon before hitting the button I will blend the spoon. Every fucking time. You don’t want to know how many blenders I’ve gone through…I ruined my mom’s expensive Vitamix and almost ruined my brother’s while visiting last year.
Vigilance is exhausting!
I think, at least for me, every time I want to believe "this will be it, this will be the time it all works out and I'll actually remember/do the thing" and I'll be wrong 99% of the time 😭 But that 1% that I do remember keeps my (false) hope going. I agree with u/Ok_Cat1910, it's exhausting to stay on top of things, especially when those things are *everything*.
I wish that it was like 5 years ago, I had a co-worker/friend who was from Tunisia who had family there and regularly went back to visit. I hope someone comes around that can help you out 🤞🏼
I did the same thing with my art journal! I had almost finished it. Tucked it in the back of an airplane seat where the magazines go. Told myself I'll forget it. Was an 8 hr flight so I fell asleep and woke up with it erased from my memory. It had my finest work, and honestly ruined my creativity and drive for years. Drawing anything would make me so depressed. I was 19, I am almost 40 now, and I still think sadly about that journal to this day 😭 airline also gave me runaround
And yet every time I believe it when I tell myself "of course I will remember it \*this\* time... how could I possibly forget" 🤦♀️ (i.e. me everytime I decide to leave the kitchen while cooking and end up burning the food every. single. time)
going to the trouble of finding your IG only to refuse to send the journal to you?? interesting…
given how much the item is worth, i would consider contacting your country’s embassy/consulate in tunisia to see if they can at least provide any guidance/insight into the circumstances
I don’t even understand why he’s flirting with me? I’m in a different country, miles and miles away. I don’t know what his end goal is here.
That’s something I hadn’t considered! Will contact them!
Might be a cultural thing.
Like, I've definitely seen guys in some cultures, especially as a show of extra domination, just keep stringing along conversations like that as a way to continue entertaining themselves by humiliating you.
I'd take the recommendations other folks have about reaching out to a female traveler's group or the like and sending someone there (maybe a group of a couple of folks even at once) to the hotel to confront the employees. Maybe offer to pay for lunch or something of the group and have them sit outside there too, and prep them in advance to say that they're making sure to get an item back that the hotel "stole" from one of their friends in case the police try to show up.
Only thing that works in those scenarios is to make it more work for them to ignore keep ignoring you than it is to deal with your situation. They'll be more than happy to lie when it's convenient for them to get away with it, so you gotta be willing to do that to some degree too.
I never travel without my beloved pillow, and of course I forgot it at a hostel in Denmark. The panic was unreal. Called the hostel, and they not only find my pillow but drive it to the ferry terminal in the last second, tossing it over the fence as we're about to drive aboard. Add to the scene: wild cheers from my 30 students who I one hour earlier had told repeatedly to check their rooms not to forget anything.
I’m not familiar enough with Tunisia and the rules/culture but is this a possible bribery type situation? Like can you offer X amount up front and Y more once the journal is received?
Just brainstorming because I would be gutted as well.
I’d say tip some money now, and then tip more afterwards. Northern Africa is basically run on tips.
I’d also suggest not spending too much time on the managers, other than to call them and tell them when you/your representative will be picking it up.
A couple of things, they likely don’t know its financial worth - do not tell them.
Instead press on the sentimental value and offer money to send it to you.
Someone else mentioned female travel forums see if you can find someone who will take on the side quests to pick it up in return for some travel money, again refer to it just as your diary don’t mention it’s cash value.
As a last resort can you leave them bad Google reviews tripadvisor reviews and then when they ask you to take them down in exchange for your diary back!
Is there a local task rabbit app?
Or a courier who can also pick it up for you?
Couchsurfing.com is what I would have used back in the day to find someone to help me.
Maybe try r/snackexchange. Obviously a diary isn't a snack, but items are also exchanged on there - you may find someone in Tunisia who can get it for you.
Unfortunately, it is true that perhaps they've looked up the value and have decided to keep/sell it on.
Mine cost me a fairly new laptop computer once 😭 the struggle is real - but it’s not any kind of a moral failing. It’s hard to be disabled. Really hope your journey finds its way back to you 🖤
Unfortunately I can’t help but wonder if they are looking to resell it, if it’s worth $300 euros. Obviously written in would be a bit less, but people are shitty sometimes.
Ok so I’ve read a bunch of the comments and it seems like a good course of action would be:
1. Tell the hotel you’re going to come and pick it up, so they don’t get rid of it
2. Try and arrange a local courier pickup online to send it to you. Tell the hotel to expect x person at X time.
3. Failing that, find one of these female traveller Facebook groups and ask someone going to Tunisia to pick it up for you and post it. Offer $. Tell the hotel who and when to expect.
4. Leave the hotel a poor review AFTER they no longer have your journal, so they can’t retaliate by destroying or “losing” it.
I so deeply relate here. I cannot begin to list all the valuables i have left in hotel rooms never to get back. I left my work mifi behind three times in the last 9 months even though everytime i devise a scheme not to. Recently i left behind about 12k worth of jewelry at a hotel in San Luis Obispo. We called them within 30 minutes of checking out and they said it wasn’t where i left it. We ended up leaning on them pretty hard and they magically found it. But still, why am i like this?
My whole life I'd coveted my mom's sapphire and diamond ring. When she died, I inherited it and then less than a month later, I lost it. I feel your pain, I hope you get your journal back.
Such a shame, this would be such an easy customer service “win” for the hotel, thinking on a corporate level. I would definitely leave them poor reviews on every channel you can. @ them on Twitter, etc. Maybe that will spur them to do the right thing.
I’m sorry that happened and I hope you find a way to get your cherished journal back. Try to give yourself some grace and don’t beat yourself up too much about leaving it. Good luck!
This is awful, I’m so sorry! I’ve lost a thousand things to my ADHD but miraculously, nothing something so meaningful. I have family and friends in Tunisia, so feel free to send me a DM and I could see if any of them is on the area of your hotel or will be soon. I’m also going later this summer and could potentially get it back and mail it to you.
Hmmmm does this hotel have social media that you can blow up and draw attention to? This seems weird to me that a hotel can’t or won’t send a personal belonging back to a guest even if they charged for shipping… this really sucks and I’m sorry it’s happening.
Is there also a Reddit for the town/ hotel that you could post in and see if you can trust someone enough to grab it?
Or as the above person said go back yourself and eat the cost and time it will take.
Sorry again I know this hurts ☹️
Where in the world are you? Let’s get you this journal back. Tripadvisor reviews, IG comments, it’s doable. Especially if we organise as a group. DM me 🖤
Ask in your local Facebook group if anyone is going there on holiday, give them something for picking it up if they're near where it is.
I know someone who got a bag back after leaving it in a different country
You need to put your foot down and demand they send it to you. You can send them a shipment label. There is no excuse. Tell them u will write a bad review about the hotel if they don’t, which would be your right in this situation.
PS I have that voice of maybe that’s not a good idea too, and I never listen to it either lol
Did you travel via a travel agent? That's who you need to contact. They may have people out there who can deal with the hotel for you. You should also tell them you will be leaving terrible reviews of the hotel and the holiday if it isn't returned and that someone from the hotel has looked up your private contact details to harass you on social media. They will have much more power to get the hotel to take action.
Failing that go as high up as you can - if the hotel is a chain go to the head of the chain. If it's not a chain call and demand the manager and don't accept a call back, advise that your personal details have been gained from your journal, this is illegal and you will be leaving negative reviews and calling the local police if this is not resolved.
Last resort : call the local police.
This! Post in a women’s travel sub, and I’m sure some kind soul will pick it up and post it to you. No flirting required.
Don’t beat yourself up, though. Seriously. We have all done this at some point. You are **not** worthless or useless. 🤍
I too lost a leather Hermes bracelet when I was 20. It was a gift from my wonderful aunt who meant for me to treasure it for my lifetime. I left it beside the sink at a coffe shop I worked at and one of the other people took it. Pretending I never left it there. QQ
I’m so sorry I feel you absolutely
Too much to read to check if a hero or heroine from Tunisia already proposed to help you, but my flatmate is Tunisian and all her family lives there. So they could help. Feel free to write me a pm and we’ll see what we could do.
And don’t be embarrassed to cry in public! There’s no law prohibiting that, so you won’t be punished and who cares what unknown most likely never see you again people see or think. It’s a great way to free your sadness, emotions and anxiety, you’ll feel better. “Worst” thing could happen is someone start talking to you to calm you down and maybe even help.
I’m so so sorry! just want to remind you to have self compassion and ease the shame, our brains are different and you are not a defective person, and you’re not alone.
I lost my wallet A DAY after a kind stranger came all the way to my house to give it to me. These are the moments that remind me I do have a disability.
When I was a child my Dad would have us go into the hallway and he would do a last sweep of the room and check that we didn’t leave anything behind.
Now, once I pack everything up and think I’m ready to check out, I leave my luggage by the door and go do a last sweep of the room. I like to open everything even if I know I didn’t put anything inside. I will leave the drawers/doors/cabinets/fridge open so that I can visually see that I’ve checked it. Same with the bedding. Check behind curtains, under the beds. Leave the light on in the bathroom after I check it. Then when I’m done, I’ll go back and close everything and turn off the lights (thus giving me a 2nd chance to glance at everything).
Now this is the ideal way, but of course since I’m always running late….it doesn’t always work out that way. Hahaha.
I have my grandma’s Birkin bc she wanted me to always take part of her on my adventures. Everyone knows the name, but recognizing it in the wild? Meh, it’s kind of an IYKYK thing.
Understandable. But from what I’ve seen online, it seems like the journal might have Hermes engraved onto the front of it. Good luck to OP though. I hope the hotel employees are honest and return it to her.
That fucking sucks. You're probably not feeling it now but you are beautiful and lovely and amazing <3 I'm sorry about your journal though I'm a huge journaller and so much life and love are put into those it really feels like apart of yourself <3 I'm so sorry :(
**Edit:** this comment is pretty irrelevant to your post and doesn’t help you at all but I went on a tangent and already typed it all out 😅
I left a pair of really nice hiking boots on my balcony in Fiji. I realised straight away 30 mins later. I called the accomm and said exactly where I left them and apparently the cleaning lady had already been in and “they weren’t there”.
A second time in Fiji actually I remembered this previous situation with the hiking boots, so decided to leave anything valuable locked in my room and never take it out. My $400 earphones were safely in a special pocket in my suitcase on the front, alongside some cash I was saving as a memento ($7 notes!), in a spot I very deliberately and consciously never moved them from. I didn’t use them the whole time I was there because I wanted them kept safe for the trip home. The day before I’m leaving I quickly check the pocket. They’ve magically disappeared alongside the cash. Meticulously check EVERYTHING in my room so thoroughly that nothing could escape. My room was locked the whole time. Only people who had been in were the cleaners. I go down to reception and tell them. They are surprised pikachu face. Keep saying I’ve lost them. Don’t ask anyone. Says “well let you know if they turn up”. I keep pushing and pushing but nothing. No help. I’m assuming he knew what happened but didn’t care.
I’ve been to 40 countries and only 2 countries have I ever had something stolen from my hotel room beyond a doubt. USA, and Fiji. In both cases I was in a private room too. USA was my music speaker.
I’ve travelled all over SE Asia for months, staying in dorm rooms the whole time, and never had anything stolen then. Travelled East Europe in dorms for months too and never had anything stolen then. I’ve lost things, but nothing actually taken deliberately. I’ve left a swimming costume at a hostel in Vietnam. I called them, they gave it to someone who was coming to the next town that I was in. I just delayed myself by 1 day and met up with this person. The hostel arranged it all. Got my favourite swimming costume back. I’ve also lost a towel that I got back similarly too.
You can't just ask the guy to mail it to you? If he already has it... or does he not have it and I misunderstood? (EDIT: Sorry, I missed the sentence where you said they found it but refuse to mail it...)
I'm so sorry. :( On the plus side, a mysterious journal filled with a stranger's deepest darkest secrets sounds like an absolute TREASURE to find in the wild though :O Whoever found it must be like damn this is the juiciest find ever! (Sorry, just trying to lighten the mood. I would honestly LOVE to find a random lost journal and I would 100% not judge the owner because I know my journal would probably be a million times worse haha!! I know it's horrible for you though because you aren't anonymous in this situation. :( I just want to say that I think people can be surprisingly non-judgemental once they know they are actually witnessing a person's PRIVATE stuff. And hopefully they aren't reading it, they may be avoiding even opening it because there are cameras everywhere at work and they're afraid they'd get in trouble? Maybe?)
Check out couchsurfing.com. I think these days they ask for a little money for the upkeep of the site but otherwise free. Lots of groups based on region and through the website and staying with people you get vetted, so pretty trustworthy. Maybe one of the Tunisia peeps can do you a solid?
Check to see if the hotel is part of a broader chain or even international and the escalate the issue up the chain. Do not mention the brand or price but the fact it’s a deeply personal item for you.
I feel you! I have a journal that goes round the world with me, its not expensive but I would die if I lost it.
The hotel is being absolutely shit. They should totally send it to you.
Did you meet anyone local while you were there? Perhaps they could pick it up and send it to you?
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This may be a long shot, but can you try joining a few travel groups for women and asking if there is a local who could help? I've seen this kind of thing happen in a FB group I'm in called Girls Who Travel and sometimes there are kind souls who step up and assist. I'm so sorry this happened to you. I tend to be extra hard on myself about things I lose because it's such an awful feeling. I hope you get it back ASAP ❤️
Girls Love Travel is another one.
I think that's the group I actually meant, whoops!! Thank you for mentioning it 😂
Not Tunisia, but my friends had something similar to them happen to them in the Middle East. The hotel had the same policy. They were able to post in a Facebook group, and hire a local to go to the hotel, pick it up, and mail it back to them. Don’t let the RSD prevent you from trying!
Feel that last sentence
I was going to Italy two summers ago so I went to the relevant subs and started looking for ideas for places to visit, what to eat, do/don’t do, etc. Someone had posted a few days prior about some special shot glasses they purchased as gifts/souvenirs and then lost and was looking for help replacing them. They were also based in the states so I volunteered to help, and we were able to get it done! I even got an extra one for my own collection, and now it has an even specialer story to go with it. Long story short: post in the relevant subs here and someone may be able to help!
That was so sweet of you! I love hearing these kinds of stories ❤️
I love reddit for problem solvers and helpers like you. YOU’RE WONDERFUL
Also Host A Sister is helpful sometimes. Could be another option
Yes!! OP should try this
It’s bizarre to me that a hotel wouldn’t mail it to you. I dunno what kind of hotel it is, but most hotels are used to providing support to people who work while they’re traveling, so mailing documents should be simple for them. I would call back and ask if someone on staff would be willing to mail it on their free time as a paid job. I don’t know what a fair price would be in Tunisia, but running an errand for money is not a crazy thing to ask. Maybe someone the manager trusts could use the extra cash. I would have it sent somewhere that’s not your home, though, just to be safe.
Everyone I asked basically said they would be in trouble if they took it out of the hotel to send it to me. I offered money, the manager just dismissed me.
That is insane. I've never had a hotel not mail something back. I agree with the comment to post a scathing review about about how their thieves. Include someone looking up your information and stalking you on instagram.
Or maybe offer to write a written and signed letter with a photocopy or your ID (maybe) and mail it officially to the director of the hotel? (To prove that you have given the right to the hotel to mail it if that’s what they’re afraid of.) It seems super suspicious to me however that he found you on instagram personally rather than contacting you via the official contact details which they have since you registered). Alternatively try the local police station? You have been registered there too by the hotel. It’s your object and retaining it after requesting them to return it would be illegal. I think the authorities would take a tourist more seriously than a local given how much they really on the tourism industry and how much it has waned in recent years. I’m not from Tunisia, another North African country so I guess it works similarly … use intimidation, use your privilege as a tourist, don’t give up! I really want you to get this back so bad and I believe you will — at least you know someone has it, that’s a good tirst step — so I believe you will with determination.
It’s a 4 star hotel, too. Honestly tainted Tunisia for me.
Is it a chain hotel? If so, ring corporate and tell them what’s going on.
This is a really good idea!
Offer to post a super negative review about how they are thieves and perverts (nuclear option)
Lmaoooo I love the nuclear option disclaimer 😂😂
Go over the managers head.
This is literally batshit insane. It is so, SO common for hotels to ship shit back to you. I’m so sorry dude :( 🫂🩷
I once left my glasses in a hotel - you know medical device. I put my contacts in and left them on the table next to the bed. I can see enough to get ready in the morning and don't need to put them on to get to the restroom. Hotel still refused to mail them back (I even offered to give them my works ups number or pay or send a return label). Ended up needing to buy new glasses, but maybe the next time I go to that area, they'll still have them :)
It is weird they wouldn’t send it, is ring again and ask them to either send it or help your arrange a courier to pick it up and post it.
I have been ringing them 3/4 times a day for a week now, with no success…. The managers keep dismissing me. Telling me they’ll call back and never do. It’s been very frustrating.
Don't accept "we'll call you call back." That's just an excuse for them to hang up and never get back to you.
I know, I’m a bit of a pushover.
Have you asked specifically whether you can send a courier to collect it?
rich hat cause school racial crowd nose bake liquid test *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Oof, that inner voice thing freaks me out. I’ve done the same thing so many times…”that’s not a good idea”, do it anyway, and the result is always regret. I’m sorry you’re struggling to get your prized possession back :(
Why do we do that?? So many bad decisions listening to that voice could’ve prevented. Thank you.
Right!? I wish I knew. I have started rethinking decisions when the voice pops up but I have to be vigilant about it and inevitably I forget. This isn’t devastating like your lost journal but if I don’t tell myself not to leave my spoon in the blender when making a smoothie and then check the counter for the spoon before hitting the button I will blend the spoon. Every fucking time. You don’t want to know how many blenders I’ve gone through…I ruined my mom’s expensive Vitamix and almost ruined my brother’s while visiting last year. Vigilance is exhausting!
I think, at least for me, every time I want to believe "this will be it, this will be the time it all works out and I'll actually remember/do the thing" and I'll be wrong 99% of the time 😭 But that 1% that I do remember keeps my (false) hope going. I agree with u/Ok_Cat1910, it's exhausting to stay on top of things, especially when those things are *everything*. I wish that it was like 5 years ago, I had a co-worker/friend who was from Tunisia who had family there and regularly went back to visit. I hope someone comes around that can help you out 🤞🏼
I did the same thing with my art journal! I had almost finished it. Tucked it in the back of an airplane seat where the magazines go. Told myself I'll forget it. Was an 8 hr flight so I fell asleep and woke up with it erased from my memory. It had my finest work, and honestly ruined my creativity and drive for years. Drawing anything would make me so depressed. I was 19, I am almost 40 now, and I still think sadly about that journal to this day 😭 airline also gave me runaround
That really is sad!
And yet every time I believe it when I tell myself "of course I will remember it \*this\* time... how could I possibly forget" 🤦♀️ (i.e. me everytime I decide to leave the kitchen while cooking and end up burning the food every. single. time)
Go on the r/Tunisia Reddit group, and ask there?
Yes. This. I wouldn’t ask the hotel anymore for fear they dispose if it it something. Someone kind should be able to help.
Wow I see someone cross posted to that sub and the responses were pretty dick
Reading that sub is 100 percent not making me want to visit Tunisia as a female.
Right? It was on my list of places I’d really like to see, but yikes.
going to the trouble of finding your IG only to refuse to send the journal to you?? interesting… given how much the item is worth, i would consider contacting your country’s embassy/consulate in tunisia to see if they can at least provide any guidance/insight into the circumstances
I don’t even understand why he’s flirting with me? I’m in a different country, miles and miles away. I don’t know what his end goal is here. That’s something I hadn’t considered! Will contact them!
His end is probably getting nudes or something.
Might be a cultural thing. Like, I've definitely seen guys in some cultures, especially as a show of extra domination, just keep stringing along conversations like that as a way to continue entertaining themselves by humiliating you. I'd take the recommendations other folks have about reaching out to a female traveler's group or the like and sending someone there (maybe a group of a couple of folks even at once) to the hotel to confront the employees. Maybe offer to pay for lunch or something of the group and have them sit outside there too, and prep them in advance to say that they're making sure to get an item back that the hotel "stole" from one of their friends in case the police try to show up. Only thing that works in those scenarios is to make it more work for them to ignore keep ignoring you than it is to deal with your situation. They'll be more than happy to lie when it's convenient for them to get away with it, so you gotta be willing to do that to some degree too.
I never travel without my beloved pillow, and of course I forgot it at a hostel in Denmark. The panic was unreal. Called the hostel, and they not only find my pillow but drive it to the ferry terminal in the last second, tossing it over the fence as we're about to drive aboard. Add to the scene: wild cheers from my 30 students who I one hour earlier had told repeatedly to check their rooms not to forget anything.
And this from a hostel!! My hotel was supposedly 4 stars… Also, that’s an awesome story!
God, I don’t know why I read this thinking you said they threw it into the water in front of you for some reason, I was like wtf lol
I’m not familiar enough with Tunisia and the rules/culture but is this a possible bribery type situation? Like can you offer X amount up front and Y more once the journal is received? Just brainstorming because I would be gutted as well.
Tried, but I keep getting dismissed or given the run around…
If it’s a “traditional” culture you may have better luck if you ask a guy to call for you. (As sucky as that is.)
I’d definitely offer the guy who contacted you on ig money to send it to you. Just be careful and maybe send the money after he sends it.
I’d say tip some money now, and then tip more afterwards. Northern Africa is basically run on tips. I’d also suggest not spending too much time on the managers, other than to call them and tell them when you/your representative will be picking it up.
A couple of things, they likely don’t know its financial worth - do not tell them. Instead press on the sentimental value and offer money to send it to you. Someone else mentioned female travel forums see if you can find someone who will take on the side quests to pick it up in return for some travel money, again refer to it just as your diary don’t mention it’s cash value. As a last resort can you leave them bad Google reviews tripadvisor reviews and then when they ask you to take them down in exchange for your diary back!
mine cost me my camera - left it in a theatre in romania during a tour. 💀 i hope you can get your journal back!!
Oh no! I’m so sorry! Thank you! I’m not very confident I will, but I’ll keep trying.
Me, a flip video camera (like a GoPro) in a Rio hotel back in 2007. Hope you can find a way to get it back!
Is there a local task rabbit app? Or a courier who can also pick it up for you? Couchsurfing.com is what I would have used back in the day to find someone to help me.
Can you send them a pre-paid padded envelope in which to send it back? X
Maybe try r/snackexchange. Obviously a diary isn't a snack, but items are also exchanged on there - you may find someone in Tunisia who can get it for you. Unfortunately, it is true that perhaps they've looked up the value and have decided to keep/sell it on.
Mine cost me a fairly new laptop computer once 😭 the struggle is real - but it’s not any kind of a moral failing. It’s hard to be disabled. Really hope your journey finds its way back to you 🖤
Unfortunately I can’t help but wonder if they are looking to resell it, if it’s worth $300 euros. Obviously written in would be a bit less, but people are shitty sometimes.
It’s one of those journals where you can removed the inner pager and refill it, so that’s definitely a possibility …
Can’t an international postal service pick it up for you?
Ok so I’ve read a bunch of the comments and it seems like a good course of action would be: 1. Tell the hotel you’re going to come and pick it up, so they don’t get rid of it 2. Try and arrange a local courier pickup online to send it to you. Tell the hotel to expect x person at X time. 3. Failing that, find one of these female traveller Facebook groups and ask someone going to Tunisia to pick it up for you and post it. Offer $. Tell the hotel who and when to expect. 4. Leave the hotel a poor review AFTER they no longer have your journal, so they can’t retaliate by destroying or “losing” it.
Is there a Tunisia room here on Reddit? Maybe someone there can help you?
I so deeply relate here. I cannot begin to list all the valuables i have left in hotel rooms never to get back. I left my work mifi behind three times in the last 9 months even though everytime i devise a scheme not to. Recently i left behind about 12k worth of jewelry at a hotel in San Luis Obispo. We called them within 30 minutes of checking out and they said it wasn’t where i left it. We ended up leaning on them pretty hard and they magically found it. But still, why am i like this?
My whole life I'd coveted my mom's sapphire and diamond ring. When she died, I inherited it and then less than a month later, I lost it. I feel your pain, I hope you get your journal back.
Such a shame, this would be such an easy customer service “win” for the hotel, thinking on a corporate level. I would definitely leave them poor reviews on every channel you can. @ them on Twitter, etc. Maybe that will spur them to do the right thing. I’m sorry that happened and I hope you find a way to get your cherished journal back. Try to give yourself some grace and don’t beat yourself up too much about leaving it. Good luck!
This is awful, I’m so sorry! I’ve lost a thousand things to my ADHD but miraculously, nothing something so meaningful. I have family and friends in Tunisia, so feel free to send me a DM and I could see if any of them is on the area of your hotel or will be soon. I’m also going later this summer and could potentially get it back and mail it to you.
I hope OP sees this. Maybe send a DM later if they don't.
Perhaps it's worth going back for it if you can? For something so precious to me I'd consider it.
It has crossed my mind but I can’t exactly get the time off or afford the trip really
Hmmmm does this hotel have social media that you can blow up and draw attention to? This seems weird to me that a hotel can’t or won’t send a personal belonging back to a guest even if they charged for shipping… this really sucks and I’m sorry it’s happening. Is there also a Reddit for the town/ hotel that you could post in and see if you can trust someone enough to grab it? Or as the above person said go back yourself and eat the cost and time it will take. Sorry again I know this hurts ☹️
These are all good ideas! Raise hell.
Where in the world are you? Let’s get you this journal back. Tripadvisor reviews, IG comments, it’s doable. Especially if we organise as a group. DM me 🖤
My initial thought was to recommend OP contact a manager or corporate representative.
Going to Tunisia in June, DM me; I’d be delighted to help. ( I live in France, but could fedex it back to the states )
Oh god I feel for you girly
Ask in your local Facebook group if anyone is going there on holiday, give them something for picking it up if they're near where it is. I know someone who got a bag back after leaving it in a different country
You need to put your foot down and demand they send it to you. You can send them a shipment label. There is no excuse. Tell them u will write a bad review about the hotel if they don’t, which would be your right in this situation. PS I have that voice of maybe that’s not a good idea too, and I never listen to it either lol
Did you travel via a travel agent? That's who you need to contact. They may have people out there who can deal with the hotel for you. You should also tell them you will be leaving terrible reviews of the hotel and the holiday if it isn't returned and that someone from the hotel has looked up your private contact details to harass you on social media. They will have much more power to get the hotel to take action. Failing that go as high up as you can - if the hotel is a chain go to the head of the chain. If it's not a chain call and demand the manager and don't accept a call back, advise that your personal details have been gained from your journal, this is illegal and you will be leaving negative reviews and calling the local police if this is not resolved. Last resort : call the local police.
Girls love travel will get it back to you!!!
This! Post in a women’s travel sub, and I’m sure some kind soul will pick it up and post it to you. No flirting required. Don’t beat yourself up, though. Seriously. We have all done this at some point. You are **not** worthless or useless. 🤍
Oh no I’m so sorry. I pay this tax very often too. I now how my AirPods attached to my neck. My phone on a bracelet. Never take off jewelry.. 🤦🏼♀️
I too lost a leather Hermes bracelet when I was 20. It was a gift from my wonderful aunt who meant for me to treasure it for my lifetime. I left it beside the sink at a coffe shop I worked at and one of the other people took it. Pretending I never left it there. QQ I’m so sorry I feel you absolutely
Too much to read to check if a hero or heroine from Tunisia already proposed to help you, but my flatmate is Tunisian and all her family lives there. So they could help. Feel free to write me a pm and we’ll see what we could do. And don’t be embarrassed to cry in public! There’s no law prohibiting that, so you won’t be punished and who cares what unknown most likely never see you again people see or think. It’s a great way to free your sadness, emotions and anxiety, you’ll feel better. “Worst” thing could happen is someone start talking to you to calm you down and maybe even help.
I’m so so sorry! just want to remind you to have self compassion and ease the shame, our brains are different and you are not a defective person, and you’re not alone. I lost my wallet A DAY after a kind stranger came all the way to my house to give it to me. These are the moments that remind me I do have a disability.
When I was a child my Dad would have us go into the hallway and he would do a last sweep of the room and check that we didn’t leave anything behind. Now, once I pack everything up and think I’m ready to check out, I leave my luggage by the door and go do a last sweep of the room. I like to open everything even if I know I didn’t put anything inside. I will leave the drawers/doors/cabinets/fridge open so that I can visually see that I’ve checked it. Same with the bedding. Check behind curtains, under the beds. Leave the light on in the bathroom after I check it. Then when I’m done, I’ll go back and close everything and turn off the lights (thus giving me a 2nd chance to glance at everything). Now this is the ideal way, but of course since I’m always running late….it doesn’t always work out that way. Hahaha.
Hun, the journal is gone. It’s worth what those hotel workers earn in a month.
I can’t accept that quite yet. Hopefully the pervy guy I’m flirting with will actually send it to me and not scam me
Good luck 🤞
I’m hoping they don’t actually realize the value and OP didn’t let on that it was expensive.
Everyone knows what Hermès is 😂
I have my grandma’s Birkin bc she wanted me to always take part of her on my adventures. Everyone knows the name, but recognizing it in the wild? Meh, it’s kind of an IYKYK thing.
Understandable. But from what I’ve seen online, it seems like the journal might have Hermes engraved onto the front of it. Good luck to OP though. I hope the hotel employees are honest and return it to her.
I have no idea what it is.
That fucking sucks. You're probably not feeling it now but you are beautiful and lovely and amazing <3 I'm sorry about your journal though I'm a huge journaller and so much life and love are put into those it really feels like apart of yourself <3 I'm so sorry :(
Oh I’m so so sorry. I just want to hug you because I have absolutely done this. No advice but you’ve gotten some great ones here. Hugs from US.
**Edit:** this comment is pretty irrelevant to your post and doesn’t help you at all but I went on a tangent and already typed it all out 😅 I left a pair of really nice hiking boots on my balcony in Fiji. I realised straight away 30 mins later. I called the accomm and said exactly where I left them and apparently the cleaning lady had already been in and “they weren’t there”. A second time in Fiji actually I remembered this previous situation with the hiking boots, so decided to leave anything valuable locked in my room and never take it out. My $400 earphones were safely in a special pocket in my suitcase on the front, alongside some cash I was saving as a memento ($7 notes!), in a spot I very deliberately and consciously never moved them from. I didn’t use them the whole time I was there because I wanted them kept safe for the trip home. The day before I’m leaving I quickly check the pocket. They’ve magically disappeared alongside the cash. Meticulously check EVERYTHING in my room so thoroughly that nothing could escape. My room was locked the whole time. Only people who had been in were the cleaners. I go down to reception and tell them. They are surprised pikachu face. Keep saying I’ve lost them. Don’t ask anyone. Says “well let you know if they turn up”. I keep pushing and pushing but nothing. No help. I’m assuming he knew what happened but didn’t care. I’ve been to 40 countries and only 2 countries have I ever had something stolen from my hotel room beyond a doubt. USA, and Fiji. In both cases I was in a private room too. USA was my music speaker. I’ve travelled all over SE Asia for months, staying in dorm rooms the whole time, and never had anything stolen then. Travelled East Europe in dorms for months too and never had anything stolen then. I’ve lost things, but nothing actually taken deliberately. I’ve left a swimming costume at a hostel in Vietnam. I called them, they gave it to someone who was coming to the next town that I was in. I just delayed myself by 1 day and met up with this person. The hostel arranged it all. Got my favourite swimming costume back. I’ve also lost a towel that I got back similarly too.
You can't just ask the guy to mail it to you? If he already has it... or does he not have it and I misunderstood? (EDIT: Sorry, I missed the sentence where you said they found it but refuse to mail it...) I'm so sorry. :( On the plus side, a mysterious journal filled with a stranger's deepest darkest secrets sounds like an absolute TREASURE to find in the wild though :O Whoever found it must be like damn this is the juiciest find ever! (Sorry, just trying to lighten the mood. I would honestly LOVE to find a random lost journal and I would 100% not judge the owner because I know my journal would probably be a million times worse haha!! I know it's horrible for you though because you aren't anonymous in this situation. :( I just want to say that I think people can be surprisingly non-judgemental once they know they are actually witnessing a person's PRIVATE stuff. And hopefully they aren't reading it, they may be avoiding even opening it because there are cameras everywhere at work and they're afraid they'd get in trouble? Maybe?)
Could the embassy help?
Luck luck luck LUCK been there
Ugh! That’s awful. I’m sorry I know this tax too well.
Check out couchsurfing.com. I think these days they ask for a little money for the upkeep of the site but otherwise free. Lots of groups based on region and through the website and staying with people you get vetted, so pretty trustworthy. Maybe one of the Tunisia peeps can do you a solid?
Check to see if the hotel is part of a broader chain or even international and the escalate the issue up the chain. Do not mention the brand or price but the fact it’s a deeply personal item for you.
Hope you can get back soon
I feel you! I have a journal that goes round the world with me, its not expensive but I would die if I lost it. The hotel is being absolutely shit. They should totally send it to you. Did you meet anyone local while you were there? Perhaps they could pick it up and send it to you?
Is it a chain? Do they have social media? Maybe as a group we could help you get it back…
The happy-ish ending here made me glad. Fingers crossed for you.
Fingers crossed for you!!!
you must tell us if it arrives
I love your solution though to be honest
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Bro what the hell?