10 No-Brainer Tips From Travel Experts To Keep Your Money and Possessions Secure
Written by
Martin Dasko
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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According to a recent report from Deloitte, 53% of Americans plan to take a leisure vacation during the summer, a 48% increase from 2024. The same report also noted that travelers were expected to spend 13% more this summer, or about $4,606 in total on travel plans.
While there are certain travel tips that may seem like common sense, it’s essential to review best practices for saving money and keeping your possessions secure for your upcoming summer travel plans.
The following are 10 no-brainer tips from travel experts on how to keep your money and possessions secure.
1. Use AirtTags
Jason Stevens, the CEO of Wayfairer Travel, stressed the importance of using an Apple AirTag in a CNBC report. He recommends throwing one into your checked bag before taking off on a trip. This could help airline employees track the bags down if they were to get lost.
“We love AirTags for tracking checked luggage and valuable gear, but be sure to check or replace the batteries before your trip,” Alicia Walter, a travel expert and co-founder of The Passport Couple, added.
You want to invest in these when you’re out shopping for your summer adventure.
2. Keep Small Amounts of Cash on Hand
“We keep only a small amount of cash on us and store it in secure places, like deep in a zipped backpack or in a crossbody bag,” remarked Walter. “We skip money belts as they’re a dead giveaway you’re a tourist.”
You’ll want to ensure that your accommodations provide a safe place to store your cash and valuable possessions, so you’re not out exploring with a significant amount of money on you.
3. Carry Backup Cards
Walter suggests that you always travel with at least two credit cards and two debit cards. Keep one set on you and the other safely stored at your accommodation in case of loss or theft on either side. You don’t want to be stuck in a foreign country without access to your money.
4. Buy a Cross-Body Phone Strap
Walter believes that these are a game-changer for security reasons, and it’s a bonus that they can also be stylish. The straps let you keep your phone ready for navigation or photos while making it much harder for thieves to try to snatch it away from you.
5. Stay Off The Beaten Path To Save Money
When it comes to accommodations and saving money on costs, you can explore options off the beaten path. While this travel tip may seem like a no-brainer, it’s easy to get caught up in the hype of a popular destination and forget that there are cheaper options.
6. Confirm Your Reservations and Verify Websites
“Take extra caution when booking accommodations for your trip,” said Darius Kingsley, head of consumer business practices for JPMorgan Chase & Co. “Scammers try to mimic or impersonate popular travel websites by recreating familiar branding, logos or company verbiage.”
When searching for travel accommodations, it’s essential to perform a scam check by researching unfamiliar travel sites online. This involves searching for them and looking for complaints to read about potential issues.
Also, with Airbnb scams on the rise, it’s essential to always confirm your reservations. You’ll want to go through the reviews on home-sharing platforms to verify the legitimacy of the listing. A major red flag is when a listing doesn’t have any reviews, especially if it seems too good to be true. This leads us to the next point.
7. Watch Out for Suspicious Deals
Kingsley warned that you should be cautious of too-good-to-be-true travel offers that come via email, phone calls or social media. Whenever a deal seems suspicious, you’ll want to take a moment to verify it because you don’t want to be scammed out of your summer budget.
You’ll also want to be cautious when receiving any requests about additional payments or if you’re asked to change the way you pay at the last minute.
“For example, if you’re renting a vacation place through a rental app or agency, be extra cautious if the owner asks you to pay them separately outside of the app,” Kingsley elaborated.
8. Check Your Travel Documents
You won’t be able to travel if your documents aren’t up to date. Many countries will require your passport to be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay. It’s also important to remember that you’ll need a REAL ID to travel domestically.
9. Be Flexible With Your Dates
If you want to save some additional money on your summer travel plans, consider being flexible with your dates. Long weekends and holidays will have a higher demand, which drives prices up. You can try to find deals by going during the week or during a slower period in the summer.
10. Stay Vigilant When Accessing Your Money
Kingsley warned that it’s also important to be mindful of using Wi-Fi safely and avoid logging into financial accounts or using sensitive credentials when using public WIFI. You’ll also want to stay vigilant when using your bank card at ATMs on the road. You’ll want to look around and ensure that there aren’t any thieves around.
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