Are you worried about where to hide money while travelling? I’ve got some kick-ass solutions for you! Keeping money safe while travelling is very important for us all and being robbed or pickpocketed is upsetting at any time, especially when you are in a foreign country and are supposed to be enjoying your trip! Here are some tips for how to hide money while travelling, so you can keep your cash safe and have a great time wherever you are in the world.
Money Safety Travel Tips
Before we get into hiding money while you are travelling, these are some general travel tips for keeping your valuables safe.
Avoid Carrying a Lot of Money
First off, avoid carrying large amounts of cash with you. While it is very useful to have some local currency to pay for transport, food, tips and so on, walking around with a fat wad of notes is asking for trouble.
Don’t Flash the Cash
Another reason to not carry cash in large amounts is that other people notice when you peel off a couple of notes from a roll of 50s, or when you have to rifle through your wallet to find the correct money. If pickpockets and thieves spot that you have a lot of money on you, that makes you even more of a target.
Separate Your Money & Cards
However much money you are carrying it is best to separate it and hide different amounts in various places in your luggage, handbag and about your person so if you do have some of it stolen you’ll still have some money left.
The same applies to credit and debit cards. Do not put all of your money and credit cards in one place because if that gets stolen you are in trouble. Spread around what you have and hide it all in different places – just make sure you remember where you put it!
Only Take What You Can Afford to Lose
This counts for cash and for valuable items such as expensive watches, cameras, laptops, phones and jewellery or anything with a high sentimental value. Do you really need to take that diamond bracelet your late grandma gave you or is it better to leave it at home?
There is an argument for not saving everything for a special occasion, you should enjoy these fabulous things of course, but is it worth the risk of losing them?
Have you got Travel Insurance?
- Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. I never leave home without travel insurance, so consider getting insurance for your trip to cover things like adventure sports and activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, stolen items, trip cancellation and more.
- Get a quote for your trip from True Traveller if you're based in the UK, or World Nomads or SafetyWing which both offer travel insurance for backpackers and long-term travellers. Alternatively, use a comparison site like Travel Insurance Master to find the best cover for you.
Remember your Safety Is Worth More than Money
These ideas might not work every time, but the point is to not make it easy for opportunistic thieves. If someone really wants to steal your money they’ll take your whole bag or threaten you with violence until you hand it over – in which case don’t hesitate.
Your life is worth significantly more than whatever cash you’re carrying at that moment.
Have a Decoy Wallet
If you do happen to get robbed then having a decoy or a dummy wallet with some small notes and an expired credit card can be a good way to get out of trouble quickly.
Keep that in your pocket so it is easily accessible, and can be handed over in an instant if the need arises. This could also deter pickpockets if they find that quickly they may not bother looking for anything else and you’ll keep the rest of your cash safe!
Keep Some Cash in Easy Reach
This might seem like poor advice, but if you have to rummage underneath your clothes every time you want to buy an ice cream, not only is this irritating and time-consuming, but it also shows everyone around you where your hidden stash is, so it isn’t so hidden anymore.
Having some change or a small amount of ready cash in a pocket can make things much easier – perhaps in your decoy wallet.
Use an Anti-Theft Bag
Choose a Theftproof Backpack
If you are travelling with a backpack, theft-proof backpacks are very useful. Standard backpacks are all too easy to unzip and grab things out of, or slash and grab while you are blissfully unaware.
The PINCNEL Waterproof Nylon Anti-theft Rucksack is a great way to keep your belongings safe as the zipper is against your back to stop it from being opened from behind. It comes in a variety of colours, and is 100% nylon, or you can choose a faux leather style made with soft PU leather and nylon and is stylish and practical.
SHRRADOO Anti Theft Laptop Backpack is a larger backpack so you can fit all of your belongings while you’re on the go. It can hold a 17 inch laptop with a spacious main packing compartment secured with a built-in padlock as well as a front compartment with several pockets. A small anti-theft pocket on the lower back part will keep your passport, wallet, phone and other valuable items safe and handy.
The oscaurt Anti Theft Backpack is perfect for business travellers and will hold at 15.6 inch laptop. It has a hidden zipper and a USB charging port to keep your phone charged on the go, although you’ll need your own portable power bank. It is made of strong anti-slash fabric and also has a luggage strap that allows the travel backpack to hook to a suitcase.
Use the Hotel Safe
If you have a safe in your hotel room or accommodation, make use of it. Thefts from hotel safes do happen, but they’re usually less likely than being pickpocketed on the street. However, if you don’t feel comfortable doing that then keep reading for tips on how to hide money in a hotel room.
Portable Safe
While no replacement for a proper safe, this portable safe can keep your valuables safer than just leaving them in full view! You can attach the cable to something solid in your hotel like a metal bedframe or water pipe, or if you are at the beach attach it to your parasol and bury it in the sand.
Bring Padlocks
Having a suitcase or backpack that can be padlocked shut is very useful when travelling, and puts off most opportunistic thieves. These padlocks are TSA-approved so you can lock your luggage for flights as well as on buses and while it’s in your accommodation or anywhere else.
Of course someone could just take your whole suitcase, but there’s not much you can do about that! If you’re staying in a hostel then having a padlock is absolutely essential so you can keep your belongings in a locker.
How to Hide Money While Travelling
There are lots of different ways to keep money safe on your travels, so you could try a combination of several of these and see which you prefer.
The downside is that the more places you hide your money, the more chance you have of forgetting where it is and misplacing it yourself! I am sure I’ve lost some hidden money along the way but who knows?!
How to Hide Money on Your Body
Hiding money on your person is probably the safest way to carry money abroad. I prefer to keep my money close to me, so usually hide it somewhere in or under my clothes so it is close to my body and as far away from sneaky hands as possible.
Travel Scarf with Hidden Pocket
Travel Money Belts
Belt with a Hidden Pocket
High Waist Fashion Belt with a Pocket
Wrist Wallet
Cross-Body Wallet
A cross-body wallet that fits under your clothes is another option that works well if you are wearing a couple of layers to hide the shape of the wallet – you’d be able to notice it with tight or light see-through items.
Hidden Belt Wallet
This Eagle Creek hidden pocket wallet attaches to a belt and will hang inside trousers and away from the eyes and hands of pickpockets. It is large enough to stash a passport as well as a wallet or cards, cash and other valuables. It also comes with a lifetime warranty.
Hiding Money In a Shoe or Sock
I’m not a fan of this personally as I prefer to be able to walk comfortably, but tucking some cash inside your shoe or in your socks could be an option to conceal money while you are travelling. A more secure (if more expensive) option would be to buy a pair of socks with a hidden pocket.
Socks with Secret Pockets
You could also get these storage soles which fit inside your shoes and have a secret compartment built in. I can’t imagine that would be particularly comfortable to walk long distances but it might be better than having loose cash stashed in there!
I also heard that Reef used to make stash sandals with a hidden compartment for hotel keys while at the beach, but they don’t seem to make them anymore, unfortunately.
Inside Your Bra
In my clubbing days when I was younger and didn’t want to take a bag out dancing, I would hide my money and ID inside my bra. It can get sweaty and uncomfortable but I figured if someone was sneaky enough to get at the money then they probably deserved to keep it!
These days you can get hidden wallets designed to attach to your bra, keeping your cash and cards sweat-free and you much more comfortable. They are a bit more difficult to reach when you’re wearing them, so keep a bit of cash easily accessible and stash the rest in here and pop to the bathroom when you need to fish some money out!
In Your Underwear
Joking aside, pickpockets aren’t likely to find your stash here, but be careful when getting undressed as you could forget it’s there! I’ve also heard of people keeping money in their underpants, but I’d be afraid I’d forget and it would drop down the toilet – it’s up to you whether you take that risk or not!
To avoid these kinds of accidents there is plenty of underwear with built-in pockets you can buy for a more secure way to hide money while travelling.
Women’s Underwear with Pockets
Men’s Underwear with Pockets
Travel Clothing with Hidden Pockets
There are lots of designs for travel clothing with secret pockets, from t-shirts and tops to hoodies, dresses and pants.
Clever Travel Companion is one brand with several designs of clothes with hidden pockets for travel, you can browse their store on Amazon here. SCOTTeVEST is another well-known brand with a wide range of clothes to choose from on their website.
The downside to many of these clothes with hidden pockets that are designed specifically for travel is the price. However, if they stop you from having your money or passport stolen, perhaps they are worth the investment!
If you’re on a tight budget you could also sew your own pockets inside clothes if you’re handy with a needle and thread, which can save you a bunch of cash.
Alternatively, you can often find sportswear with hidden pockets designed to keep your keys and phone secure while working out. If this is your style then why not wear some of these while you’re travelling instead of exercising?
Skirts with Hidden Pockets
Shorts with Hidden Pockets
Hiding Money in Your Belongings
While I don’t recommend hiding money in your check-in luggage for a flight (in case the whole bag goes missing) if you are travelling overland it might be an idea to hide some cash and possibly a credit card in your suitcase or backpack, in case your day pack or handbag gets stolen.
Cash is easier to hide as it can be folded or rolled to fit inside all sorts of items. You can then spread around the rest of your money in various places as well as hidden on your body. No matter how thorough thieves are there is no way they could find everything you’ve hidden! The only thing you need to to is remember where you hid it!
A Water Bottle with a Secret Compartment
Hide Cash in Toiletries & Accessories
Toiletry bags in general are useful places to stash some cash and a credit card, especially if they have small zip-up pockets inside. You can also tuck money into various places where thieves are unlikely to look.
There is also a whole range of specifically designed diversion safes and money hiding gadgets which look like regular items but have a secret compartment where you can stash money and other valuables. The key is to find something lightweight and small that isn’t going to take up unnecessary packing space in your luggage.
Sanitary Products
Ladies, if you use applicator tampons, save a (washed!) applicator and the wrapper so you can roll up notes to slide inside. No thief is going to rifle through your tampons. The same goes for sanitary towels, some folded notes can fit inside the wrapper quite nicely.
Packs of Tissues
Those little packets can easily hide some money between the tissues, just be careful not to pull out the money when you want to blow your nose!
Hair Tie Scrunchies with a Stash Pocket
Fake Sunscreen
A Hairbrush Stash Safe
Deodorant with a Stash Compartment
Fake Lipstick
Where to Hide Money in a Hotel Room
Aside from using the hotel safe, or asking the reception to keep an item safe for you, hiding money in a hotel room is no guarantee that someone won’t find it. If there is no safe in the room then I usually prefer to keep my money and passport on my person using various methods I’ve mentioned above.
However, if you do want to hide money in a hotel room here are some suggestions for keeping valuables secure:
- Consider placing a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your door to minimize the number of times your room is accessed by housekeeping. While I’m not suggesting that housekeeping staff can’t be trusted, I usually prefer to skip on housekeeping anyway.
- Instead of keeping all your money in one place, divide it into multiple locations within your luggage or personal belongings. This strategy ensures that even if one location is compromised, you won’t lose all your funds.
- Use luggage locks to secure your bags when you’re away from the room. This will act as a deterrent and make it more difficult for people to access your belongings.
- Places where you could hide money in your belongings include inside socks, shoes, or toiletry bags or tucked away in a discreet pocket within your suitcase.
- In a hotel room, you could tape money to the bottom of a drawer so it isn’t easily spotted, or inside a pillowcase. If you are determined you could find other places to hide money in a hotel room, like stuck behind artwork or inside an air vent. All of that feels a bit too much for me, but each to their own!
How to Hide Money & Valuables at the Beach
I’ve already given you a few suggestions which could work well for hiding valuables at the beach, such as the fake sunscreen bottle and hairbrush with a hidden stash.
However, the safest way to keep valuables safe at the beach is to keep them with you. I have a waterproof pouch I take with me into the water, so I don’t have to worry about anything while I’m taking a swim.
If you prefer to not have anything in the water, then a portable safe that you can attach to a parasol and bury in the sand is a good idea. Alternatively, more secret stash items like a water bottle with a secret compartment or a fake can of coke could also foil thieves.
I hope this has given you plenty of ideas for how to hide money while travelling, so you can keep your cash and valuables safe wherever you are. If you have any more travel tips for hiding cash please do let me know in the comments and I’ll add them to the article!
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