Where to keep valuables when going in pool or sea

[sidsgranny]

My DH and I have always left mobiles etc in bag on/under lounger when we go in the pool or sea but I'm travelling for a week with my mum and she thinks this sounds dodgy and that we won't both be able to go in the water together. It's made me wonder if we've been to trusting in the past but I can't see what else you would do? One of those clear pouches round your neck for your phone? I've never seen anyone using one so can I ask what you all do?

In a bag by my sunlounger if we’re by the pool and in a bag on my towel if we’re going in the sea. If your mum doesn’t want to risk it that’s understandable but you can just take it in turns swimming if so.

Following as I always wonder what to do. One of us normally ends up sitting with the bags. We used the pouches for phones this year but what about wallet/ purse/ house keys etc?

I’ve seen people use the nappy trick where you wrap them up in a nappy to make it look like a used nappy but surely everyone knows that one by now!

I bought one this summer but never used it.

Our hotel was small so we could see our lounger at the pool.

On the beach we just stuffed the valuables in bags under the loungers. We only took phones, keys and a small amount of cash so whilst annoying if stolen it wouldn't be the end of the world.

We have dcs and lots of inflatables/buckets and spades, change of clothes etc so we just made it a bit of a mission to get to the bag.

I mustn’t go to places where this is an issue as I’ve never considered it.
How about a fake or empty clean sun cream bottle for your mum’s cash and keys ?

I carry minimal cash round the pool, but agree I never go to a big enough resort to worry about, currently in Greece and there’s about 12 people round our pool ( 11am here ) . Much prefer that as feels safer for children too .
I zip my phone in the inside pocket of my
bag so wouldn’t be easy or quick to get out

At a hotel pool I'm quite trusting as it tends to be an enclosed space with staff around, so I leave in a bag on a lounger. I bring my phone so I can take photos of dcs, DH leaves his in the room so that's an option.

At a beach I often just paddle not swim as we are with young dcs and I bring it with a lanyard around my neck (not in a case as I'm bringing it with me to take photos). We do have a waterproof case from Aldi though I've never tested it and not really needed to. DH and I tend to take turns anyway as one of us will be with one of our kids and they don't stay in the water for long.

Surely everyone uses a waterproof lanyard pouch ? Big enough for phone, a little cash and cards ? Test it at home before going away. They are brilliant.i use it every time when swimming in the sea

Im usually solo. I just take what I actually need (phone, a bit of cash, one card but not the other, car key not house key) and risk it. I try to leave things in the eyeline of people who might notice 'someone who isn't me' rummaging in my bag.

Thanks all. It's honestly never occurred to me. We can normally see our lounger from the water and it's normally mobiles and a small bit of cash. Think I'll just continue as I have been!

One of these

You can buy a dry bag to put valuables in which you put round your waist with a waist lanyard.

Like this

Do you need to take your phones everywhere all the time?

I'm not being snarky, just sometimes it's easier not to bother, especially if you're hanging out by a hotel pool - appreciate probably necessary for further afield.

We've got a fake sun cream bottle which will take a phone and a credit card. We also have waterproof pouches but never use them

I listen to my books now - saves my old eyes, the phone is needed.

I've heard of people putting valuables in bags then burying them in the sand and putting a towel over it. Most theives are just opportunistic and will only go for a handy grab and run

I recently buried my phone inside a small kids cool bag in the sand.

The seagulls raided my backpack and threw my bra and pants around. Might bury those next time too!

I'm with your mum. If it was just cash I wouldn't worry but the faff of a phone being nicked would be worth avoiding.

Good point - I love an audiobook although I usually have them on a speaker while I'm pottering at home/crafting.

It's so hard to do anything without a phone these days. I'm trying to step away from mine a bit (she says, posting on it 🤣) so have bought a basic Nokia so my elderly mum and daughter can still contact me in an emergency if I want to switch off for a bit, but then you remember all the other functions that you might actually need...camera, Apple Pay etc.

It's definitely easier said than done.

The phone is the devils work for sure…. it’s just wasted about 40 mins of my time when I’m supposed to be doing shit.

Right. Step away! 😂

I put my things in a tow float. Doesn’t interfere with swimming, makes me visible to other swimmers/boats/SUPS/ kayakers, and could be used as a float in an emergency (I know it’s not a life saving device) I don’t go in the sea without it.

You need a tow float

If you're bobbing around nearby in the sea/pool and one of you is looking in the direction of the bags, I would carry on doing that. It's only an issue if you are setting off an on a longer swim and would be out of sight of keys and phone, and it doesn't sound like that is what you're planning.

We take turns to go in the swa. Although we went to a beach in France this year that had lockers - genius idea!

I have a tow float. You can also get dry bags with straps that are like a waterproof rucksack.

at hotel or similar if my stuff is next to the pool I don’t usually bother.