When you arrive in Ireland, your focus should be on enjoying the trip – not worrying about your stuff. But once you’re on the ground, the small, everyday decisions you make can go a long way toward keeping your belongings secure.

This is part 1 of my Travel Smart series, where I share the simple habits and tools I use to travel with confidence. In this first part, we’re covering how to protect your valuables in hotels and B&Bs, keep your tech and documents safe, and move smart in public spaces.

Simple Ways to Keep Your Stuff Protected in Ireland

From hotel rooms to crowded city streets, a few quick precautions can help keep your belongings exactly where they belong.

Backing Up Important Documents

Before you leave home, make digital copies of your passport, driver’s license, travel insurance, and any essential reservations. Store them in a secure, password-protected cloud folder.

I also recommend leaving a copy of these items – digital or paper – plus your itinerary, with a trusted friend or family member at home. If anything happens it's helpful for someone else to have your information.

Securing Your Stuff at Hotels and B&Bs

Not every Irish hotel or B&B has an in-room safe, but when there is one, I use it – and I have a simple trick so I don’t leave anything behind:
When I pack, shoes are first into the bag. I put one shoe on or in the safe – if I can't find the second shoe in a pair, I immediately remember it is at the safe.

If there’s no safe, I’ll place valuables in my suitcase and hide them in less obvious spots – think inside socks or tucked between bags of dirty laundry. And I always lock my luggage when I’m not in the room.

Keeping Your Tech (and Data) Safe

Phones, tablets, and laptops are easy targets – so make sure yours are locked with a password or biometric ID, and have tracking and remote wipe capabilities turned on.

Also: don’t do banking, shopping, or anything involving sensitive data on public Wi-Fi. Use a VPN or, better yet, a private Wi-Fi device (like a mobile hotspot from WifiCandy) or eSIM to stay secure. I travel with both.

I also highly recommend RFID blocking bags, wallets, or sleeves for your passport and credit cards.

Be Aware – But Not Paranoid

Ireland is one of the safest countries for travelers (especially solo women), but an added dose of confidence never hurts – it's actually one of the best ways to deter petty theft. Walk like you know where you’re going, even if you’re secretly following Google Maps.

Pop in one earbud for navigation, so you can hear directions without constantly looking down at your phone. And try not to flash cash or look overly distracted, especially in very busy spots (think Temple Bar, train stations, the airport).

This is the first step in a safer, smoother trip to Ireland. In the next part of this series, I’ll cover how to protect your stuff while traveling across Ireland, with tips for self-driving and public transportation.

Traveling in Ireland podcast episode 287

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