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Stop Worrying & Swim Freely: Must-Know Beach Security Hacks for Solo Travelers
Simple Strategies to Keep Your Valuables Safe, Hands-Free—and Still Catch Those Waves
Ark
August 17, 2025
Top 10 Tips to Keep Your Belongings Safe at the Beach as a Solo Traveler
Traveling solo to the beach can be a liberating experience, but keeping your belongings safe while you enjoy a swim can be a challenge. Whether you’re lounging by the ocean or diving into the waves, here are ten practical and creative tips to ensure your valuables stay secure. These tips start with the most reliable options and gradually move to riskier strategies—use them wisely!
1. Bring Only the Essentials
When heading to the beach alone, pack light. Stick to necessities like sunscreen, water, a towel, and your hotel key. Opt for spray-on sunscreen to avoid needing help applying it. Store your hotel key in a zipper pocket of board shorts or a flip belt, a versatile travel accessory you can wear into the water. Alternatively, ask the hotel front desk to hold your key while you’re at the beach. If you must bring cash, take only what you need for the outing and leave your wallet, ID, and credit cards behind. Swap your phone or e-reader for a physical book to minimize the value of what you carry.
2. Lock Valuables in Your Car (If Available)
If you have a car with a keypad entry, lock your belongings inside and leave the key in the car. The keypad ensures secure access without carrying the key. For cars without a keypad, consider a creative solution: get a $5 duplicate key made at a hardware store. Most modern car keys have a transponder required to start the vehicle, but a cheap copy can unlock the doors. Hide the real key inside the car, and carry the duplicate key with you in a zipper pocket or pinned to your swimsuit. This duplicate key is water-safe and useless for starting the car, reducing the risk if someone finds it.
3. Use Beach Lockers
If the beach offers lockers, pay for one. The small cost is worth the peace of mind to keep your belongings secure. A locker is one of the safest options to prevent theft, ensuring you can swim without worry.
4. Invest in an Anti-Theft Bag
If lockers aren’t available, consider a one-time investment in an anti-theft bag, available on platforms like Amazon. These bags often feature lockable zippers, similar to luggage locks. To add security, use a bicycle lock to secure the bag to a pole, tree, or lifeguard stand (with permission). This makes it harder for someone to grab your bag and run.
5. Bring Valuables into the Water
For small items like hotel keys or credit cards, which aren’t damaged by water, carry them in a zipper pocket or safety-pin them to your swimsuit. For electronics or cash, consider a waterproof wet bag, available for as little as $10 on Amazon. These bags can be worn around your neck or waist or tucked into a pocket. However, use caution—while wet bags are generally reliable, there’s a small risk of leaks or the strap breaking, especially in ocean waves.
6. Ask a Trustworthy Stranger for Help
If you’re comfortable, ask a friendly-looking family or a lifeguard to watch your belongings while you swim. Choose someone who appears settled for the day, like a family with kids. A quick chat about the weather or a friendly hello can create a sense of connection, making them more likely to speak up if someone tampers with your stuff.
7. Place Items Strategically
If asking for help feels awkward, place your belongings in front of a nice-looking family or near the lifeguard stand. A brief greeting can establish that the items are yours, encouraging others to keep an eye out without directly asking. This tactic relies on the goodwill of those nearby but isn’t foolproof.
8. Hide Valuables in Inconspicuous Items
For a stealthier approach, disguise your valuables. Place your phone inside an empty granola bar box or a hollowed-out sunscreen bottle. These items are unlikely to attract a thief’s attention. Some travelers go further, wrapping phones in clean diapers (sometimes with a melted chocolate bar for added disguise). While creative, this method carries risks if someone still targets your belongings.
9. Bury Your Belongings (With Caution)
As a last resort, place your valuables in a sealed plastic bag, bury them in a shallow hole, and cover it with sand. Use a towel or beach chair as a marker. This is highly risky, as it’s easy for someone to spot you burying items or steal your marker, leaving you digging frantically to recover your belongings. Avoid this unless absolutely necessary.
10. Prioritize Peace of Mind
Even at a beach resort, remain vigilant. Other guests or passersby could take advantage of unattended items, and resorts rarely check guest status at entry. Paying for a locker or leaving valuables at your hotel is often worth the cost to avoid the stress of constantly watching your belongings from the water.
Final Thoughts
While these tips offer creative ways to protect your belongings, the safest options—using a locker, leaving valuables at the hotel, or bringing only essentials—provide the most peace of mind. Thieves are often familiar with common hiding tricks, so prioritize secure solutions over risky ones. Your valuables are worth more than the small cost of a locker or the effort to plan ahead. Stay safe, and enjoy your solo beach adventure!
