Essential Tips for Traveling with Jewelry

As you pack for your long-awaited vacation, you are probably in need of some tips for traveling with jewelry… the right way. Not saying that your method of stuffing every piece of jewelry you own in a large pouch and plopping it in your check-in luggage is necessarily wrong, but there is definitely a more efficient and safer way to bring these valuables along with you on your adventure. Who wants to stress over losing their favorite diamond necklace while on a Caribbean Island? I’m guessing not you, so here are some of the most useful tips for traveling with jewelry:

1. The Best Kind of Jewelry to Bring on Vacation

Before you even figure out how you pack your jewelry, you must decide which pieces of jewelry you are going to bring along with you. Although you probably look at each piece of jewelry and think, “I’m probably going to need that,” while packing, think again… but logically this time. Is your outfit absolutely incomplete without it – so much to a point where it would have been worth it if it gets lost during travel? I mean, at least you wore it with the outfit, right? No, not right.

Statement Jewelry:

So, choose wisely when packing jewelry. I would say to bring primarily statement pieces, such as chunky statement necklaces or a pair of long dangling earrings. Usually, these are less expensive than fine jewelry, so in the unfortunate case that they do get lost during travel, it is not the worst case scenario. Statement pieces can also really complete an outfit, whereas most outfits can go with or without the dainty necklace; so, while traveling, it is better to go without it. If statement necklaces just aren’t your style, bring one pendant necklace that is versatile and can be worn with numerous outfits.

In the event that you do bring fine jewelry with you, be mindful of flashing expensive jewelry in the type of environment you will be in. Taking this risk goes beyond just losing it with your luggage during travel. A worker at the hotel with intentions that are less than honorable can see the jewelry you are wearing, track down your hotel room, and have full access to it while you are out and about. Regardless, always take precautions while traveling.

Bangles and Beaded Bracelets:

As far as arm candy, bangles and beaded bracelets are effortless and can spice up an outfit without the hassle of having to untangle them. A watch is also a must. Not only is it fashionable, but if you ever lose your phone in a foreign country and cannot immediately get it fixed, it is also very handy.

2. Photograph Your Jewelry

You’ll want to take photographs of your jewelry and save it not only on your phone but also your computer. This will help you keep track of what you brought so that you don’t leave anything behind when going home. It is better to photograph them rather than writing them down on a list because it will also be useful if you end up losing them. After losing one of my earrings on vacation in Barbados, I went to the concierge of my hotel and told them that I had lost it. Luckily, a good Samaritan did turn in my missing earring, but the hotel management needed proof that it was, in fact, mine. This is when the photo saves the day!

3. Ways to Pack Your Jewelry:

Travel Jewelry Case: If you are a frequent traveler, you might want to invest in a travel jewelry case. These are good for storage, protection, and organizing.

Straws: There is nothing worse than wasting half an hour out of your ‘getting ready time’ to untangle the necklace that you planned to wear. To avoid this, insert half of the necklace into a plastic straw, then hook the ends together. Voilà!

Buttons: Any extra buttons you have lying around – especially larger ones – are great for keeping pairs of earrings together. Just stick the posts through the holes, secure the backs, and put them in your jewelry bag.

Pill Box: Who knew that daily pill boxes are multi-functional? Not only are they perfect for storage, but they’re also perfect for organizing. They fit earrings and rings, protect your jewelry, and can help you plan which pieces you will be wearing each day.

4. Put Your Jewelry in a Carry-on Bag

It is definitely not the best decision to put your jewelry in a checked bag. If you don’t end up wearing it, put it in a carry-on luggage or bag so that you are never separated from it. The last thing you want to stress out about all vacation is your checked baggage containing jewelry that ended up in Europe for the week while you are thousands of miles away on an island. If you do end up wearing jewelry on an airplane, be discrete about it because all it takes is for someone with a keen eye and twisted intentions to spot your jewelry.

5. Put It in the Safe

If your hotel room has a safe, I recommend using that opposed to trying to hide it in your luggage. It is not completely foolproof, but it is definitely the safer option. However, if the value of your jewelry is very high and is worth thousands, you might want to ask the front desk of your hotel if they could place it in a safe-deposit box.

There are three common types of safes that hotels provide: mechanical combination, keylock, and electronic (because what isn’t electronic these days?). If your safe is a keylock, I would consider that the least safe because it is so easy to copy a key. I would say that your safest bet is an old-school mechanical combination. If you do encounter an electronic safe with a keypad, make sure that you wipe the pad clean before and after typing. Criminals have this new tactic of leaving a coat of wax or oil over the keypad so that they know which keys have been touched after you type in your code. It’s disturbing, I know.

While I want to advise you to keep your jewelry to as close to a minimum as possible, I understand that it is difficult for some to stray away from the mantra, “The more the merrier”. Therefore, when traveling be cognizant of the fact that some people make a living off of spotting and robbing tourists, and they can be very innovative nowadays. It is also no surprise that hotels, which rarely have restrictions on access to hotel lobbies, are the perfect spot for someone to distinguish an out-of-towner. Although this sounds scary, it is better to face the situation with precautions rather than avoiding it altogether. So follow these tips for traveling with jewelry to make your traveling experience as stress-free as possible!