Yes indeed safer in the cargo hold but a bit scary if you do so when the aircraft is off to do a four man base check detail as happened in Kuwait Airways in late 70's when on the B707 we did alternate base checks on the aircraft would you believe and several of us being checked set off doing steep turns etc when we heard a banging noise. The F/E was sent below into the lower 41 and through the small glass hole he saw a startled figure which was a Baluchi loader who had gone into the forward hold to get out of the sun and fell asleep. We were forced to do a full stop landing to let him out and then continued on! I guess he had a story to tell his mates.