A stolen phone, a missing wallet or a lost passport can spoil any holiday. Usually it is not a big break-in but opportunist thieves who strike in crowded streets, on the beach or in a hire car. The good news is that a few simple habits reduce the risk considerably. And if something does go missing, you will know what to do.
Before you travel
Photograph your passport, ID card, driving licence and payment cards and store the pictures somewhere safe, for example in a protected folder on your phone and also in your email account. If you live in Germany on a residence permit, photograph that card too. Note down your bank’s emergency numbers and, for cards issued in Germany, the blocking hotline +49 116 116. Take two payment cards and keep them in separate places, so one is always left.
In the hotel
The room safe is the right place for your passport, spare card, cash you do not need every day, and jewellery. Choose your own code, not one that is easy to guess. Never leave valuables lying around in the room, not even for a short time. For very valuable items, many hotels offer a safe at reception.
In town
Pickpockets work where it is crowded: on trams and buses, at sights and in markets. Often one person distracts you while another strikes, for example with a question about the way, a spilled drink or a petition held in front of you so that you are not watching your bag.
| Situation | How to protect yourself |
|---|---|
| Crowded train or bus | Wear your backpack on your front, keep a hand on your bag |
| Café and restaurant | Do not put your phone on the table, keep your bag on your lap |
| Crowds at sights | Wallet in your front trouser pocket or an inside pocket |
| Cash machine | Only in banks or busy places, cover the keypad |
| Strangers asking for help | Stay friendly, keep your distance, hold on to your bag |
Only carry as much cash as you need for the day. A flat pouch under your clothes is good for your passport if you have to take it with you.
On the beach
On the beach it is tempting to leave everything on your towel. Take as little as possible: some cash, one card, your phone. If there are two of you, one stays behind while the other swims. A waterproof pouch worn around your neck takes your phone and keys into the sea. Some beaches have small lockable safes for rent that attach to your sun lounger.
In the hire car
Leave nothing visible in the car, not even empty bags or cables. That attracts thieves. Do not load luggage into the boot in the car park at your destination; do it beforehand. On day trips, your passport stays in the hotel safe.
Insurance
Baggage insurance often only pays under strict conditions, for example not for cash or for items left unattended. Also check your household contents insurance (Hausratversicherung): many policies cover your belongings while you travel, often up to a certain amount. Read the terms before your trip, so you know what applies if the worst happens.
flug-123.de editorial team, updated 10 November 2026. We review our guides regularly. Rules can change. If in doubt, the details in your booking apply.
