Tourists are easy targets for scammers, pickpockets and thieves. However, recent survey of some the world’s most experienced travellers by Global Rescue revealed expert tips to protect your money, credit cards, and passport when traveling internationally.

Most travellers reported splitting their valuables was one of the leading methods to prevent losing everything at once due to loss or theft, according to the Summer 2024 Global Rescue Traveller Sentiment and Safety Survey.

“Separating and securing your valuables ensures that if a thief nabs a shoulder bag or a pickpocket steals your wallet you still have access to some of your money, credit cards and duplicates of other important documents,” said Harding Bush, associate director of Security Operations at Global Rescue.

The survey revealed some distinctions between how male and female travellers protect their valuables. While 26% of male travellers said splitting their valuables to prevent losing everything was their top choice, slightly more female respondents (30%) used the same method – but it was not their leading option.

Women responding to the survey favoured different protection methods compared to men. Nearly a third (31%) of female travellers chose a crossbody purse or bag as their number one method to protect valuables from loss or theft. Only 5% of men identified a crossbody bag as their preferred anti-theft method.

A fifth of male respondents (22%) revealed that using zippered pockets was their runner-up way to keep valuables safe during travel. “Travellers wearing clothing with zippered pockets or pockets on the inside, like a vest or a sport coat, make it difficult to snatch a wallet,” Bush said.

Strikingly, more than twice the percentage of men surveyed said they don’t use any method to protect their valuables compared to their female counterparts. One out of four male survey respondents (25%) don’t have a method to preserve their valuables compared to less than 10% of women who do.

Other methods used by survey respondents include money belts (10%), travel wallets (5%), fanny packs or waist packs (3%), backpack locks (2%), undercover leg or wrist wallets (1%) and dummy wallets (<1%). No one opted for shoes with hidden compartments.

(Founded in 2004, Global Rescue is a leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments, and individuals).