There’s little else worse than losing something meaningful to you on vacation like a ring or other jewelry, a phone, or a purse full of money and credit cards. Here are some things you can do to avoid losing stuff when you come to Thailand.
10 Tips to Help You Avoid Losing Valuables in Thailand on Vacation
- Pack Light. The less stuff you bring, the less you have to keep track of. Opt for versatile clothing items that you can mix and match to create multiple outfits. This way, you won’t need to pack a whole new wardrobe. When you pack light, it’s easier to remember where everything is. When you know where everything is, it’s easier to know where the important stuff is and prioritize it. Most people lose something when they’re not mindful of it.
- Invest in a Money Belt or Travel Pouch. This will help you keep your passport, credit cards, and other important documents safe and hidden from pickpockets. Wear it discreetly under your clothes. Bag grabs and pickpocketing have increased in the tourist areas since COVID.
- Make Copies of Important Documents. Make physical copies of your passport, ID, credit cards, and travel insurance documents. Keep them separate from the originals and store them in your checked luggage. It won’t stop you from losing them, but it will make it a lot easier to replace them when they are lost, misplaced, or outright stolen.
- Take Photos of Valuable Items and their Serial Numbers. Photograph the items and serial numbers of your valuable electronics (laptops, cameras, tablets, Airpods) in case they get stolen. This will help the police track them down. This is a great habit to get into as it will save you a lot of effort down the line. How much time does it take for a few photos? Oh, and don’t forget to take photos of your credit card numbers (front and back) and bank cards so if you lose them, you may still be able to use them at some locations.
- Leave Unnecessary Jewelry at Home. Avoid wearing expensive jewelry while traveling, especially in crowded areas. You can always buy souvenirs or costume jewelry to wear on vacation. Pattaya has become especially known for their gold necklace thieves who ride by on a motorbike, grabbing your expensive necklace as they ride off. It’s at the rate where it probably happens daily now. Be smart and keep your expensive jewelry at home before coming to Thailand.
- Separate Your Cash. Don’t carry all your cash in one place. Divide it up and keep some stashed away in a safe location like a money belt or a hidden pocket in your clothes. How worth it would it be to have a hidden pocket inside your pants that connects to the main pocket? How much money do you carry around with you? That’s your answer. Some of us carry a few hundred dollars in a wallet or pocket.
- Be Mindful of Your Bags. Keep your purse or backpack close to you in crowded places, like markets or public transportation. Don’t leave your belongings unattended on the beach or at a restaurant table. Ideally, your purse is never exposed. Put it inside your backpack as you walk down the street. Use small locks to keep the zippers closed. Carry your backpack in front on your chest, not on your back when you have valuables inside!
- Utilize the Hotel Safe. Take advantage of the safe at your hotel lobby to store your valuables like passports, extra cash, and travel documents when you leave the hotel. Use the in-room safe to store valuables at night. Some thieves have keys to hotel rooms and they enter silently. If you’ve been drinking, do you think you’ll wake up? Probably not!
- Download Offline Maps. Download offline maps of the places you’ll be visiting so you won’t have to rely on your phone’s GPS and risk losing it. There are many map apps that allow you to download specific areas for offline use. If you use a motorbike to get around Thailand, don’t use the phone holders on the bike. They show thieves exactly what phone you have and it isn’t hard to grab it in 2 seconds and be off with it.
- Develop a Routine. Get into the habit of checking your belongings every time you leave a place. This will help you ensure you haven’t forgotten anything important. This is the main reason we see people lose things in Thailand. People just aren’t aware of where the money is, or the valuable, and they momentarily forget about it – even walking out of Starbucks shops with their laptop computers on the table. It happens. People are so forgetful, strive not to be one of them.
Bonus Tip: Apple and other companies make tracking buttons that you can put in anything and find them using a tracking app on your mobile phone or computer. Apple’s is very high quality and the battery lasts a long time. You can buy one for under $30. We gave our daughter one on a necklace when she went to Singapore. The electronic trackers work even internationally. Sew one into your purse. Add one to the lining of the sleeve your laptop goes in.
Bonus Bonus Tip: Make sure to enable tracking device for your mobile phone in case it is lost. Our iPhones have the “Find My” app. Samsung has “Find My Mobile”. With both of these apps you can not only locate your phone, but also wipe them completely so someone cannot get into your financial or social media accounts.
By following these tips, you can relax and enjoy your vacation without worrying too much about losing your valuables.
If you DO Lose Something in Thailand – make sure you file your Lost Item Report with us!
If you lost something while you were in Thailand, you need to file a LOST ITEM REPORT as soon as possible. It’s better to get our investigative process started as soon as possible. Let us know, even if you’re out of the country.