This may be a silly question but how do you carry or hold on to your valuables at the beach. We are travelling to the South of France in Sept.
I'm wondering how safe it is (or isn't) to leave your valuables while you dip in the ocean?

Many of the beach clubs in the area have lockers available. Public beaches are a problem w/valuables. I'd recommend leaving your keys w/ your hotel, and taking only a minimal amount of cash.

I wouldn't be too concerned at the private beach clubs. We've never had a problem although we never had a locker (I haven't seen any) in all the years we frequented the beaches in southern France.

In case you don't go to a private club and are on a public beach my husband and I take turns guarding our things while the other swims. Well, he swims, I duck.

Hi S,

>I'm wondering how safe it is (or isn't) to leave your valuables while you dip in the ocean?<

It isn't safe anywhere in the world.

I've never had a problem. I have left my passport, money and keys on the beach and walked away for 30 minutes. HOWEVER, I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND IT.

The answer is that you should not bring valuables to the the beach. Leave your passport and credit cards safely locked in the hotel; take an amount of cash sufficient for drinks and food and stash it in one of those waterproof pouches that you can swim with. Or take turns while one person swims and one guards the cash!

I have a little waterproof (well, fairly, ok for coins and keys but I wouldn't risk paper money etc) puch/box thing on a loop that I can fix to my swimsuit.

I don't take anything like passports/credit cards/big money to the beach, I leave in hotel safe.

I've also been known to bury stuff in the sand underneath my towel/lounger. I always get a slight fear that I won't be able to find it again, but I always do. Anyone out to pinch stuff on the beach just grabs something very quickly, they won't go digging around.

My beach towel also has a sort of bag sewn into it, that the towel folds up into when not in use, and I've left stuff in the bag with that side face down as it doesn't show from the other side.

You can also ask a neighbor on the sand to watch your stuff. Or leave the stuff with that person. The less you take the less you will worry!!! And please leave the jewelery home!

We're staying at a villa not on the beach. I guess I was looking for some suggestions on waterproof pouches. Not likely anyone takes their passport to the beach, but you do need to have money on you. Any good ideas?

The waterproof pouch is the way to go. If the paper money gets a littel wet it won't be a problem. I've laundered hunderds of dollars, once I even used bleach.

<< Not likely anyone takes their passport to the beach, but you do need to have money on you. >>
I do! In Belgium it's obligatory to carry your passport all the time, as well as your driver's licence when you're driving.
I'm so used to it that I also take it with me when I'm abroad, even to the beach in France. I put the valuable items (creditcard, passport, keys, phone) in a small purse which I put in my big beach-bag. As long as you don't take it out no one will ever know it is there. And, as said before, I go to private beach clubs only.