5 tips to avoid an upset during your holidays

For most, holidays are the perfect time of the year. It's time to unwind, relax and enjoy free time. But, at times, that state of relaxation can lead us to be somewhat careless with our belongings, which makes us a target of thiefs.

As in Eurochange we think that holidays are to enjoy them without having to worry about these issues, today we give you 5 tips to make your holidays go smoothly.

On the beach

Habitual situation: you go with friends or with the family to the beach, you all want to enjoy a bath together and get in the water to appease the heat. On the way back you realize that a backpack, a purse, a phone, a wallet are missing... In the beach destinations, especially on the busiest beaches, the thieves camouflage themselves to perfection. At first sight they look like tourists with their caps, their sunglasses or the newspaper under their arms. Nothing would make us suspect them. But they are well trained, they watch their victims and they are very fast, so in that moment when you turn around or submerge yourself in the water, someone may have taken some of your belongings.

Our tip: with a quick search on the Internet you will see that there are a lot of more or less sophisticated knick-knacks to keep your belongings safe. However, we recommend a little bit of good sense. What valuables are necessary (although not essential) on the beach? The mobile phone, cash or a card, an identification and a key (car, hotel, apartment...). Nothing else. Don’t carry the bulging wallet full of Tesco, Sainsbury’s and more cards. You will not need them and, in case of suffering a theft, it will be a nightmare to cancel them. For the 4 things that are really necessary you can choose to buy a waterproof sleeve/bag. They are a little bigger than a mobile phone and in them you can keep what is strictly necessary and take it to the water during the bath without danger.

On busy streets

Habitual situation: you are walking through the busiest tourist streets, with your backpack on your shoulders, while you contemplate or photograph monuments. In your backpack you carry your wallet, your money, your phone, the key to your accommodation,... While you are absorbed in the views and taking advantage of the tumult, someone stealthily opens your backpack and grabs your wallet with skill. Close the backpack so that you don’t realize anything until you want to pay for the food in a restaurant and see that you don’t have your wallet.

Our tip: as in the previous case, we recommend that you analyze the valuables that are essential to carry. The mobile phone or camera, identification, money and cards and key to the accommodation or car. They are again 4 things and, on this occasion, it’s not necessary to carry all the cards we have. Of course, you will want to bring a bottle of water, the travel guide, the selfie stick, the hat,... With which the backpack is essential to take everything.

You can do two things. The first options is to get an anti-theft backpack. In these backpacks the rack system has been improved, they are hidden, which makes it more complicated to open them. The second one is to keep carrying your usual backpack, but take your valuables (remember, 4 things) in a fanny pack or a running style belt, which you can wear discreetly and safely.

On a terrace

Habitual situation: after a long day at the beach or walking in the sun in the streets of the city where you are staying, you leave the hotel newly-showered ready to enjoy a cool night. You choose the terrace that you like the most for a drink or to enjoy a delicious dinner. You take your mobile phone to share a photo of the moment and leave it on the table or leave your bag hanging on the back of the chair and prepare to enjoy the moment. In a moment someone passes by your table, something falls to the floor or someone shows you something to distract your attention and, when you look again, your phone or your bag are gone.

Our tip: we will once again insist on what is really necessary. Shorten the list of objects you have to carry and choose the smallest you can to carry it. Keep it always at hand and avoid leaving anything of value on the tables. If you are on the street, avoid hanging things from the back of the chair or leave it in the chair left over. This way you will have your things watched and safe.

In the car

Habitual situation: you are going to spend the day on the beach and, to avoid a situation as the ones on the first point of this post, you say "I’m going to leave the mobile and the glasses in the car". So you leave your valuables in the car parked in the classic open space next to the beach, put the car sunshades and go to sunbathe. At the time of lunch you return to the car to get money and go to the chiringuito and you realize that the door has been forced and that neither your phone, nor your glasses, nor your money continue where you left them.

Our tip: obviously, don’t leave valuables in sight. It is also good to save the GPS support or not to leave USB chargers or cigarette lighter placed. Moreover, it is advisable to keep everything when you leave home, before arriving to the beach. Avoid the time to get to the parking lot and keep things in the glove compartment or in the trunk. And, when you open the trunk to get things out of, it's better to leave it empty, so don’t carry a suitcase or anything else that stays inside, because it can be a claim.

In general

As we have mentioned several times throughout the post, the best thing to avoid theft is to take the essential items of value and have them always close and in sight.

If you carry a backpack, better if you have the option to fasten it to the chest (to avoid a possible pull) or if it is an anti-theft backpack. If you carry cash, take only the amount you need and leave the card. If carrying the phone is unavoidable, always carry it with you (although on vacation it is a good time to take advantage of and leave your mobile phone at home;)). Usually hotels romos have a safe where you can keep your personal belongings.

What to do with your Passport? Make a copy and keep the original one in the safe. If you lost or someone steals your wallet, you can have the original one safe. As an added precaution, save a photo of your Passport in your e-mail. It will be very useful if you run out of it to request a new Passport at the consulate or embassy.

We don’t want you to suggest yourself and have persecutory mania during your vacations, but considering four very simple things you can avoid having an undesired situation.

We hope that your trip is fantastic and without setbacks and that you enjoy and disconnect as you deserve. Can you think of any other safety advices to share with other travellers?

Please, tell us!