Key Takeaways: 4 principles for preventing pickpocketing and loss while shopping in Bali — ① Bring only enough cash for the day, store the rest in the hotel safe; ② Keep cash and passport/documents separately; ③ Place valuables in a front or waist pouch, separate from shopping bags; ④ Nearly 90% of shops in tourist areas accept GoPay e-wallet (built into the Gojek app, can be linked to a credit card or topped up by your driver), so prioritize cashless payments and minimize wallet use for maximum safety.
【Shopping】 is often a key activity during any trip. When shopping while traveling, convenience and safety are important considerations. You may get absorbed in finding the perfect item, but this can make you less alert. As a result, there’s a real risk of losing money due to a dropped wallet or pickpocketing.
To make travel shopping more convenient and secure, try the following tips:
1. Carry Only What You Need
Carrying just enough cash is the first step to safer, more convenient holiday shopping. But bringing too much cash adds unnecessary risk! Plus, carrying only what you need can help curb overspending—people with too much cash on hand often become more careless with their money.
For a safer and more comfortable trip, it’s recommended to keep cash and documents separate. This helps prevent the loss of both money and important papers.
2. Keep Cash and Documents Separate
Cash is used for everyday purchases, while documents like tickets or passports are only needed at specific times. It’s best to store them separately to avoid losing everything at once due to carelessness.
3. Carry a Bag for Valuables
While traveling abroad, it’s also essential to bring a small bag to store your valuables. This offers greater convenience and security for protecting these items, while also allowing you to separate shopping purchases from your valuables.
Make sure the bag you bring is smaller than your main backpack so it won’t feel cumbersome. Additionally, wearing the bag on your chest or waist to store valuables makes it easy to keep an eye on your precious items at all times.
4. Prioritize Cashless Payments
During your vacation, try to prioritize cashless payment methods as much as possible. This simplifies shopping and eliminates the need to carry too much cash.
For cashless payments, travelers in Indonesia or Bali can consider the e-wallet GoPay. GoPay is a service under Indonesia’s super app, GoJek. Using the GoPay e-wallet allows you to make payments at nearly 90% of merchants in tourist areas across Indonesia or Bali.
Why is GoJek considered a ‘super app’? With GoJek, you can not only hail rides for short-distance travel but also order food delivery to your hotel and make payments using the GoPay e-wallet—three of the most commonly used services for travelers. Plus, topping up your GoPay is incredibly easy! You can do it via ATMs in Indonesia/Bali, convenience store chains, or even ask a GoJek driver to top it up for you with cash. Another option is to link your credit card to GoPay, saving you even more hassle.
