Whether you are embarking on a solo or group trip, loss or theft of money, ID, or personal belongings can quickly turn a dream trip in to a nightmare.

We all hear the warnings and precautions, and while many are rooted in fear mongering and are overblown: bad things can and do happen anywhere.

Loss of important items is also very possible when navigating new places, moving around, and being carefree while on vacation.

These are some steps that every traveler can take to protect their belongings and mitigate crisis in the event of loss or theft.

Phone, Passport, Wallet

You may be familiar with “Phone, keys, wallet” that little reminder we all sing to ourselves as we pat out pockets as we leave the house every day? Well, with travel the big three are: Phone, passport, wallet. These three things are generally our lifeline when traveling and the biggest burden to lose.

Here are some ways to protect the Big Three, and be prepared for the worst in the unlikely event they are lost or stolen.

Embassy

Before going on your trip, research and make note of where your country’s embassy is located.

This is where you will need to go in the event of emergency or lost passport.

Also make note of where the tourist police stations are located. Many cities have police forces specifically for tourists. Hopefully you will not need to use this information, but in the unlikely event of theft or loss, this is where you will first file a report.

Passport

Take photos of your passport.

Be sure to have photos of the picture page including all information and the barcode on the inside of the back cover. Having both will expedite getting a replacement in the event your passport is lost or stolen.

Email your passport to yourself so you have an electronic copy you can access from anywhere in the event your phone is also lost or stolen. Use encrypted email if you have the capability. I also take the extra step or sending copies to a trusted friend who can access them in case of an emergency.

Have a printed copy of your passport to carry with you, separate from your passport.

While Out &About

This is an area of great debate.

There are 2 schools of thought on this:

1 - Always carry your passport on you, at all times.

2- Safely store it at your accommodation.

There really is no wrong answer and it comes down to personal preference and comfort.

Yes, some countries (see: Italy and China) require tourists to carry their passports at all times, however; I have never heard of anyone being stopped and asked to present their passport (that does not mean it doesn’t, or can’t, happen). In most countries that require carrying your passport, a copy will suffice if asked to present ID. Be sure to check the specific requirements of the country you are visiting.

If you opt to carry your passport while touring, be sure to keep it in a secure location and on you at all times. Do not leave it in outerwear such as jackets, coats, etc. I was reminded of this when I left my jacket in the overhead bin with my passport in it…. luckily I realized quickly and a flight attendant still had it when I ran back.

When carrying your passport, be sure it is separate from other forms of ID (such as your driver’s license or other ID). In the event one is lost, you will have the other.

Credit/Debit Cards

As a general practice, always carry at least 2 forms of payment: 1 credit card, 1 debit card, and carry them separately. If one is lost or stolen, you will have the other.

Apple and Samsung pay are very widely accepted in many parts of the world and this is a great way to avoid having to open your purse/wallet or remove your card.

As an added bonus to using Apple or Samsung pay: if your card is lost or compromised, most banks can issue a new electronic card immediately. This happened to my friend while we were traveling in Costa Rica - her card had fraudulent activity and needed to be canceled, but Chase bank was apple to issue her a new electronic card within minutes.

Depending on your bank, you may need to alert them you will be traveling outside the country. If you are unsure if this is required from your bank, it is always a good idea to do so anyway.

Confirm Multi-factor authorization (MFA) methods align with the type of service you will have. If your bank requires text approval, but you won’t have phone access, you will want to change the MFA method to email (if you will have data) or turn it off.

If you will be relying on public wifi, use a VPN as an added layer of protection.

Be sure to have the last 4 digits of your cards memorized or stored somewhere, as you will likely need this to report a card lost or stolen.

Cash

Whether or not to bring cash with you or use ATMs is heavily dependent on destination and preference.

If you don’t plan to exchange currency on arrival, the safest route to take is using an ATM to withdraw on arrival. To be extra cautious, make frequent small withdrawals to avoid every carrying large amounts of cash.

If you are carrying cash, be sure to keep it separate in smaller amounts and whenever possible, don’t carry it all at once. Only take what you need for the day. I carry 2 small change purses in place of a wallet and 1/2 my daily cash and one card in each one, if one is lost, I have the other.

Cell Phone

Your phone can truly be your lifeline when traveling and replacing it abroad can be very challenging and/or expensive.

Some precautions to take to protect your phone and be prepared in the event your phone is lost or stolen:

Use a lanyard to wear your phone around your neck or wrist, this makes it much harder to set down and walk away and can be a deterrent for pickpockets.

Don’t have your phone out in your hand while walking and be careful when using it to take photos (this is where lanyard is helpful). If taking bus, tuktuk, trolley, etc tour: do not hold your phone out the window. It is incredibly easy for someone to just grab it and keep going as you go the other way.

Be sure your “Find My Phone” function is activated.

Share your location with a friend or family member.

Check what MFA is in place on your phone plan. If it is all text and your phone is lost or stolen, it can be very difficult to access your own information, file claims, etc.

Carry an old phone that can be connected to your service, e-sim or physical sim card, especially for those traveling solo or longer term. When my phone was stolen last year, my back up phone was a life saver until a friend could bring me a new one.

General Safety Practices

While the first piece of advice most will give to avoid pickpockets is “don’t stand out as a tourist”, I think that is a bit ridiculous.

We are tourists.

We look like them.

And if we are in touristic areas, and touring… we no matter what we are wearing and how we present, it is pretty obvious.

There are, however; many universal precautions we can take to lesson our chances of being chosen by pickpockets, or accidentally leaving things behind.

Pay Attention

Being aware of our surroundings is our biggest line of defense.

Avoid looking down at your phone while walking. Step aside if you need to check directions or pull something up on your phone. Ideally, step aside and put your back to a wall, so you can see all the way around you.

Pay attention to the people around you and anyone or anything that may seem out of place or off.

Be aware of common scams that are meant to cause a distraction and take your attention (like signing petitions, putting bracelets on you, randomly approaching and engaging you in conversation).

Luggage

Carrying more luggage than you can handle can be a huge distraction and make you easily distracted when navigated transit systems, directions, sidewalks, etc.

Unfortunately, I saw a women have her purse stolen on the Paris metro as she was struggling to get all of her luggage on to the train, someone grabbed the purse she had put on top of a suitcase and took off. The doors closed before she even had time to react.

Having too much luggage can also be an easy way for someone to approach to “help” and can result in pickpocketing or theft.

Purses/Backpacks

There are many bag brands that market “anti-theft”, “slash-proof”, “RFID” and other safety measures and whether or not you use one is entirely up to you. There are those who will not travel without one, some who believe they are entirely unnecessary, and some others who believe they make travelers more of a target.

RFID is also an area of debate, as many reports state they are entirely unnecessary and marketing schemes and others say they are helpful. With advanced technology and protections, it is much more likely your information will be “skimmed” virtually than from your actual card, so be sure to take precautions with electronic accounts (such as MFA, and a VPN) and don’t rely entirely on an RFID wallet or purse.

“Anti-theft” purses and backpacks are also equally susceptible to theft of being lost if they are removed from your body (ie: left on the table or floor when dining, put on a bench next to you when you take a break, put on a counter when you make purchases) so be sure to whatever type of bag you are using, stays on you or securely near you at all times.

I have personally never used an anti-theft bag, but only use a crossbody bag or convertible bag with multiple closures (inside and outside zippers, as well as snaps). This makes it much more challenging for a pickpocket to get to anything of value without being noticed.

If using a backpack, a roll top is an added layer of protection, and others use a small carabiner or twist ties to hold the zippers together. When in crowded areas, move it to your front (this is also courteous so as not to hit anyone with it) the same applies when on public transit.

Public Transit

Public transit can be a common place for pickpocketing or theft, especially during busy and crowded times.

Some precautions to take:

Move your purse/backpack/bag to your front.

Do not sit or stand near the doors. If you do, be sure you do not have your phone out and your bags are securely on you when at stops and doors open.

Do not have anything in your back pockets, or coat pockets unless the zip closed.

Added Note: If using a transit card that taps, remove it from your wallet to avoid accidentally tapping a credit card - this is especially important if you need to tap again upon exit - you may think your transit card initially tapped and incur fees.