Don't come home without them!
If you were a thief, wouldn't tourists be your first victims? They're often lost, distracted and confused. They frequently carry large amounts of cash. And their response time is slowed by heavy bags and weary heads. In short, they're moving targets!
Fortunately, you can significantly reduce your chances of getting robbed with a little planning and preparation. In the following steps, you'll learn how to maintain a low profile during your travels and keep valuables out of reach of wandering hands.
Before you forgo the safety of home, find out as much as you can about your
Once you arrive, ask locals about potential trouble spots. They know the lay of the land better than any guide writer or State Department official, so their input is invaluable. Sometimes tourist officials and hotelkeepers paint a picture that is rosier than reality would indicate, so it can be helpful to tap other sources for information--for example, a waiter or simply a kind stranger with whom you happen to strike up a conversation.
Pack light
What's the single best way to protect yourself against theft? Having nothing to steal! Of course you can't travel empty-handed, but you should do your best to travel with the absolute minimum. Here are some ways to lighten your load:
Buy traveler's checks: The most obvious first move for any traveler, traveler's checks give you access to money without incurring the risk of carrying hard currency. You will usually be charged a small sum to purchase traveler's checks, but the American Automobile Association (AAA) offer its members American Express traveler's checks at no additional cost. Note: For foreign travel, you can request the checks to be issued in foreign funds. You will most often receive a better exchange rate than you'll find at foreign banks.
Limit yourself to one or two credit cards: Before you leave home, give your wallet a thorough cleaning. Remove anything extraneous, from extra credit cards to those little scraps of paper with important phone numbers. When you travel, carry only one or two credit cards, not your entire portfolio.
Leave your jewels behind: Unless your travel plans include balls or banquets, don't bring valuable watches, jewels or other priceless trinkets. Opt for rhinestone substitutes instead.
Consider a cheap travel camera: Die-hard photographers will insist on bringing high-quality equipment when they travel--after all, it's their time to shine. But if you just want snapshots, consider getting a small, simple and inexpensive camera. Long lenses and elaborate camera bags are like bait for potential thieves.
Keep valuables on your person or in a safe
If you're forced to travel with large amounts of cash or other valuables, find a hotel that provides a safe to its clientele. While budget hotels generally don't provide this service, medium- to high-end establishments do. As soon as you arrive, stash your valuables, and leave them there until it's time to check out.
When you don't have access to a safe, keep valuables on your person--even when walking the streets of a foreign city. Of course there are exceptions: if you know you'll be venturing into crime-ridden areas, then you must consider alternatives. But in most cases, your possessions are safest when you can see and feel them. (see to find out how to "wear" them discreetly).
Above all, avoid packing valuables in luggage that you plan to check during your flight. Unless you have special insurance coverage, you could be stuck with the loss. If you can't "wear" your valuables on a flight, keep them in a well-watched carry-on bag.
Keep valuables out of reach
Even if you cling to a purse or backpack for dear life, you're still not immune to theft. Thieves can cut bags with a razor blade, and as your cash, credit cards and passport drop to the ground, they'll scoop up the loot before you even know what's happening.
So, it's essential that you keep vital items directly on your person. In the old days, people stuffed passports and cash into socks or bras. Now special products--money pouches, fanny packs and travel vests--provide added security. Whatever your method, keep your most valuable items in an accessible place. Here are some specific ideas:
- Move your wallet to your front pocket to discourage pickpockets.
- If you're traveling with a car, lock valuables in the trunk so they're out of sight, just as you'd do at home.
- If you carry a purse or backpack, don't place cash, jewels, and so forth inside. Keep them on your person.
- For cash, credit cards and important documents like passports or plane tickets, consider a money belt or money pouch. A money belt goes around your waist underneath your clothes (or you can actually purchase a regular belt with a hidden compartment), while a money pouch hangs around your neck and can be concealed beneath your shirt. Both allow you to keep your valuables secure and completely out of sight.
- Travel vests, with their secret pockets and hardy construction, keep valuables hidden and secure.
- Fanny packs scream tourist, but they do permit you to keep valuables zipped up in a single place and always in view. It's a good idea to keep the pouch in front of you, instead of at your back.
- Never travel in an unofficial or unmarked taxi. First of all, you're likely to be overcharged. Second of all, your driver may take you to an ATM to make a big withdrawal--which he plans to keep.
Don't be flashy
If you're advertising your own prosperity with fur coats and gold chains, you're basically saying to potential thieves: "I'm worth robbing." You might know your wallet is empty, but thieves don't, and they're going to go for it. You don't have to dress like a slob, of course; just avoid blatantly high-ticket items. It's especially important to use understated luggage. Designer bags are generally no sturdier than generic brands, and they attract more roving eyes.
Blend in
If you find yourself in the mountain village in the Andes, or at a caravansary on the Anatolian steppe, you're not going to convince anyone you're a local. But in general, you should strive to disguise your tourist status. A fanny pack, a map and a guidebook attract thieves like ants to honey. Here are some hints for blending in:
- Walk with a sense of purpose--even if you're totally lost.
- Read your map before you leave the hotel so you can consult it as little as possible when you're outside in the street.
- You don't have to buy a whole new wardrobe, but try your best to dress like the locals. No dress shoes at the beach, people!
- Don't lug around your luggage, or even a heavily laden purse or backpack, except when necessary.
Mail home valuable purchases
Sometimes, travel purchases look like bargains but turn into boondoggles, especially if they end up in hands other than your own. You need to take precautions both before and after you make your purchases.
First of all, you want to be sure the price is really right. It's great to say you bought your silver-plated espresso-maker in a Roman boutique, but what's the point if you can get the same make and model at home--at half the price? Second, know what you're getting. If you're buying precious gems, make sure your rocks aren't actually semi-precious. These are obvious hints, but sometimes the high of traveling can cloud decision-making powers.
If you do make purchases, consider mailing them home rather than lugging your booty for the balance of your vacation. Some vendors will ship items themselves; judge for yourself whether you trust them to do so. If you have any doubts, send the items yourself. And rather than relying on local mail services, go to an international shipper like DHL, Federal Express or UPS. They have offices around the world and provide excellent tracking systems.
One last note: you can become so vigilant that you forget to have a good time. Don't look for thieves around every corner. Just take a few simple precautions so your mind will be at ease and you can take in the sights with pleasure, not paranoia.
