Cascadas Security Took My Camera

They gave it back, but confiscated it for the duration of my stay. Didn’t make any sense to me, but they insisted.

As expected, when I checked into Cascadas, security searched my backpack. I knew that they would do so and I had put some gifts I had brought for an ATF at the bottom of the bag as they might have not let pass. However, I didn’t expect them to take my standalone camera. I do use it to take pictures of the girls I arriba (which I obviously don’t share with staff), but it is with the girl’s permission and I don’t share them with others without permission (which I almost never get). I use the standalone, because it takes better pictures than my iPhone and is easier to manage. Also I take the chip out of the camera after taking photos, so if the camera is searched there is nothing to see. Since I don’t us the iPhone, if it is ever called into question (which has happened once before), again, nothing is revealed.

So security insisted on keeping the camera. I argued, but they said it was a new policy from the higher ups and they had no choice but to take it. They said I could leave it in my car, but my car is 800km away. I said I would just leave it in the room, but that was not acceptable. We went back-and-forth for a good 15 minutes, but I lost that battle. I was going to make the argument that all the iPhones have cameras, but felt that there was a risk that they would take that too. Maybe I was marked for some reason.

They insisted on seeing my photo ID and logging my name. I asked for a receipt, but they would not give me anything in writing that said they took the camera. (It is about $400, so I wasn’t going to give it up easily.) “Your camera will be safe. It will be right back here,” V said pointing to the shelf area behind the counter, not in any kind of locked container.

“But I have nothing to prove that you took it,” I insisted.

V pointed to the security cameras and said, “It is all on video. You don’t need a receipt.”

“But I don’t have access to the video. You could very easily shrug your shoulders and say the camera was never taken.” No dice. No receipt. (There is a HK girl I like and I knew that she would be off shift in about an hour, so I wasn’t anxious to burn a lot of my clock arguing.)

I asked if I could “check it out” during my stay if wanted to take pictures in town. They said “No.” I can have it back when I check out. Glad that I wasn't staying for more than one night.

Usually I pass out tips to the security and clerks when I check in and when I check out, as they occasionally waive me past the metal detector and the pat down is very superficial. Sometimes they just let me pass. No tips for anyone when I checked in because of the argument over the camera. I did pass out tips when I checked out. (Have to admit that I was a bit of an AH regarding the incident. When I checked out, I was familiar with most of that staff, so passing out tips when checking out will make my stay next time a little easier.)

One of the ladies I took arriba actually insisted that I take pictures of her with my iPhone. She was a 9, so she did not have to ask twice. (Sorry. I cannot share, so don’t ask.) I was concerned that security would want to review my iPhone when I checked out, because I brought a camera and was marked, but she was worth the risk and it didn’t happen.

Checking out, they did return the camera. It was wrapped up in paper with my name written on it. It was in good order.

Bottom line, don’t bring a camera if you are staying at Cascadas. Phone cameras are cool, but standalone cameras are not. I don’t know how that makes sense to them, but…it is the Zona.