Planning to travel abroad? Whilst some countries are safer than others are, you should still always be careful with your money when visiting somewhere unfamiliar. Tourists are often targeted as victims of pick-pocketing and fraud simply because the locals assume that by being able to afford travel, you have lots of money. Here are just a few ways in which you can protect finances when traveling abroad.
Don’t flaunt your cash
If you are pulling out wads of cash at a local bar or stopping in the street to count your cash, you’ll instantly draw the attention to yourself, particularly in a less developed country. Try to be careful when digging into your wallet or purse so that you don’t attract eagle-eyed pickpockets. Similarly, be careful wearing your wealth on your sleeve – in touristy destinations and wealthy cities it generally doesn’t matter if you wear expensive clothes, but if you’re trekking through South East Asia or staying in a hostel in Brazil, you probably don’t want to be dressing in designer outfits and displaying jewelry.
Hide your cash creatively
If you’re carrying lots of cash, you shouldn’t ever keep it all in your purse. Find different places to stash different amounts – but don’t make these obvious. When hiding money in your suitcase or backpack, hide it in places thieves won’t look. Some people cut open the lining of their bag to hide cash, whilst others get creative with items that thieves won’t touch such as storing cash in a sock. If you’re at the beach and want to leave your items unattended whilst you go in the sea, you could even hide your cash in an empty sun lotion bottle. Traveling new parents meanwhile could consider using an unused diaper to store cash in – no one is going to hunt for cash there.
Use fanny pack.
Use a fanny pack
Fanny packs aren’t the coolest accessories in the world, but they are some of the safest for keeping money safe on the move. By always having the money in a pack around your waist at the front, you can always see it and can prevent a pickpocket getting to your cash. Read this fanny pack guide at WheresSharon to help you locate the best one.
Use a credit card
A good way to keep your money safe could be to avoid using cash altogether and stick to plastic. Credit cards are even safer than debit cards as they can allow you to make refunds if anyone does manage to clone your card (you can even claim back money on cancelled flights and faulty souvenirs). Look into the top credit cards by The Motley Fool to find the best option. Be wary that you won’t be able to use a credit card in some places around the world.
Take care with ATM’s
When taking money out of a cashpoint, be sure that you can trust the ATM. If possible, stick to cashpoints inside banks. Thieves will often set up cameras near outdoor ATM’s to try to clone people’s cards and get people’s PIN numbers. Other ATM’s in secluded spots can be popular locations for a mugging. By using a cashpoint inside the bank, you can have more guarantee of staying safe.