How a ‘distraction’ wallet can protect you from being pickpocketed on holiday – with some for just £4
TOURISTS are often targeted by thieves but a £4 distraction wallet could prevent your holiday from being ruined.
While you may not want to have to think about the dangers associated with exploring unknown areas, there are some simple tricks that can help put your mind at ease so you can enjoy your trip.
Travel + Leisure writer Annita Katee went to South America and while in Lima, Peru, a member of her tour group had her phone snatched from her.
The situation gave Katee a “wake-up call” to how you will never eliminate all risks but that “being prepared and proactive can make a world of difference.”
One of her top safety hacks is to carry a distraction wallet or a decoy.
While you may initially believe that this is an extra expense and more to carry, it could prove vital in the event of being pickpocketed or even having a confrontation with a thief.
For example, if you find yourself confronted in a mugging situation and you are asked to hand over your wallet, pass over the decoy rather than your real one.
To make it believable, the fake wallet should have expired credit cards, a small amount of cash that you can sacrifice and some non-essential items.
You could even put a copy of a photograph in there and some old receipts to make it more realistic.
“The decoy can be enough to satisfy the thief and buy you precious time to retreat to safety,” Katee explained.
She added: “When travelling through crowded areas where petty crime is more common, keep the decoy at the top of your bag while your actual wallet, phone, and other important possessions are stored at the bottom.”
It is a clever safety tip that does not have to cost a lot.
Amazon sells an RFID slim trifold wallet in a number of colours and patterns for just £4.99.
Other travel recommendations include a phone lanyard that will make an easy snatch impossible for chance thieves.
A set of two lanyards can be bought online for £10 or even less with current Black Friday deals.
One happy customer highlighted why she got one for her travels.
Holiday packing tips
Jemma Solomon, aka The Label Lady has got 5 packing tips to help you get organised for your next holiday.
1. Write a list
Think about all the essentials you need to take with you; suncream, medicine, a few games for the kids, beach towels, and write everything in one list, which you can tick off as you add it to your suitcase.
Or for complete ease, try Google’s AI app – Gemini – which will create a list for you and help you not over pack.
2. Involve your kids
Jemma said: “My girls are getting older, they’re 11 and nine, and they enjoy helping to pack. So I send them a list, and say ‘this is what you need’ and they follow the list.
“And then I give them a rucksack each – and say to them ‘you can have whatever you want in there as long as it’s not liquid’, and they can take that on the plane. And that’s their ‘home away from home’ items.”
3. Try a hack or two
She said: “I think they all work, but for different reasons – and you’ve just got to pick the right one for your trip.
“Rolling your clothes is really good to stop your clothes from getting creases. And if you’re trying to get a lot of items into your case, it’s a space saver.
“Packing cubes are great – for example, I’m going on holiday with my three kids and we’re all using the same suitcase for our clothes.
“These handy compartments let you separate your clothes, toiletries and tech into designated cubes, maximising luggage space by keeping your items compressed and neatly stacked.
“I love taking them abroad with the family and it means my kids can easily take charge of their own items once we’ve arrived.”
4. Decant beauty products
Do you really need to take full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner with you? The beauty industry has evolved so much, you can now buy shampoo bars or sheets – which are much lighter and smaller.
Or, if you’ll be popping to the shops when you’re abroad, consider buying some items when you arrive.
5. Get organised before you come home
Jemma said: “When you repack on holiday [before coming home], the trick is to separate clean from dirty clothes.
“Also pack it in some form of order – so lights, darks, colours for items that need washing, or if you wash your clothes by person in the household, piles for each person.
“Then you can put it straight into the washing machine. Do it straight away, don’t leave it.”
“I just wore it on my neck with my phone when I was going around Barcelona. It’s sturdy enough,” she wrote.
“Luckily no one attempted to steal my phone but it’s very common and could happen to anyone.
“That’s why I recommend getting one when going to major cities. I rather spend less the €20 on this than a new phone.”
Others call it a “versatile, convenient, and stylish solution for keeping [your] phone secure and easily accessible.”
Another safety hack is Zipper Lock Clips available for just £4.39 from Amazon for a set of 12.
These add another layer of protection to your backpack, purse, or suitcase making it harder to undo them discreetly.
One shopper said that it gave them “peace of mind” which is all you want when on holiday or spending time in a busy city.
For more travel tips, see the clever packing trick that celebrities swear by so they never forget an important item again.
A flight attendant has also revealed a hack that will stop you from getting lost in huge hotels.