by Tricia Psarreas Murray

Created on: May 29, 2009   Last Updated: March 22, 2010

Most people will tell you that the best way to hide your valuables while traveling is to simply leave them at home. While that idea sounds great in theory, it's not so easy in practice. You know well enough not to travel with a Picasso painting or the Hope diamond. But when it comes to the valuable things you use in your everyday life, it's not so simple to pack up and leave them behind. When you feel you have no other choice but to travel with valuables, you have quite a few options on how to keep them safe.

Use a Safe

If your room has a safe, use it. Lock away anything you're not using while you're out like laptops, jewelry, spare cash, passports, and cameras. Some thieves may be able to pick locks, but chances are they won't take the time to try - especially since so many people leave their valuables in plain sight. So when you book your hotel room, request an in-room safe. Many hotels provide these without special requests, but you should still ask to be extra careful.

Hide Your Valuables

If you don't have an in-room safe, hide your valuables as best as you can. Thieves will look in obvious areas like in your drawers, under the bed, and in suitcases, so try to be a bit more creative than the common thief. You can hide your valuables in the in-room Bible, inside a removable bra pad, in a pants pocket, tucked into a resealed maxi pad, in the battery compartment of the remote control, or anywhere else that your valuables will fit. When you get sneaky about hiding your valuables, just make sure that you're not too clever lest you forget where you hid your things!

Spread Your Valuables Around

The worst thing you can do when you hide your valuables while traveling is to group them all together in a single spot. You don't want to make things easy for a thief; you want to make robbing a chore. While it is possible that some of your things could get stolen, you will at least have the comfort of knowing you did not lose everything. While you are out, scatter your valuables around your room and bathroom. Put everything in inconspicuous places and chances are that you will not lose nearly as much as the person who leaves their belongings in the same open area.

Carry Your Valuables with You

When you travel, you can keep some of your valuables safe by carrying them with you. Put money, travelers' checks, and other small, bendable items into a discrete money belt. You could also store your valuables in your shoe, your sock, your bra, or a hidden pocket. If it is small enough to carry with you, bring it along. After all, if it was important enough to bring on your trip, it is important enough to keep by your side!

If you follow these simple tactics, you can keep your valuables safe while you travel. Just remember to bring only what you absolutely need, to lock up whatever you can, and to hide your personal belongings like you really don't want them to be found. Thieves do not have much time to rummage through your room, so if you take the time to hide your valuables while traveling, you will be able to make sure your precious items remain just that - yours. 

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