Quirky places people hide their cash on holiday – that aren’t the hotel safe!

Travellers are always advised to put their cash in hotel safes when on holiday, but research by consumer awareness initiative travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk has revealed that some people have various quirky places they prefer to keep their money stored – and it’s anywhere but the safe!

travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk asked holidaymakers where they kept their money on holiday and some travellers had creative and rather ingenious hiding places for their cash.

The most common place people hid their cash was in their clothes, including pockets, socks, shoes and underwear. The second most popular spot to stash cash was in a suitcase, bag or toiletries bag and storing money in a wallet or purse came in third.

Other curious places people stash cash are:

In bottles

One traveller admitted to placing their cash “in an empty sunscreen bottle”, another said they store all cash in with their “baby stuff” and one person went to the extreme length of hiding money “inside a bottle of vodka in a water tight bag.”

Inspired by James Bond?

One respondent remarked that they “don’t take a wallet, unless it’s a decoy”, possibly to fool thieves and pickpockets. They also said they leave their phone and passport in the safe and “carry just what cash I expect to spend that day in various pockets as well as emergency cash in my sandals”, while another industrious tourist commented: “behind the drawer, in the bedside cabinet – using duct tape.”

Placed discreetly in undergarments

Many travellers have ingenious ways of storing cash in their clothes, which include money hidden “underneath insole in trainers”; “keep all cash in my bra”; “down my sock or ask my partner to put small amounts down her bra”; or curiously in “pockets sewn inside of shorts/trousers/skirt waistbands with small amount of cash in external pockets just in case, so it looked like that’s all we had.”

Everyday items

Some people said they have put their money “within a book”, or in a “money belt that I wear under my clothes” as well as storing “cash in my eye glasses case”. Another said in a “makeup bag”, somewhere “less obvious”. One rather crafty holidaymaker said they put their money in “tablet boxes” and “empty shower gel” containers.

Fiona Macrae from consumer awareness initiative, travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk, said:

“Our research has revealed some resourceful and imaginative locations that UK travellers will hide their cash when on holiday. However it is important that consumer’s understand that travel insurance policies stipulate that money must be kept in a safe, if there is one available in their accommodation.

“If travellers choose to stay in hostels, guest houses or other places where they don’t have access to a safe, it is recommended that they hide their cash and valuables in a safe place at the accommodation.

“Taking a lot of cash on holiday can be risky as it can be stolen or lost, but you can get cover through a variety of insurance policies generally from £250 to £500 of the cash amount. However there are a few policies available that will offer higher cash cover and also cover for your e-wallet too, so it’s worth checking the cover you have under your policy carefully and ensure it matches your needs.

“Our survey showed that holidaymakers are concerned about theft and pickpocketing, so resorted to hiding their money in socks, behind furniture and even sewing pockets into their clothes, but the best place to put money still remains the hotel safe or well-hidden at your accommodation if a safe isn’t available.”