Is it safe to leave personal belongings on the beach while swimming?
I’ll be visiting Malta for the 1st time this year.
I also plan on going to the beach and swimming for around let's say an hour at a time. My concern is about leaving stuff unattended.
I’m planning on bringing only the essentials (towel, phone, wallet), but I’m still a bit nervous about theft specifically of my personal documents that I need to travel back.
Has anyone here tried bringing a small portable safe/lockbox to the beach? Is it effective or overkill?
Any further tips on how to keep belongings safe while enjoying a long swim are also welcome!
Thank you for your time and feedback!
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u/No_Rip9712 1d ago
Just make sure to keep your empty bottles safe, or someone will cash them in before you do.
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u/Classic-Boat-6437 1d ago
Usually its not an issue but if you see young teenagers around especially from a French or Italian background, hide your stuff well
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u/iGiveOFucks 1d ago
Usually no trouble, but why would you want to take the risk and be the first to fins out? You never know what will happen. Phone, maybe. But your travel documents? Why would you carry those with you only to leave them 1h unattended on a beach? Leave them at home/hotel. Just take phone, key, one credit card or cash, put them all in one of those water proof bags, and take them with you when swimming.
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u/dnesKanye 1d ago
Maybe one of those waterproof pouches for your phone can solve the problem, I am used to put in there also credit cards, money or card from the hotel room and bring it with me to the sea. Didnt use it while swimming for an hour tho but I guess it won't be a big problem since you have it on your neck.
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u/Crokai 1d ago
Thank you for the suggestion. When I mentioned swimming I was thinking more of snorkeling and exploring the coastline, not active swimming. So the pouch is probably a good alternative for some peace of mind
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u/Free_Ad7415 1d ago
Definitely get the pouch, they’re soo cheap you can get one for a couple of euros from the cheap shops, most phones are waterproof these days so if you spring a tiny leak it won’t matter too much hopefully.
Mine cost £1 from the pound shop.
Worth it for enjoying a relaxing swim and spending as long as you like without worrying. Wouldn’t bother bringing a wallet at all.
For keys a trick I’ve seen is using an old sunblock bottle to store them in.
I’ve never had an issue personally but equally I would never leave my stuff unattended when going for a proper swim
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u/Muted_Relief_3825 19h ago
This is how I lost my iPhone in Thailand where is the cheap waterproof pouches 🤪🤩
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u/dnesKanye 1d ago
Oh gotcha, In this situation I definitely recommend using the waterproof pouch, I had it on me while snorkeling in Blue Lagoon and Mellieha Bay beach and it was amazing, also used phone to capture videos underwater. 🍻
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u/R0LL1NG 1d ago
I wouldn't risk it. It happens in Malta, albeit at a lower rate than other countries.
If you have a car, leave your valuables in it. Just take your car key in a water proof divers pod (they are cheap and reliable) or get a coded lockbox like a moon code.
If no car, only bring the bare minimum with you to the beach and if you're a group of people, consider having at least person on shore with your stuff.
I do a lot of diving and snorkelling around Malta (for fun and work) and would never leave my stuff unattended in a busy public place.
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u/kxrie 1d ago
Certain beaches are more at-risk than others (st. julians and sliema), but in general as a local we have never had anyone steal anything considering we don't take anything important with us
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u/kristalcm 1d ago
I've never done it in Malta however in Spain I bought a waterproof bag and just went swimming whilst it bopped around me lol. But my mind was at rest as I spent over an hour enjoying the sea. Left my towel on the sunbed obv only took my mobile, keys and wallet.
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u/Historical-Market533 1d ago
Malta has not gone to that extreme yet just leave it under a towel or somethin and where you can still see them..or use the water proof pouches.
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u/raptor75mlt 1d ago
While I've never had anything stolen from me on the beach, I also take care to avoid the issue. I never take my whole wallet with me to the beach, prefer to take money in a waterproff container or none at all, as I can pay by phone.
I rarely use it, but I do have a waterproof puch for my phone. Then again i normally leave it deep in a bag on the beach, it is linked to my watch so I'd know if it is tampered with.
so yeah, caryrong your travel documents anywhere is a bad idea in general. Leave them in safe place!
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u/IllustriousAd1028 1d ago edited 1d ago
Unless I'm going with a group of people I just take the bare minimum in a bag, but that always includes my phone and keys. I'm mindful and keep an eye on my stuff but honestly never had anything stolen. I know it happens so there's always a small risk but we swim quite far out sometimes and still haven't had any issues.
I don't think I would do it in really crowded areas but the beaches will be quiet(er) from this weekend when pretty much everyone in Europe is back at school with their kids.
*Bare minimum being a towel, sunscreen, goggles, shoes, keys, bare minimum cash (usually a few euros if I feel like a delicious iced coffee from the kiosk on top of ghajn tuffieha). Anything else can stay in the car or home.
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u/wolverinex1999 1d ago
No it isn't safe to do that. The police go around explaining that from time to time.
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u/shepgodthelegend 1d ago
I just come back from a solo holiday there, to keep it short, never felt more safe leaving belongings by side of beach. Safety wasn’t an issue with all aspects of malta whilst i visited
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u/radicalMT 23h ago
Once 20 years ago, my brother in-law had his backback stolen at Ghadira Bay.. it was a pair of romanians who got caught a couple of weeks later … only instance i have heard about beach theft.
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u/HighlySuccessful 1d ago
Relatively safe - never had anything go missing, or heard of anything go missing. Sometimes I give my phone and a wallet full of cash a random person on a beach to hold while I go take a jump in the sea. Just be mindful of... people who migrate for economic reasons from the south, if you know what I mean, it might be less safe in those situations (in general).
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u/PlanetaryHarmonics 1d ago
I waas in Malta a week ago, twice went to the beach (Meliahha and Baluta Beach Bay) . No trouble at all. I was watching my stuff from the sea, but no sus people were seen.
For Meliahha we paid for a umbralla and 2 besa and we were on the first row.
For Baluta, there is no such thing. But there is natural shadow and it was fine.
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u/CaptainFoyle 1d ago
Why do you need personal documents at the beach?
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u/Crokai 23h ago
In case I need to identify myself to authorities, hospital, etc
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u/bucketdraws 19h ago
General travel advice: scan or take pictures of all your documents and email them to yourself so you have an online copy and can access them on a phone. If there's an emergency you can show that and then later procure the originals. Odds are very slim you're going to need to identify yourself on a holiday past border control.
That said, I leave all my stuff in a basket when I swim (kindle, phone and wallet included) and never had any issues. I spend 2-3 hours straight floating in the sea. You can also ask a neighbour to keep an eye on your bag :)
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u/FrostPace 1h ago
Normally if you cover your belongings it's fine however I know of a case of someone stealing a bag on the beach especially since the beach front are extremely crowded so it's best to keep your things in eye sight at the very least.
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u/Deuce_5 1d ago
I must have been unlucky then. Circa 22 years ago (yup), had my bag and clothes stolen from Ghadira beach.
I was with a group. The people next to us saw the thieves take my stuff but did nothing. Apparently they were Italian. Came with a car, took my stuff and off they went.
The police wrote everything on a torn piece of paper and told me to go search the rubbish bins as they might have dumped some of my contents there.
To this day, I'm not comfortable going to the beach. This was pre mobile days but having to go home on the bus is just my swimwear was pretty humbling.
My two cents, just take maybe 10 euros and a towel. That's it.
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u/SqueakyB4t 1d ago
It has never been an issue for me personally. I like to take a small bag and cover it with the towel while I'm swimming - not that it would stop anyone from stealing lol. I also don't swim too far, that way I can keep an eye on my things. As someone else said, don't take your wallet, just take some cash and your phone
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u/alicetto 1d ago
This country is not a shithole thank God so you’ll be just fine.
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u/burner8020 1d ago
In 15 years of living here, this has never been an issue. Maybe I was just lucky, but I think there are no gangs or crooks walking around, preying on people’s belongings. That said, someone might always seize the opportunity.
You can pay basically everywhere with your phone. Don’t take you wallet with cards and IDs to the beach. Bring your keys, 30€ in cash and your phone. And a book. And sunscreen. Hide your phone under your flip flop and enjoy the water.