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Years ago, shortly before catching a red-eye flight in Miami, I committed a cardinal sin of safe travel: I fell asleep outside of security.
When I woke up, my backpack was still there, but it was 11 pounds lighter. My laptop, tablet, and wallet were all gone. What followed was a frenzy of police reports and insurance claims, but a few weeks later, they caught the guy, and I got my stuff back.
Needless to say, I’ve since become obsessed with securing my valuables while traveling. What you’re about to read are my best tips, tricks, and technology for securing your most valuable gadgets on the go — most of which are free and easy.
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Precautionary Measures Before You Travel
Before you even hit the road, there are a few precautionary measures you can take to keep your stuff as safe as possible.
Back up important files
Are you working on a novel that only exists on your hard drive? Or maybe you have family photos that haven’t been backed up yet?
Backing up your data to the cloud is good practice in general, but especially before you travel. That way, if the worst should happen, you won’t lose any memories or manuscripts along with your laptop!
Document your serial numbers
Before going anywhere with expensive electronics, it’s a good idea to document your serial numbers so that law enforcement can more easily track them later.
Case in point, Miami PD used my laptop’s serial number to track it to a local pawn shop and get a description of the ne’er-do-well who took it.
You can usually find a device’s serial number etched on the bottom or in Settings > About.
If possible, leave it behind
Without question, the most foolproof way to preserve and protect your electronics while traveling… is to never bring them in the first place!
Not only does this keep them safe, but it also makes your load much lighter. I used to take my laptop, tablet, and phone with me by default, but when I replaced the former two with a simple Bluetooth keyboard for my phone, it was like taking a lump of cement out of my backpack.
Consider taking cheap “burner” electronics
I have a few friends who travel frequently enough that they’ve actually invested in a cheap set of electronics that they only use for travel.
So, rather than take their $1,500 laptop and $1,000 smartphone, they take a $100 Chromebook and a $75 Walmart phone that suit their basic needs just fine. And in the words of my friend Amanda, “Traveling with a laptop without really caring what happens to it is super liberating.”
How To Keep Electronics Safe While Traveling
If you do need to take some of your pricey electronics with you, there are ways to keep them safer while you’re traveling.
Invest in phone cases and laptop sleeves
According to a 2023 YouGov Survey, roughly one in three people doesn’t use a protective case on their smartphone.
If you’re one of those brave people, power to you for being more confident or less clumsy than the rest of us. But you might want to consider getting a case just for travel, since it can improve grip, durability, and water resistance. Plus, it’ll make your phone easier to find or identify if it goes missing.
In a similar vein, don’t put too much faith in the protective capabilities of your backpack’s “laptop compartment.” I’ve tested dozens of travel backpacks that have padding on the sides but not the bottom, so when you drop the bag on concrete, your laptop turns to dust. Thankfully, a $10 laptop sleeve solves the problem instantly.
Keep valuables in your carry-on
If you’ve ever watched baggage handlers load a plane, you’ll know that your bag won’t be treated like a delicate Fabergé egg. Quite the contrary, checked bags are routinely tossed, dropped, and rained on.
That’s why it’s best to keep sensitive and valuable electronics in your carry-on. This also ensures that if your checked bag gets lost, you won’t lose your laptop along with it.
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Use zippered pockets
Murphy’s Law of Travel states, “If it can slide out, it will slide out.”
In other words, if your phone is sticking out of your back pocket or your laptop is peeking out of your messenger bag, it’s significantly more prone to fall out, take damage, or get stolen by a sticky-fingered thief.
As a golden rule, if it’s not in your hand, it should be safely tucked away in a zippered pocket.
Leave nonessentials locked in the room
Similar to leaving it at home, leaving an expensive gadget in the room can massively reduce the risk of theft or damage.
That being said, if you’re staying on the first floor where thieves like to prowl, you might want to consider taking a few extra precautions to protect your goodies. Try the hotel safe, hiding them in the spare linens or — my personal favorite — sliding your laptop under the mattress.
Wear bags across your body
Most petty thieves commit “crimes of opportunity.” In other words, they don’t carefully plan and premeditate their crimes while twisting their moustaches — they just scan the area for easy targets and then act impulsively.
Easy targets include unattended bags, purses hanging on chairs, and even bags hung over one shoulder that can be easily snatched.
So if you travel through a crowded or touristy area, be sure to wear smaller bags across your body (so they’re snatch-proof) and wear your backpack on your chest so it’s visible at all times.
Best Security Gadgets for Protecting Electronics
There are several inexpensive gadgets you should consider to protect your electronics — not just from theft or getting lost, but also from different electrical currents in different parts of the world.
GPS trackers
A Tile or Apple AirTag costs less than $25 and can provide huge peace of mind while you travel.
I like to check my suitcase’s GPS location as soon as I land, so I can confirm that it landed in the same city as me (and breathe a big sigh of relief).
But on the day that it doesn’t, apparently giving your bag’s GPS location to airline customer service is supposed to help speed things up.
I also have a Tile in my backpack in case I ever have to give the local police the exact GPS location of my missing bag and electronics.
Surge protectors
A $14 travel-sized surge protector is worth its weight in gold.
First, it allows you to charge all of your electronics at once, even if you only have access to one working outlet (which is often the case in airports, restaurants, and old hotels) or one working plug adapter (e.g., U.S. to Europe).
Second, and more importantly, it can protect your electronics from bad outlets and faulty wiring, which can damage internal batteries without warning.
Power banks
Finally, power banks like the Anker PowerCore aren’t just convenient, they’re also great for security because they allow you to charge your electronics while they’re safely tucked away in a zippered pocket.
No longer will you have to pull out your phone and tablet, dig around for an outlet in a foreign café, and babysit them while they trickle past 80%. You can stay more mobile (and more secure) by tossing a simple $20 power bank in your luggage.
Does Travel Insurance Cover Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Electronics?
Despite your best efforts, your luck could run short, and your gadgets can still get lost, stolen, or damaged during travel.
If that happens, would travel insurance step in and help? What about the complimentary insurance that comes with your travel rewards credit card?
What’s typically covered under travel insurance?
Most regular travel insurance policies come with baggage coverage, which insures your “stuff” against loss, theft, or damage while you travel.
But as always, there are caveats and exceptions:
- While it varies by plan, baggage coverage typically has a maximum limit of $2,000 to $3,000, which may not cover all your electronics.
- For “high-value items” like electronics, providers typically require an original receipt and may discount your refund based on the item’s age (e.g., reduced by 10% for each full year since purchase).
- Some providers don’t cover “high-value items” at all, so be sure to read the fine print.
RELATED: How To File a Travel Insurance Claim for Lost Valuables
When credit card benefits can cover lost or stolen electronics
Some travel rewards cards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express* include complimentary travel insurance in their long list of benefits.
It’s typically not as much coverage as you’d get with a standalone policy, but it definitely helps.
Specifically, there are two types of credit card coverage that can help protect your gadgets during travel:
- Baggage insurance/lost luggage reimbursement can help cover the cost of bags that were lost, stolen, or damaged while they were in a common carrier’s possession (airlines, cruise lines, etc.), usually up to $2,000 to $3,000 per claim.
- Purchase protection can help cover the cost of individual devices that are lost, stolen, or damaged within 120 days of purchase, usually up to $500 per claim.
Unfortunately, even when combined, these two forms of credit card protection leave some major gaps in coverage: Basically, any item that’s (a) 120 days past the purchase date and (b) lost, damaged, or stolen after you arrive won’t be covered.
That’s why if you’re traveling with $1,000+ in electronics, it might be wise to purchase a travel insurance policy.
READ MORE: When to Use Credit Card Coverage vs. Separate Travel Insurance
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FAQs About Protecting Electronics While Traveling
What’s the safest way to carry a laptop while traveling?
The safest way to transport a laptop while traveling is inside a padded pocket (e.g., a backpack’s dedicated laptop compartment) with its own foam or silicone sleeve for added protection.
Can I lock my backpack while going through airport security?
Yes, but be sure to use a TSA-approved lock so that TSA agents can easily remove it without having to destroy it.
Does travel insurance cover drone theft or damage?
Sometimes. Travel insurance companies often classify drones as “high-value items” with different conditions for coverage than your other stuff. Allianz Travel Insurance, for example, won’t cover high-value items that were stolen from a car, locked or unlocked, so be sure to bring your drone inside at night!
Bottom Line
Protecting electronics on the road requires smart storage, security gadgets, and travel insurance. Keep your valuables close, use tracking devices, and always back up important data.
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Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
