Keeping Your Money Safe While Traveling

If you are traveling, especially if you are traveling in a foreign country, it is important to keep your valuables, a.k.a. your money and important documents, safe. Interestingly enough, keeping your money safe can also help keep you safe. Flashing a wallet full of cash is often rather tempting, and in the poorest of countries, murder is not uncommon when a "rich" Westerner flaunts his or her money. Here are some things you can do to keep your money as safe as possible when you travel.

• Use a credit card. Gone are the days of traveler's cheques. While you can still use them (keep the cheques separate from the stubs with the numbers), it is more efficient and more practical to use a credit card when you travel. Not only will you have less to keep track of, but you won't have pockets and packs bulging with money. Plus, the same liability protections apply when you're overseas, so if someone does steal your credit card, or if you lose it, you can report it (keep the credit card company number in a safe place), you are only responsible for $50 of the charges.

• Try to have small amounts of local currency. You will need to use local currency sometimes, so try to keep the demoninations you have on you small. Keep them hidden away as much as possible.

• Stashing your cash and credit cards in specialy made pouches can be a good idea. These are best worn discreetly under your clothing. However, they also need to be accessible. There are some products, like a hidden pocket wallet, that you can stash inside your pants via the belt loop. Another idea is to pay a tailor to sew an inside pocket (big enough for passport, money/credit cards and airline tickets) on your clothing or inside a jacket. Make sure the pocket zips or buttons shut to make it harder for pickpockets. There are also money belts withzippered compartments that look like the rest of the belt.

• Security pouches. Neck pouches and waist pouches can be noticeable for pickpockets. And, they can simply come up and slice the strap and get away with everything. Now, though, there are security pouches that come with a wire woven through the strap. A common pickpocket will usually run away without trying again if the first attempt at slicing the strap fails. Neck pouches can be worn over the should, under a zipped jacket, to make them more inconspicuous if you have a light colored shirt.