How to keep your money and documents safe while traveling?
Quite recently, we wrote about what to do if you lose your passport abroad. Today, we will tell you how to avoid this and other troubles you might encounter during your vacation.
Thoroughly planning your travel route or perfectly packing your suitcase is not all you need to do when preparing for a trip.
Contacts
Write down the contact information for your country’s consulate in the country or countries you are traveling to in advance. Additionally, if you are traveling with a bank card, write down the phone number of the bank that issued it to you. This will help you quickly block the card if it is stolen or if someone withdraws money from it without your knowledge. It would also be wise to write down the phone numbers of emergency services (police, ambulance) and the contacts of your closest relatives who can be reached in an emergency.
Backup Copies of Documents
Be sure to make a copy of your passport. Ideally, you should have both a paper and an electronic copy. The electronic copy is most conveniently stored in your email or on a cloud service, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, etc. This way, you can access your data at any time. Ideally, you should have backup copies of all important documents required for your trip: hotel booking, airline ticket itinerary receipt, insurance, etc. Keep them separate from the original set and don’t forget about an electronic copy.
Always keep copies separate from the originals!
How to store money while traveling?
There are a few rules here. Firstly, never keep all your money in one place. Divide it into several parts, and only take as much as you plan to spend with you when you go out. You need to be very careful at airports and train stations. This is where tourists most often let their guard down and lose their money or documents. Secondly, don’t rely solely on your card. If something happens to it, you’ll be left without money. Always carry at least a small amount of cash with you. Thirdly, do not leave money in plain sight in your hotel room. If there’s a safe in the room, put it there. Some hotels offer safes at the reception, which is better than keeping money in your suitcase. If you leave even a small amount on the table in your room, it won’t necessarily be stolen; the maid might think it’s her tip and take it with a clear conscience.
