Travel tip: never leave your bag unattended - mapping Megan (2023)

Very timely and good advice, Megan. I would like to add that you should pay special attention to their advice when traveling by public transport, in a large crowd or in popular tourist places. Also, beware of sudden riots in these types of places, as they can often be a ruse to distract tourists, resulting in bag snatching or pickpocketing.

Good job Megan! When I travel, I use a foldable bag hanger that attaches to the side of the table and hang my purse or shopping bags on it. This has saved me from being a victim of theft, especially when traveling in Europe.

¡Feliz 2014!

A "reformed" pickpocket once told me that a good place to hang out is near a sign that says "Beware of Pickpockets." Seeing this, many people almost subconsciously check their wallet or whatever where it should be…thus telling sinners where it is!

Very true and good advice from Megan! I used to live in East London so you know what they say, you can take a girl out of London but you can't take London out of a girl. I am very aware of my bag/stuff and keep an eye on it all the time.

But I also learned the hard way: I was robbed in London two years ago, and my bag was stolen in India a few years ago. Never too much caution! And yes, with the arrival of almost everyone with various tech items, it only gets worse.

Good advice! Pickpockets can happen very quickly. My dad was on a crowded bus in Central America. His wallet was in his front pocket and his hand was in his pocket. Someone pushed him, and he reached out to grab the bar for balance. Within seconds, his wallet was gone.

This was one of my biggest fears while traveling AFTER losing my kids. This was by far the scariest fear when they were little.

Great advice Megan. You can never be too careful with your belongings when traveling. Thieves and pickpockets are getting more cunning and there always seems to be some new ruse to distract the unsuspecting traveller. Also heard about pickpockets mentioned by Keith, scary!

I would never leave my bag unattended, especially after watching Broke Down Palace and many, many episodes of LockedUp Abroad.

Last summer my husband and I visited the Pont du Gard in Provence. If anyone is unfamiliar, this is a beautiful and impressive Roman aqueduct. The river also flows under the aqueduct. In summer, many people sit next to the aqueduct and swim in the wonderfully refreshing river. We wanted to do it too; But what to do with all the valuables? Well, the best I could do was stack them up and cover them with a shiny towel, then I watched them every minute while I was in the water. I was ready to run out of the river and chase anyone who tried to pick up my stuff. Not a grand plan, but a plan! Luckily no one touched them!

I once left my bad unattended in a hostel room. When I came back, I found that I was no longer in my bed. I scammed dtrip from the hostel staff by shouting about loose security etc.
Then I found out I was back in the wrong room and my bag was where I left it the whole time.

LOVE the bird and bag photo! Nice catch!

Excellent advice. We usually only think about criminals when we think about our suitcases. It's very smart to think about wildlife.

Good advice! Thank you.

Great tips: Sometimes you also have to be wary of the kindness of strangers. I would rather negotiate a cramped bathroom with my heavy backpack than ask someone I spoke to to guard my suitcase. Unfortunately, you never know these days! :(

I learned my lesson the hard way a month ago. I landed in Barcelona and thirty minutes later my suitcase was stolen in Plaça de Catalunya. So fast and all I have left are the clothes I was wearing, my passport and my iPhone. I still struggle with trauma and self-blame.

I took out my wallet to pay for a bus ticket in Florence and was distracted by the guy with the ticket who told me I must have left it there. I lost 80 euros in cash but luckily all my credit cards were hidden in the bag. You definitely can't be too careful!

Have you tried something like a Pacsafe backpack/bag protector?http://www.mec.ca/product/4011-299/pacsafe-backpack-and-bag-protector/?q=pac%2Bsafe

I was thinking of getting one. The reviews seem good. I'd like to hear more comments.

No protection is perfect, but it seems to help protect against opportunistic thieves.

Very useful information! In fact, I would never have thought that wildlife would get into my bag! I will definitely keep that in mind on my next trip.

We take inexpensive carabiners with us on trips. They are very helpful. We use them to attach bag handles to stationery. They seem to be a good deterrent to grab and run quickly.