More than often we would hear stories of how people lost all their money in a foreign land, and the troubles they had to face because of it. For the locals, especially con artists, it is easier to recognize who are travellers. Even before you could notice, they will vanish with whatever cash you have on you. There are many stories where travellers lost not just their cash but their luggage and other precious belongings like jewellery or those expensive items they purchased at the destination.
So it is extremely important that you be totally alert and smart to avoid such situations while you travel. Below we have listed some tips that will help you in protecting your money while travelling.
- All Eggs in One Basket – Never keep all your cash in one place. For example, if you are carrying all your cash plus credit and debit cards in your wallet, and if you misplace or lose your wallet, you are left with nothing. It is safer to divide all the cash you have into different piles and then plan to strategically keep them in different places. You will need a few small pouches or zipped plastic bags in which you can store your cash. If you have more than one credit and debit cards, even those need to be divided and stashed in different places. Some cash and a credit and debit card you can carry in your wallet. The other different zipped bags containing cash can be stored in your luggage that you are carrying. You also need to carry some on your person. Apart from your wallet you can store your cash in money belts, but waist money belts can be an easy target, hence you can use leg money belts, which no one can access.
- Inside Your Hotel Room – Since you will not be carrying all your luggage with you wherever you go, you can find some safe place in your hotel room to stash some cash. Oftentimes travellers have lost their cash inside their room from their baggage. You can tape some of your cash which is inside the zip bag under a furniture or the bottom of a drawer or inside the shower curtain rod, or inside the zipped cushions on chairs.
- Avoid ATMs that are Secluded – In an unknown place, visiting a secluded ATM that too in the late or early hours can be really dangerous. There are many incidents where travellers have been robbed at gunpoint or knifepoint at ATMs. Use money machines that are inside your hotel building or use ATMs in a crowded area. If you cannot avoid going to the ATM at odd hours, then let your friend or partner accompany you, it may deter the thugs.
- Change Passwords – In today’s digitally advanced world, most cash transactions happen online, and you might be using your smartphone or laptop to make all financial transactions, hence when you travel, it is highly important to secure your devices with strong passwords. Also be careful when you use your credit cards and ATM passwords, do it carefully so that it is not visible to others. Change them frequently so that no one can access it.
Keep watching this space for more international travel tips, guides, and various hacks that can help while travelling.
Martin Wynn
