Security

Money, Personal Belongings and Personal Safety

The areas where one is concerned about security is with respect to personal belongs and to self.

Money

A money belt is a good way to keep money and personal documents safe. Major options include a neck or a waist belt. Both can be bulky and uncomfortable especially in hot climates. I take both and trade off when one becomes too unbearable.

Some people have pockets build into underwear, clothes. Other security measures include a belt where money can be tucked into.

Lots of options exist and these will protect you from most common theft, as clothes need to be removed in order to get at the valuables.

Some hotels/hostels have a hotel safe. Make certain you count your money and record the amount, as hotel staff has been known to liberate some of the smaller cash; they will take only a small amount so that it is not immediately apparent.

Another option is to put the money in your locked suitcase/pack. I distribute it in 2 – 3 places in my pack so it is hard to find. Also put a decoy near the top with expired credit cards and a small amount of local and US cash. Locks will not deter a thief but you can make it difficult for them. Thieves also do not want to risk being caught so after finding the decoy will move somewhere else.

What Belongs in the Money Belt

I keep all my valuables in my money belt, around my waist or around my neck. Remember to put everything into plastic bags. I use the small zip bags or the small light weight sandwich bags. I have a separate bag for money and one for my passport as I am often asked for identification at hostels, banks, and long range public transport.

Cash: I carry a maximum of $400 in local currency and a maximum of $200US in cash. Althought it is possible to obtain money from the ATM remember international transactions are between $3 and $5. So it is important to weigh the cost of the amount of money transactions.

Travelers' cheques: I carry a maximum of $300US in travelers cheques. The remainder are hidden in my backpack. I also carry the travelers cheques receipts in my money belt.

Passport: In many countries ID is asked for. If it have put my valuables in my safe I alwasy carry a copy of my passport.

Airline tickets: I pull apart my airline ticket and put only the vouchers in plastic protection in my money belt. I have a copy of the details or my e-ticket in my email.

Credit cards: A (maximum 2) and my ATM card. I have a second ATM card with a friend or family member back at home. If my ATM card is stolen or becomes demagnitized I can have the other one couriered to me. I always keep my cards in a small paper holder to decrease the chance of demagnitization.

Contact Details: I have a list of all credit cards, travelers cheques, passport information and contact information such as banks and credit cards in my money belt and also several hidden in various places in my backpack. I use a code so it would be a challenge to understand what the credit card numbers mean if someone gets access to the data. I also email the information to myself. i also have several copies of my passport and visa hidden in my backpack and also in my wallet.

Drivers License: In some cases an international drivers's license is necessary. I keep this in my money belt.

The Wallet

The money belt should not be used for day-to-day activities, but once per day to remove the necessary money for that day. You don't want to draw attention to it unnecessarily. A wallet can be used for daily transactions.

I carry my wallet in a purse hung across my shoulder. I keep only daily spending in my wallet and business cards and other secondary identification such as hostel cards.

Shoes and Bras

In higher crime countries it's worthwhile to deposit some money in my shoes/socks or my bra. While I've never been robbed of everything,when I was traveling especially in Africa I heard many stories from people who have.

Luggage

For journeys on public transport which requires an over night trip I will secure my luggage using a lightweight bicycle cable with a combination lock. The works as a deterrent as it will take more effort to take your luggage over someone elses.

In a hostel or guest house I always keep my luggage locked with a combination lock. I keep my personal items with me even when I go to the shower. If the hostel or guest house has a safe I will put my personal items in the safe. I always have a record of the items.

In some cases I will secure my luggage in the hostel to the bed or store it under the bed.

Watches and Jewelry

While traveling in unknown lands never wear expensive watches or jewelry, or even watches or jewelry which look expensive. I wear a timex watch with a velcro strap which has an illumination light so I can see it at night. It has two time zones and an alarm. I take a few nice pieces of costume jewelry (earings, necklace and bracelets). In some countries I buy a few pieces of jewelry from the local markets.

Trains and Buses

In some countries checking your pack on a train is the same as kissing it goodbye. Backpackers always carry their packs onto trains, usually placing them on an overhead rack in easy sight. While sleeping place your pack under your feet, or strap or padlock it to yourself or something immovable. If you have a sleeping compartment, bring your pack in. These precautions are enough to deter most thieves, who move on to easier targets.

Unless you keep your pack to the size of a large daypack--no more than about 3000 cubic inches (50 liters)--bus drivers will sometimes insist your pack be placed underneath, or on top of, the bus. Both are not so good, but on top is much worse. For one, it can get wet up there. For another, anyone can climb up at any time and loot your pack, or toss it into a field to retrieve later. Or on a narrow mountain road as the bus plunges over a cliff, the pack could fly off without you.

Snatch and Run Thieves

Snatch and run thieves are usually teenagers who grab a purse, camera bag, fanny pack, or wallet and run like hell or speed away on a motorbike, so beware prowling motorbikes and teenagers. Straps may be cut with a knife or scissors, or you dragged along behind a sputtering Vespa, causing heads to turn. While I have never encountered this type of crime, it is said to be prevalent in some large Italian cities.

Don't carry a purse or camera bag on the street side of the sidewalk, and develop the habit of holding both securely. If you carry a purse, don't have money or valuables inside. Use a small nylon tote instead of a camera case that shouts money. A confident, rapid walking pace is also a deterrent.

In some South American cities, many travelers walk with packs in front to prevent thieves from slicing it open from behind, dumping contents onto the street. In a wild melee of grabbing and running, you are left with a slashed pack.

Reading this one might expect good technique would be to run from corner to corner in paranoid terror. But since easy walking is essential for observing and feeling the world, the best compromise may be to relax and enjoy while remaining alert to constantly changing surroundings.

Personal Safety