To ask what you do with your belongings when you go to the beach solo?

[drinksdilemma]

I’m not new to solo travel, but I am new to solo summer travel.

I have a few beach visits planned and don’t really know what to do with my stuff if I go to the beach? Do I just leave my bag on the beach and hope it doesn’t get knicked, or do I accept that I just won’t be going in the sea unless I book into a beach club?

I put my stuff in a waterproof bag and buried deeply in the sand then pulled my sun lounger over it when I traveled alone 😂.
I did it last time I went with a friend and she thought I was bonkers but then wasn’t happy leaving her stuff in view of people so did the same.

Everything was fine and I left my brightly coloured bag on the lounger so I knew which one it was and left sun cream and lip balm and a few other non valuable items in so it would just look like I had nothing worth stealing if anyone was paying an interest.

Reading these replies made me realise it actually is a bonkers thing to do with no one else saying they do the same and having better suggestions. I would rather have done that though then had all my stuff pinched!

Not just me then!

Look at triathlon training products. Expensive but very well made. Plus you can obviously swim with them.

I’m going to be carrying it with me during the day. I’ve said I want to go to the beach at the end of the day after exploring.

I carry it with me daily when on holiday :)

I saw a post years ago where someone said if you don't want valuables to be stolen, wrap them in a nappy as nobody will touch that!

That’s what I do. Leaving a bag out but nothing worth stealing so they don’t go looking too hard.

At least three people on this thread have said the same. If I was a thief looking to steal from swimmers, I'd be straight over to any nappies left with belongings, especially if there's no other evidence there of a baby, eg pram/pushchair.

1. Get the towbag. 2. As others have said, if there's a reliable-looking family or couple or group of girls nearby ask them to keep an eye on your stuff so you don't need to use the towbag. Then you've got options. I've done this before and looked after other people's stuff as well and it's always been fine. Realistically you don't really want to be without your phone - or I wouldn't anyway

Depending on the country/resort, there may be beach cleaners or attendants who could bin it.

I go to the beach often with my daughter and we always swim
If staying nearby then I leave as much as I can at the accommodation, but we also do trips places and always swim.
I got a couple of very cheap waterproof phone pouches with straps that go round your neck. I put my phone/cards etc in that. Never had any problem. I tested it before I put my phone in - put a load of kitchen roll in there and submerged it in the bath. It stayed completely dry.

I travel frequently and we just leave our stuff under a towel or in a bag next to the loungers. Unless you’re going somewhere really dodgy you’d have to be really unlucky to have it taken. That said, I don’t wear flashy jewellery etc on holiday or anything to draw attention. If anyone’s watching I’m sure people who do would be bigger targets. If you’re seen burying your stuff people might think you have something valuable to take.

If you’re really worried get a waterproof dry bag. I have one for diving, they roll up and are fully waterproof and just bop around on the water.

Get a pack of nappies (or sanitary pads would work too maybe?). Wrap your key/cards/cash/phone in the nappy and leave it just under the edge of your towel/blanket. Or you could get yourself a waterproof valuables belt pouch. Also works. I've never had anything stolen with the nappy method though! Apparently thieves aren't keen on baby poo, even if they can't see a baby!

I put them in a sandwich bag and then put them in my tow float.

i swim on my own quite a lot - at least once a week.

i’ve got a new tow float that I got recently that’ll take a change of clothes as well as I’m hoping to do some one way longer swims.

This is what I have done when on my own.

You think thieves have rooted through your things but ignored the nappy?

You haven’t fooled them, they just haven’t targeted you yet!

With the number of posters suggesting this “hiding place” don’t you think it’ll be the first place thieves look?!

I am at the beach several times a week as I live in the Dominican Republic. I have a pacsafe. I just used it today. It is a small bag that cannot be cut.. with straps that cannot be cut and zippers the same. I usually get a sunbed near a palm tree and wrap it around that, but if no trees, I would strap it to my lounge. No one is going to walk off with a whole lounger. there are many sizes, mine is just a small one as I just need a little cash with me, suncream and towels are just in my regular beach bag

I've always found beach bars/cafes very helpful. I leave my bag with them and have any keys, money, cards in a waterproof swim pocket thing.

They seem pretty used to it. You obviously have to buy something there.

You’re very trusting! They cannot be held responsible for the potential loss of your possessions by an opportunist thief.

Would this work @drinksdilemma?
TRI-FIT DryBag Swim Buoy Backpack | Waterproof Open Water Storage – TRI-FIT Athletic
I am going to have the same problem as you at some point and had a look round the internet.

Just drop everything off at the airbnb at the end of each day, then go to the beach. Don't need to take anything other than towel and key then, simple! You're really overthinking it.

https://www.findmeagift.co.uk/gifts/sunsafe-secret-stash-bottle-for-valuables.html?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21746155838&gbraid=0AAAAADz0FQw6eKGnuve4wzrq_74IumGjS&gclid=CjwKCAjw8uTQBhAdEiwAVvtJyk5H0bHSmMrB1rdiW5oeP_3eZ2bvBBY2A1XLPpXPtOZRjk1gssf-aBoCdN0QAvD_BwE

That's true, but I think it's less likely than some passing chancer swiping your stuff off the beach. Also, the potential café thief is more likely to know or find out there's nothing of value in my bag.

That's the key issue, really - keep anything worthwhile on your body, so theft of the bag is more of an inconvenience than a disaster. I haven't had one stolen so far, though, including busy beaches in South America, Africa and Europe.

Several towels have gone missing from beaches while I was swimming. I eventually resigned myself to drying by evaporation until I was ready to retrieve my bag.

Dont take valuables (jewellery, etc stay in safe at hotel). Phone, credit card, a little bit of cash go in a sealable waterproof pouch that hangs around your neck.

Can’t you choose someone to ask to watch your stuff? Just chuck your bag and towel next to them while in the water? I’d probably do this