The last thing you want to deal with on holiday is losing your money or having it stolen.
Whether you carry cards or cash, we explain how to safely store and carry your money while you’re abroad.
How to carry your money on holiday
There are some handy methods you can use to steer clear of theft or loss during your trip.
Use a money belt
Money belts are a secure way to keep your cash or cards safe on holiday.
Split your cash and cards
If you’re travelling with other adults on holiday, consider splitting your cash and payment cards between you.
If one person carries everything and loses the money or gets robbed, all the funds for your trip could be gone.
But if you split the money between you, you always have a back-up!
Don’t carry too much cash
Nowadays, cash is less popular than card or smartphone payments.
But you may still be tempted to carry a wad of cash around on holiday to avoid card fees.
Remember, keeping too much on you can be dangerous. Think about balancing your funds between cash and card instead.
That means you have both kinds of payment method on you if a shop or restaurant only accepts one or the other.
Check out our holiday budgeting guide for some extra money tips too.
Don’t put too much on your card
Once you’ve decided which credit or debit card you’re going to use on holiday, transfer any extra funds to a different account.
Just keep the money you need for the trip on your chosen card.
Get travel insurance
Travel insurance is there to give you a safety net if the worst happens on holiday, including if your money is stolen.
How to keep your money safe on holiday
Here are a few ways to make sure your money is safe and secure on holiday.
Use a safe
Some hotels and apartments will have a safe in each room so you can lock your valuables away when you’re out and about. If you don’t use a safe that’s available to you, your travel insurance may not cover you for stolen items.
If your room doesn’t have a safe and your accommodation can’t give you one, you should find other hard-to-find hiding places in your hotel room.
If you have money or valuables stolen from your hotel room and you haven’t tried to hide them at all, your travel insurance might not cover you.
Keep things with you
You may want to keep highly valuable things like your payment cards on you if there’s no safe available.
You could keep them in a secure compartment in your bag, as long as the bag itself is secure and you look after it well!
Avoid risky spots
Make sure you never leave your bag unattended when you’re out on holiday, and don’t leave it anywhere that it’s easy to steal, like...
- hanging off the outer side of your chair
- sat out on the table
- in a chair next to you on public transport
A great way to keep your bag safe when you’re at a restaurant or cafe is to loop one or more of the handles around a leg of your chair or table.
Be aware on public transport
When you’re sitting on public transport, keep your bag in your lap with one of the handles looped through your arm.
You should also keep an eye out for anyone who’s acting suspiciously or is looking at people’s possessions.
Don’t forget about your passport
Your passport may be even more important than your money on holiday, as it’s what lets you get back home.
It’s super important to keep your passport in a safe place. Don’t forget, you need to put it in a safe if your accommodation has one. If it doesn’t, find a good hiding place for it.
When travelling to and from your holiday spot, make sure your passport is stored safely in your bag in a zipped pocket.
If your passport is lost or stolen, contact the closest embassy or consulate straight away so they can start helping you.
Scams and pickpocketing on holiday
Unfortunately, scams and pickpocketing aren’t uncommon - especially in popular tourist destinations like Barcelona, Paris or New York.
Thieves often see tourists as easy targets, as they don’t know the area well and aren’t clued-up on the risks like the locals.
Also, pickpocketing is easier in large crowds where they can hide and disappear easily.
How to avoid pickpocketing on holiday
To try and avoid pickpockets during your trip, you can:
- wear your backpack on your front in large crowds
- wear shoulder bags on the side of your body that’s away from the road
- don’t carry your phone or wallet in your hand
- avoid going out alone at night
- don't leave your bag or wallet anywhere unattended, even if you’re only a few feet away
The signs of scams on holiday
If you’re going to buy a product or service (e.g. a boat tour, event tickets or rental car) on your trip, here are a few warning signs it could be a scam:
- suspiciously low prices compared to other similar places
- cash-only or bank transfer-only payments
- very little detail about the activity or service
- no website or reviews for the company
- unusual locations details (e.g. the address doesn’t show up on your satnav)
- unsolicited emails or texts
Head to our travel safety hub to learn more about our tips for staying safe on holiday.
What to do if your money is stolen on holiday
If your money has been stolen while on holiday, here are the steps you should take:
- Call or go to the local police station. It’s very important to report the crime as soon as possible.
- Make sure you get a police report for the crime (including details like how much money was stolen and where), as you’ll need this if you make a claim on your travel insurance.
- Report the theft to your accommodation provider too (in writing), as they might be able to give you a report of the theft - it’s best to have as much evidence as possible for your claim.
- If any of your payment cards have been stolen, either call your bank or use your banking app to freeze your card. You should also report your cards stolen to your bank.
- Contact your travel insurer to tell them about what’s happened in case you need to claim – include as much detail as possible about what’s happened, such as how much was stolen and where the theft happened.
How travel insurance can help you
Even if you do everything you can to avoid losing your money or having it stolen, these things can still happen.
Travel insurance is there to give you a safety net if something goes wrong on your trip, including if your money is stolen. But remember to check your policy book to see what is and isn't covered.
