If you have a luxurious lifestyle mindset like mine, you may lean more towards purchasing items that may be higher in monetary value because of their quality, their prestige, or their name. Because why not? Sometimes you need to treat yourself and sometimes it’s really just a good investment as certain things like a Chanel purse can outperform the stock market even if it’s been used. And when you spend money on certain things, of course, you want to be able to use it and feel safe while doing so – even when you travel. Whether you want to take along a professional camera with multiple lenses, a couple of designer purses you’d like to bring on your trip to switch up your outfit, or meaningful jewelry that you just wear all the time, here are some ways you can take certain precautions to protect your property when traveling with expensive items.
Research Where You’re Visiting Ahead Of Time
Researching the destination that you’re visiting ahead of time will also give you a head’s up on the crime and safety in the area and how little or how much valuables you feel comfortable bringing based on that. If I’m planning to do a lot of outdoor activities or the country I’m visiting isn’t very safe, or it’s just the environment that doesn’t call for me to dress up, I usually leave my valuables and designer items at home (aside from my camera equipment). On my last trip to Mexico, I saw an entire family sitting behind me on the plane decked out head to toe (along with their kids) in Chanel, Fendi, Moncler, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, and Versace and it really did seem a bit too much especially for this type of destination and knowing the crime rate here. You’re basically a walking billboard.
Always Stay Alert And Keep An Eye On Who’s Around You
Unfortunately, not everyone is trustworthy and it maybe better to be a little skeptical at times so that you’re on alert about your property especially when traveling with expensive items. Even if you’re not flashy, you could still be a target and it’s better to keep an eye on who’s around you so that you’re aware of your surroundings. If you turn away from your things, make sure someone else is watching your stuff for you. There was one time in Spain when my cousin turned away and his backpack got stolen (even though it was mostly family around) and his GameBoy, games, and wallet were all inside. Of course, that’s going to be a devastating loss for a little kid. Another time in France, my other cousin almost got his Rolex stolen right off his wrist but the thief wasn’t successful because my cousin felt it. And then the thief pretended to tell him to be careful and that his watch was falling, which was not true in any sense – I mean you would know that! And these people are very good at what they do so don’t let your guard down.
“Keep Everything With You At All Times” – Sometimes
People always say, to protect your belongings, keep everything with you at all times. Depending on the situation, I would say do this sometimes – but of course, this is always up to your own discretion and the situation you may be in. For me, it really depends on the country I’m in and if I’m going on an excursion where I’m diving or doing some outdoor activity that requires me to bring very little with me or in situations where I know I need to leave my bag behind on the tour bus or boat, I will leave my camera and passport locked up at the hotel in the safe. Also, depending on how safe we feel in the hotel, sometimes we would hide our documents in areas people wouldn’t necessarily look for in the first place – my husband worked in the hospitality industry in Miami for over a decade so he knows some good hiding spots.
Other times when I’m sure I’m going to have my bag or purse on me at all times, then I will feel more comfortable bringing more things with me. And sometimes, having your passport with you is essential for your ID purposes or even shopping purposes for discounts or tax refunds. I was in Edinburgh, Scotland at the Edinburgh Castle gift shop and was refused when trying to buy some whiskey souvenirs since I only had my driver’s license on me and they wanted to see my passport. Even when my parents were trying to buy it for me and I was standing beside them in line, because they already knew I didn’t have my passport on me, they refused my parents as well and then kicked me out of the store. This didn’t make any sense to me as we were very respectful (albeit maybe a little naïve actually) and the whole scenario didn’t make any sense. I later found a nice tourist who I gave my money to in order to help me buy it and got my souvenirs successfully that way. And if you want to get a tax refund at the end of your trip at the airport (especially in Europe),
If you’re traveling with more expensive items, sometimes it might be best to just use it all the time – such as your purse or jewelry that you just don’t take off. That way, it will never be out of your line of vision and you don’t need to leave it behind in case your hotel room gets ransacked. And that could be one of the best ways to protect your property when traveling.
Avoid Using Your Back Pockets (If You Have One)
This tip might apply more to men as we women have very small back pockets (or any pockets at all) unless we’re wearing cargo pants or some type of jeans. And even then, sometimes the pockets are too small to fit anything. But back pockets are some of the easiest ways to get your valuables such as your wallet or phone stolen. One swipe and you won’t even know who did it since they’re behind you. Keep your things in your bag or front pocket if you want to carry as little as possible. Sometimes, even leggings have a great thigh pocket where you can feel your phone or mini wallet at all times and it has an inconspicuous flap to make sure it’s not easily accessible or can fall out without you noticing. Plus, leggings are very form fitted so your property will be close to your body.
Use A Lock On Your Luggage, Especially When Left At The Hotel
If you like to keep your belongings in your luggage, it might be a good habit to use a lock at all times especially when left at the hotel. Hotel staff have access to your room at any time and even have the ability to open the room safe or your room can even get broken into. And there’s only so much you can do to keep your room safe when you’re not there. Even if I don’t have anything expensive or worth stealing, I still like closing up my luggage every time I leave the room. And if you do have valuables, I think it may give you peace of mind to have them locked up where you’re the only one who has the key.
There was one time when I was traveling and I actually lost the key to unlock my luggage and I had to call the hotel maintenance guy to help me break the lock, and even then it wasn’t easy and took a while to do. There is no guarantee that even using a lock can protect your things, but at least it slows them down and helps you further protect your property when traveling with expensive items.
Put Your Cash In Different Places
Probably one of the most obvious tips, but a good reminder. It’s always a good idea to disperse your cash (even credit cards) and put it in different places should anything happen. This way, you won’t be left with nothing and still probably have enough to do what you need to until you get the situation sorted out. I like to bring different credit cards with me and I put them in different places for backup including obviously having one or two in my wallet for everyday usability. I also do the same with cash and take a little bit out with me at a time as I’m traveling. Understandably, you’ll need to remember where you put everything but it’s also a good surprise when you find the money months later!
Try To Blend In And Not Stand Out Too Much
In certain scenarios, it may also be better to blend in with the locals and not stand out too much as it can make you a target. It could be a good idea to keep a low profile and make it appear that you aren’t that different from everyone else. Although your demeanor and the way you carry yourself can be telltale signs, it doesn’t mean you can’t wear or bring the more luxurious things that you have. Because even if you’re going to be traveling with expensive items, you can wear more low-key jewelry or luxury goods that don’t have logos plastered everywhere.
Don’t Put Your Valuables In Your Checked Luggage
Like the above-mentioned tip to keep everything with you at all times, remember to not put your valuables in your checked luggage. Things can get stolen or damaged before and after your flight and you want to take all your valuables with you on your carry-on to ensure the security of your things. It is also better to make sure to keep this carry-on under the seat in front of you and not in the overhead compartments to really protect your property when traveling. It only takes a moment for your things to go missing and you want to do your best to avoid that especially if they’re unique and hard-to-acquire items. Sometimes, airline policies and even your insurance won’t be able to cover the cost of how much your item is worth unless you have each article listed with your insurance and you purchased it for that item specifically, such as an engagement ring.
Opt For Bags Or Purses With A Zipper
To ensure extra safety of your personal items when traveling and exploring your destination country, opt for bags or purses with a zipper instead of an open bag where things can easily fall out or where a hand can sneak in. I know it’s easy to use a tote bag like the Louis Vuitton Neverfull or Dior Book Tote since it’s large, convenient, and stylish – but it’s definitely not the safest for traveling unless you’re just planning to use it as a very expensive beach bag.
Ensure Your Travel Insurance Or Home Insurance Covers Your Belongings
Another way you can protect your property when traveling with expensive items is to ensure your travel insurance or homeowner/renter insurance covers these particular items as I’ve mentioned above. Through travel insurance or even credit card travel insurance, usually any lost or stolen items gets covered up to a certain amount of money. With homeowner/rent insurance, the items you take with you when traveling is considered contents of your home and there will be a maximum amount as well depending on how much coverage you opted for. Another option is if you insure a specific article or valuable item if it is worth so much that your basic home insurance does not cover it. Your best bet to make sure all the valuables you bring on your trip are covered is to read all the fine print and purchase the right type of insurance for you.
If Absolutely Needed, Keep An Apple AirTag With Your Property
Another great way to keep track of your things and to protect your property when traveling these days is to literally just put a tracker on them. If you’re prone to losing your things and want to make sure you know where certain items are at all times and you’re an iPhone user, you can purchase Apple AirTags to do so. You can use the Find My app and as long as an AirTag is within Bluetooth range of anyone’s iPhone or other Apple device, it can passively communicate with it and help you locate your items so there isn’t a defined range of how far an AirTag can be tracked.
In all, I think it’s important to do your research as well as use discretion on what you feel comfortable with bringing on your travels. Valuable and expensive items are not always easy to replace and there could also be an emotional loss associated as well.
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