(Lebanon, N.H. – July 16, 2024) Tourists are easy targets for scammers, pickpockets and thieves. However, the latest survey of the world’s most experienced travelers revealed expert tips to protect your money, credit cards, and passport when traveling internationally. Most travelers 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 Traveler 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 world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services.

The survey revealed some distinctions between how male and female travelers protect their valuables. While 26% of male travelers 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 favored different protection methods compared to men. Nearly a third (31%) of female travelers 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. “Travelers 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 the world’s most experienced travelers 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.

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ContactBill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or +1 (202) 560-1195 (phone/text) for more information.

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 1,100 of its current and former members between July 9-13, 2024. The respondents revealed a variety of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding current and future travel.

About Global Rescue

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.