Don't let pickpockets ruin a good holiday
As it looks at a countdown of the top ten worst cities for pickpockets, leading online travel insurer, insurewithease.com is alerting holidaymakers to the importance of taking some basic safety tips while away from home – as well as the value of travel insurance!
“There’s a huge inconvenience factor with petty theft such as wallets or other valuables being stolen while on holiday” explains Sarah Findlay, Online Marketing Manager, insurewithease.com. “And whilst pretty much every city around the world will have its organised gangs of bag and wallet thieves, there are still some basic precautions that holidaymakers can take to try to ensure that they are not the target.
“Holidaymakers really should avoid taking out large quantities of cash when they are travelling around a city; the hotel safe or security deposit box should be used for that as well as any credit cards not needed on day trips and passports. It’s also sensible to use a bag that goes across the body rather than one that hangs down at the side and to keep your arm across it as much as possible.
“The key is not to attract attention to yourself as a wealthy tourist – so it’s also worth avoiding wearing expensive jewellery or bags or other accessories that shout ‘money’. The more like a local you look the less likely the opportunistic gangs will focus on you.”
According to recent research* “Barcelona takes the top slot of number one city for pickpockets with Madrid, Tenerife and Costa Blanca, all also making it into the top ten. And whilst Spain appears to be the world’s pickpocketing hotspot, it’s interesting to see that all ten cities are in Europe.
“Most travellers enjoy the world’s cities without becoming the victim of thieves, but this latest data highlights the risks and helps remind travellers to keep their valuables secure at all times. It also highlights the importance of buying the right travel insurance, enabling them to replace stolen items once they return home.
Insurewithease.com offers 3 levels of cover, so that holidaymakers can choose the cover most suited to their needs, based on the value of items they plan to take with them when they travel.”
For a fraction of the cost of their holiday, insured travellers will be covered for accidents, illness, lost luggage or delays and cancellations, not to mention expert support and advice on hand when it’s needed most.
*The 2010 Pickpocket Index is based solely on TripAdvisor site data calculating the number of times travelers use the term pickpocket (and translations of) in their reviews in the last twelve months.