As a senior traveler, one of the most important things I can tell you is to protect your belongings. Over the course of more than 30 years of traveling, I have never been robbed.
However, someone has stolen goods from my checked luggage on more than one occasion. My passport was also stolen from my back pocket, but it was eventually found after I gave a little reward (Small in comparison to paying for a new U.S. passport).
There are pickpockets and other thieves in practically every tourist destination in the world, and that includes the US. There are some who are pros, and if you don’t learn to avoid making it simple for them to take your possessions, they can easily get away with stealing them.
Airports, bus and train terminals, and even when traveling, are not the only places where theft occurs.
In this essay, I’ll provide some tried-and-true methods for protecting the assets of the elderly against burglars.
A Senior Traveler’s Guide to Avoiding Scams
Some of the same techniques are used to snatch items from tourists in any country, no matter where they are located. If you follow these simple senior travel recommendations, you’ll be able to avoid the most of the hassle.
It’s less likely that you’ll be robbed of your valuables if you leave them in your hotel room rather than taking them with you. Leaving them in your hotel room is preferable to bringing them along on your trip. If you don’t want to risk losing your pricey timepiece, buy an inexpensive digital one. If you’re going to a good restaurant or other occasion, don’t wear your pricey jewelry; instead, bring along some nice imitations. You should dress more casually when you’re out and about. There’s nothing wrong with wandering the streets of a tourist hotspot appearing like a beggar.
When it comes to keeping your money and credit cards in a money belt, it’s an excellent idea. Use a thin one that you may wear under your shirt and around your waist. The ones that don’t have a sign saying, “Hey, I’ve put my valuables in here.”
You can also conceal your cash and other valuables by wearing clothing with special inserts, such as pockets or zipped compartments, which are hidden from view. Keep your larger cash out of sight and just carry a few smaller bills with you when you need to make a fast purchase.
If you still need to carry a wallet, there are certain ways in which you might decrease the risk of someone stealing it. To begin, make sure it’s always in your front pocket. As a final precaution, you should wrap your wallet in rubber bands before you put it in your pocket, making it more difficult for someone else to get it out of your hands. The wallet will be less likely to fall out of your pocket if you use this method.
It’s a good idea to avoid busy regions as a basic senior travel advice. Pickpockets and robbers have a field day in crowded settings. Professionals swiftly work their targets while people are pushing against each other on the street, in an elevator, or on a crowded train. Keep an eye on your possessions at all times if you must enter a crowded area.
• Create a Checklist – Many forget their stuff on tables, in drawers, pillow cases, or under beds in hotels. Often, these additional hiding spots are the reason that elders fail to remember them afterwards. As long as you’re thinking about all of your suitcases, you’ll be OK. Verify that you haven’t forgotten anything by going over your hotel room and looking in every corner. Renting a car, a plane, a bus, or any other mode of transportation is no different.
Final Recommendations for Senior Travelers
Wherever there is money, there will always be thieves. File a police report as soon as your belongings are stolen so that they can be recovered if the thieves are caught and your belongings are returned to you. The insurance company will require a copy of your police report as well, if you have it.
The only thing you can do if someone steals from you is to be more vigilant in the future. Don’t let a burglary mar your vacation; instead, take steps to avoid becoming a victim. To ensure a safe trip for the elderly, follow these suggestions.