No one wants to plan for a trip only after carefullyreviewing their cheaptravel options, including cheap airplane tickets, cheap auto rentals, discounttravel deals, discount hotel rooms, and cheap vacation packages, onlyto have it spoiled later by having your cash stolen.
There is a definite balancing act between safety andutility when it comes to carrying cash on a trip. On the one hand you want to place your moneywhere it is difficult for thieves to steal it. However, at the same time when it comes to paying for something you wantto be able to get to it without having to strip off clothes or pay hide andseek with a bags hidden pockets.
The following are suggestions for carrying money safely andelegantly when on the road, according to Christine Sarkis:
Divvyup your travel money and credit cards into multiple safe spots. If all of your cash is in one place, it onlytakes a single thief to totally wipe you out. If you want to carry some money in a bag, then you should keep somemoney attached to your person.
Onbody storage is a wise move these days and includes such options as brastashes, as well as long johns, underwear, and undershirts with built-inpockets for safe storage. On bodystorage accessories are especially useful if you are sleeping someplace thatdoes not offer a secure place to store cash and other valuables. Remember that on body storage is not analternative to a wallet since accessing that money can take extra time andmakes it obvious to others that you are hiding money. Fanny packs are not a good substitute formoney belts, since they tend to make you more vulnerable to thieves by markingyou as a tourist.
Makesmaller denominations of currency easily accessible. When you dress each morning make certain youhave a variety of small bills and coins ready for purchases such as food,souvenirs, and attraction entry fees. Pack larger bills in your under clothing money pouch, or place them in asecure part of your wallet or bag.
Travelwith an anti-theft purse, backpack, and/or bag. Such bags are designed specifically for travel, and offer such featuresas being cut-proof, and often come with steel-cable-reinforced shoulder straps,slash-proof fabric, and locking zippers. Anti-theft bags are available online from Magellans, Pacsafe, andTrevelon.
Trimyour wallet before departing and take out everything except what you will useon your trip. Not only will your travellighter, but if your wallet ends up lost or stolen, you will have less toreplace.
Considercarrying a cheap wallet and then add some small bills and make it look moredesirable by including one or two of the sample credit cards that come withoffers in the mail.
Buy atravel only wallet so that any credit cards you carry will be in snug pocketsand not slip out accidentally.
Adaptto your destinations money culture. Ina cash economy, you will want to carry a variety of bills and coins. In much of Europe and parts of Asia, youshould make a point of carrying a credit card with an embedded chip.
Takeadvantage of money alternatives when available. If you will frequently be visiting metro stations or bus lines sometimesit is possible to purchase a multi-use ticket or buy a bunch of tickets at adiscount at one time. That way youlessen your chances of losing your wallet by retrieving and stowing it lessfrequently.
Sometimesthe best way to protect your cash is to limit how much you carry at any singlemoment in time. Hotels in-room safesare usually pretty secure. If you areconcerned about that option, ask if your hotel has a safe-deposit box behindthe desk.
www.cheapfares.com