How To Protect Your Valuables While Traveling Abroad

Protecting your Personal Property While Traveling You might think that traveling abroad safely takes common sense and presence of mind. Yes, you need plenty of those plus a whole lot more!

Believe me, once you reach your travel destination, it is easy to get overwhelmed by your senses. All the new sights, plus your excitement to explore, and sometimes the confusion of trying to find your way around will get you preoccupied that you might forget about your safety. When you are finally in the destination you have planned and daydreamed so much about, it is easy to let loose of your bearings and enjoy the moment of being in a new place.

Therefore, other than accomplishing a travel checklist for all the things you need to bring, a crucial thing you also have to plan and prepare for is getting yourself physically and mentally prepared in terms of keeping your valuables safe while traveling abroad.

Read on and learn some valuable tips on how to protect your personal property, laptop, and other valuables while traveling abroad.

You might think that traveling abroad safely takes common sense and presence of mind. Yes, you need plenty of those plus a whole lot more!

Read on and learn some valuable tips on how to protect your personal property, laptop, and other valuables while traveling abroad.

First Things First: Do Your Research

By research, I mean not just must-see tourist spots, must-try eats, or places to shop. Find out about your destination’s crime rate, local government warnings, and even tourist scams.

Is the place notorious for pickpockets and mugging? Is it a relatively safe place for tourists? Is it easy to get help when you become a victim of theft? Reading about these things will help set your expectations and prepare your mind for uncomfortable situations.

The purpose of researching these things is not to get you overly paranoid that you will spoil the fun of your trip. It truly pays to know what to expect and what to avoid when you are going to a new place, especially when it involves your overall safety.

Traveling in a strange place may have risks but know that the world is not as scary as others paint it to be. So long as you are well prepared and are fully aware of what you are getting into, you will have the presence of mind to do the right thing at any given moment. Studying the background of the place will help you take the necessary steps to keep you and your valuables safe while traveling.

Choose Your Travel Gear Wisely

Always go for a piece of safe and sturdy luggage that can keep all your valuables in place and intact. If you are a seasoned traveler, you would already know this cardinal rule that most choose to or cannot help but not follow.

As always, travel light and never bring more than what is necessary. Remember, if you do not need it, do not bring it!

For your carry-on, consider investing in a theft-proof bag to keep your essentials and valuables secure, which includes your passport, cash, cards, laptop, camera, phone, medicine prescriptions, and such. If you have a regular bag, secure it with a combination padlock or even a carabiner – a simple solution that makes it a little harder for pickpockets to access your bag.

If you are out and about, do not put all of your valuables in one bag only. It is best to have a crossbody bag for bulky essentials (laptop, camera, wallet, etc.) and a belt bag where you can keep a separate stash of cash, cards, and your passport (only if you need to bring it with you while sightseeing!).

Keep Calm and Leave Your Valuables in the Safe

Again, do not bring it if you do not have a critical need for it. It is not wise to carry all of your valuables with you while traveling, considering the risk of losing everything at once.

Make use of the safety deposit box in your hotel to keep your valuables intact. The hotel’s central safe is also an option for your more oversized items, plus only you have access to it.

Do not forget to lock your luggage before going out on your excursion for the day. Even if the accommodation is guarded and secured from outsiders, it will not hurt to have extra precautions in place.

Freely Explore But Do Not Be Vulnerable

Always keep your things close. Never leave your bag unattended on the seat next to you, under your chair, or on the train’s luggage rack. If your bag is not attached to your body, you will forget about it when you leave in a hurry. Also, your things might get stashed away when you are not paying attention. If you have to put your bag down, secure them in place with a cable lock.

You can easily find ATMs in all parts of the world, so it is unnecessary to bring a ton of cash with you. Avoid showing any cash in public, like when you are paying and figuring out the local currency. Be discrete when counting money, and do not show all your bills in plain sight.

In the same way, flashing valuables make you an easy target, so be conscious and aware at all times. Have a plain-looking case for your laptop if you need to use it in public not to attract attention.

Minimize the use of your phone, especially if it is an expensive and popular model. Do not even think about wearing expensive-looking jewelry if you know you will be in a sketchy or crowded part of town.

Do try not to doze off in public places or public transportation. This makes it easy for pickpockets to grab and speed off with your bag while you are in a most vulnerable state.

Cover All Bases and Do Not Skip the Travel Insurance

You have to keep in mind that there is no perfect trip. Consider yourself very lucky if you make it out of your travels relatively unscathed and with only good memories to take home with you!

More often than not, no matter how meticulously you planned your trip, some things do not go the way we expect, and there will be circumstances that will be beyond your control.

It is always better to assume that things can go wrong and the worst can happen. When it does, you will need to have contingency so you can quickly recover from the loss. There is no better way to do this than to get travel insurance.

Most people think that International travel insurance only covers cases of trip cancellation and lost luggage. Do know that comprehensive travel insurance can also protect you in the unfortunate event of theft or loss of valuable property while traveling abroad. More often than not, domestic insurance plans do not have this kind of benefit in their policies.

Sure, you cannot predict what will happen during your trip, but you can be at ease knowing you are insured whatever happens. It is necessary to include international travel insurance in your travel checklist!