Securing Valuables while on a Road Trip

[imported_Matt]

Hi people,

4 of us are going on a 3-month road trip around American starting late april. Has anyone got any trips on how we should secure all our traveller checks etc (we are coming from England) In total we will probably have at least $10,000 in the vehicle.

We are leasing a 17ft 1993 GMC van conversation. Does it have a secure hidden compartment, or should we just try to hide it in the van? We are worried about leaving the checks in the van while we are staying in hostels in a number of different cities.

Thanks in advance for your help,


Matt

[PNW Judy]

I would suggest that you use an ATM card instead of getting traveler's checks. Even in small towns, there's an ATM on almost every street corner and then you will only have to worry about safeguarding your card. For example, for hostels I would get one of those plastic sleeves with a lanyard to put around my neck. You could sleep with it on that way (or you could hide it in your underwear LOL) and you could even take it in the shower with you. Just a thought.

But if you insist on doing traveler's checks, I would hide them in various parts of the van rather than in one place so, if they are stolen, hopefully the thieves won't find all of them. Your glovebox should have a lock on it but, of course, that's probably the first place thieves would look for valuables.

[Mark Sedenquist]

&gt; Hi people,<BR>
&gt; <BR>
&gt; 4 of us are going on a 3-month road <BR>
&gt; trip around American starting late april. Has <BR>
&gt; anyone got any trips on how we should secure all <BR>
&gt; our traveller checks etc (we are coming from <BR>
&gt; England) In total we will probably have at least <BR>
&gt; $10,000 in the vehicle. <BR>
&gt; <BR>
&gt; We are leasing a 17ft <BR>
&gt; 1993 GMC van conversation. Does it have a secure <BR>
&gt; hidden compartment, or should we just try to hide <BR>
&gt; it in the van? We are worried about leaving the <BR>
&gt; checks in the van while we are staying in hostels <BR>
&gt; in a number of different cities.<BR>
&gt; <BR>
&gt; Thanks in <BR>
&gt; advance for your help,<BR>
&gt; <BR>
&gt; Matt <BR>
<BR>

[Mark Sedenquist]

Judy's advice matches mine as well. Leave the traveler's checks at home. There are very few places in the USA where it is difficult to find an ATM machine. Plus the exchange rate is likely to be better when getting cash here.

On the other hand, we travled extensively in our first 6.5 years on the road (every week a new place or town) and we never had any type of break-in or personal attack (except for severe weather). If you use a little common sense there is no reason to fear criminal behavior while on your holiday!

Mark