UPDATED FEB 2020. Honestly, this is probably one of the trickiest things to do as a solo female traveler. Especially if your hotel is not close to the beach where walking back and forth is convenient. What are you meant to do with your stuff? Today I’m sharing tips on how to keep your valuables safe at the beach as a solo female traveler.
How To Keep Your Valuables Safe At The Beach As A Solo Female Traveler
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Before we start, I should mention that these tips can be helpful even if you’re not traveling alone.
When I go to the beach with my husband we usually go snorkeling and swimming together – we don’t take turns. The precautions are the same as far as what we do with our belongings.
1. Take as little as possible
If I am going to the beach by myself, I aim to take the absolute minimum with me.
This way there is less to steal and I’m not leaving a bulky bag on the beach (since a bulkier bag looks more interesting to steal.)
Usually, all I leave in my bag at the beach is:
- A lightweight towel
- A bottle of water (not a fancy one)
- My flip flops
- The clothes I wore there
At least if that gets stolen, it won’t be that bad compared to losing my whole wallet, a passport, or camera.
Sometimes if the beach is far away from the hotel, I’ll leave a $10 or $20 note somewhere in my stuff e.g. in a pocket of my clothes or in the pocket of a beach bag if I take one.
2. Use a dry bag for your valuables
For your valuables that you don’t want to leave on the beach, a dry bag is an inexpensive and handy thing to have.
This way you can have your ID, bank card, phone etc with you while you swim.
I have these two types of dry bags:
The smaller one can strap to you like a fanny pack and is good for going for a quick swim. It also comes with a separate phone protecter which is handy.
I use the larger one when I am kayaking or paddle boarding and need a few more things with me.
Either way, with a dry bag you can go snorkeling or swimming with it and your valuables will be sealed and protected.
If it is a beach day where you will have a lounge chair, then the AquaVault
is another option.
It’s a secure bag that can lock to the back of your chair while you swim. It’s more expensive than getting a dry bag and swimming with it though.
3. Pick a spot near people
When I am going to the beach alone I try to pick a spot that’s not isolated and out of the way because it would make an easier target for thieves.
I try to be near enough to other people without crowding their space.
When I am looking for a spot on the beach, I usually find a spot near women or a family.
Close enough to be noticeable, but not in their space. Sometimes before I take a dip I ask them to watch my stuff.
Picking a spot near lifeguards in another good idea because people are less likely to rummage through stuff next to the lifeguard stand.
4. Ask another solo traveler
There’s been a few times where I’ve been at the beach solo and another solo traveler has asked me to watch her bag while she goes for a swim.
Sometimes from that we’ve been able to take turns swimming while one person watches the bags.
The solo travel community is usually pretty supportive of each other and knows the struggles!
As always, use your best judgment but it’s another option that’s helped me before.
5. Take a boat trip
A stress free way to go snorkeling and swimming as a solo female traveler is to take a boat trip because then you can leave your belongings on the boat.
It’s not always possible, but something I keep an eye out for.
6. Hope for the best
Sometimes if it’s a quick dip in the water type beach visit, where I’m with my stuff on the beach for the most part, but jump in the water briefly to cool off, I leave my bag somewhere visible.
I always leave it close to the water to see it but not close enough to get hit by waves.
When I go in the water I don’t swim out too deep and keep an eye on it by facing the beach rather than having my back to it.
I wouldn’t do this in a high crime place though.
7. Use a lockers
Check if the beach you are going to has a locker service.
Sometimes you can rent a locker to store your valuables which is a big help.
Even if there’s a small fee, it’s worth it to be able to enjoy a hassle-free beach day.
8. Store things in your rental car
Sometimes when I am going to be out for a longer period of time and need to pack more for the day, I leave my bag of stuff in the car.
The key with this is to move your bag to the trunk of the car BEFORE you get to the beach, do it at the hotel before you leave.
Otherwise, if you do it at the beach, it just makes it easy for opportunistic thieves because they know you’ve just put a bag full of valuables there.
Of course, this also depends on the area as well so use your best judgment on how sketchy it looks.
Other ideas on how to keep your valuables safe at the beach
Some tips I’ve heard from other solo travelers are to hide your bag behind a tree or rock or to bury your ID and money in the sand under your towel.
I personally don’t do these, so I can’t speak to them other than I wouldn’t do it. They don’t seem like the best ideas to me but, if you were looking for a couple of other ideas they might be for you.
There is also the idea to hide your valuables in something that looks unappealing – a diaper rolled up (to look like a used dirty diaper but instead of icky poop rolled up in it, it has your money), a coffee cup, or even an empty Pringles can. I’ve never done these either.
I hope this can help you enjoy your time at the beach as a solo female traveler. If you have any other tips, feel free to leave them in a comment below.
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Thanks for this article. I’m 64 and recently widowed. My husband and I traveled a lot but I’ve never traveled alone. I find the prospect frightening but I also don’t like the idea that I can never travel again just because I’m now on my own. Your advice for solo female travelers seems grounded and encouraging. I appreciate it.
Thanks so much for checking out my website Heather. I’m sorry for your loss. The first couple of trips might be challenging emotionally since you traveled so much with your husband, so remember to take it easy on yourself. Perhaps start with day trips or short overnight/weekend trips. I think true love never dies, so even if you’re traveling solo he will still be with you.