Hi,
I am doing a road trip in Croatia and am trying to figure out what would be the best way to store my passport if I want to stop by a beach. I'm traveling alone, and I am not sure if it's better to leave it in the car or take it to the beach with me. Any suggestions?
Hotel is not an option as I am moving from city to city every day.
Thanks!
I do cary a money belt. This question is specifically for wanting to go to the beach along the way for a few hours.
What do you plan to do with your phone? If it were me, I would probably get a dry bag or waterproof pouch, put both items in it, then carry it (or make sure it has a long cord and put it around my neck or waist).
I think it would be risky to leave it in a rental car, but if the dry bag/pouch is not an option, that would be my 2nd choice. Just make sure it is hidden very well, and do not leave any personal items exposed in your car.
Here are a few examples of what I was talking about:
https://www.tropicalsnorkeling.com/waterproof-snorkeling-bag/
https://www.rei.com/c/waterproof-cases
We used this. You need to attach it to something, like a tree branch, for example. https://www.amazon.com/AntiTheft-Portable-Cut-Resistant-Resistant-Valuables/dp/B0CYZYL5SH?th=1
With the passport, I'd probably hide it in the car (like under a floor mat/in a set cushion and not with other stuff), but I read a good review of this item on a different forum recently: https://www.ivoler.com/products/ivoler-waterproof-pouch-bag-phone-case-waterproof-case-dry-bag-black?_pos=1&_sid=bb5e17843&_ss=
If it can protect a phone, it can protect a passport.
I grew up in a SoCal beach town and still live in a beach town. If passers-by can easily know your car is a rental ( window stickers, license plate frame etc, ) then a dry bag is the way to go, if you like to skin dive, the buoyancy of the dry bags can be problematic.
Since you’ll be leaving your luggage in the trunk in any case, park it in an area with high-traffic. Thieves get nervous when there are lots of eyes around that potentially can see them. You could place your money belt in the trunk underneath the mat in the space where the spare tire is kept. Be sure to hide it out of view deep down in the wheel well. Do this before you arrive at the parking area so no one sees you hiding things in the trunk. Another precaution is to wear street clothes to the beach with your swimsuit underneath, or put your beach gear and towel in your shoulder bag and change at the beach.
Again, do this before arriving where you park the car.
Savvy thieves simply watch cars being parked and if you walk away from the car in a swimsuit, well, they know you’ll be gone long enough for them to ransack the car.
That still leaves you with the car key fob which you’ll need to put it in a waterproof container and secure it in a zippered or Velcro pocket in your swimsuit.
Look for a waterproof waistpack. You will probably want to use it for your phone, keys, and passport.
I’ve used one and it worked fine. For extra protection, I put my valuables in a ziploc bag before putting in the waist pack.
I've been getting a lot of social media ads for Booe bags, a water proof waist bag that can hold passports, keys, phone with the ability to shoot photos as well (although I question how good these will come out because all photos would require selfie camera). Definitely pricey for what it is, but they look high quality, the colors are fun, and security is priceless. I haven't pulled the trigger but contemplating for our beach days in Croatia.
