You look forward to it all year-long. The chance to get your RV out on the open road for 7 to 14 of uninterrupted fun. Vacation is your opportunity to leave responsibility at home and return with a little less weight on your shoulders. What better way to do that than in your camper? But have you ever gone on vacation and returned missing more than just your stress? You’re not alone. A recent survey reported that Americans lose around $5,600 in personal belongings over the course of their lives. A fair portion of that loss probably occurs on vacation. To help you avoid becoming a victim of this misfortune, we’ve compiled a list of items most commonly lost on vacation.

1. Wallet

If you’re in the habit of keeping your wallet in your back pocket, you may want to re-think this while traveling. Some cities are known for having a high rate of pickpocketing, and your back pocket is easy access for those wanting to make some quick cash. Consider investing in an anti-theft bag or pack. Yes, guys, even you. It doesn’t have to be a purse. There are plenty of manly options out there just for you.

2. Cell Phone

There are few things more horrifying than jumping out of a taxi and watching it drive away as you realize you don’t have your phone. If you’re traveling in a city where taxi travel is necessary, our advice is simple. Keep your phone in your bag and your bag on your body while in the taxi. This advice can be applied to other places, too. Restaurants, hotels, amusement park rides… It’s also good to get in the habit of checking your belongings every time you are about to leave a location.

3. Passport

If you’re traveling beyond the border, our advice for avoiding this terrible inconvenience is to keep your passport locked away in your RV. Print a copy of your passport to carry on your person. Losing that would be a lot less catastrophic than losing the real thing. However, if you can’t avoid carrying your passport, our advice is the same as it is for items 1 and 2.

4. Jewelry

A ring left on the bathroom counter of a restaurant, an earring lost to the bottom of a lake, a necklace left behind on a trail after quietly slipping from your neck. Jewelry is one of the items most likely to go missing during a week of adventuring. The only sure way to avoid this is to leave it at home.

5. Sunglasses

Sunglasses slip off faces all the time. Unfortunately, they sometimes slip right into a body of deep water—or some other type of abyss making them impossible to retrieve. To save your sunglasses—and your eyes from ultraviolet rays—secure your sunglasses with a retainer. Or just don’t lean over any edges.

6. Laptop

A laptop is probably one of the most devastating things a person could lose. For many people, it has years-worth of photos and documents that can’t be replaced. It could mean the compromise of email accounts, bank accounts, credit card accounts, and other accounts with sensitive information. Not to mention, laptops aren’t exactly cheap. Don’t let this happen to you. If you bring your laptop with you on vacation, make sure you have a way to lock it up when you’re not in your RV. And never leave it unattended while using it out in public.

7. Camera

Today, most of us use our phones to take pictures, but many people like to bring DSLR cameras, GoPro’s, and other equipment with them on vacation to get those perfect shots that will capture the memory of that weekend on the lake, that trek through the mountains, or that magical week at Disney World. If that’s you, always keep your camera on your body, and make sure that GoPro is secured when you jump from the edge of a cliff into Devil’s Waterhole.

8. Sanity

Polls have shown that people report elevated stress levels leading up to, during, and following a vacation. Between the financial strain, packed itinerary, and unruly travel companions (i.e. kids), vacation can be a chaotic time causing you to go home a little less sane than you were when you set off for your relaxing vacation. How do you avoid this? We don’t have all the answers, but here are three suggestions:

Start setting money aside long before you depart to ensure you have enough spending money for your vacation.
Create an itinerary with margins. Don’t try to fit too many activities into your days. Make sure there is space to stop and breathe. Have a cup of coffee with your spouse. Take the kids to get ice cream or spend a couple hours in the RV to watch a movie or play board games.
Communicate. Take time to take the mental and emotional temperatures of your travel companions. If your kids are having meltdowns in the Magic Kingdom or throwing tantrums on the trail, maybe it’s time for a talk—and perhaps a nap.

Honestly, we believe one of the best ways to avoid losing things—including your sanity—is to travel by RV. It takes all the complications out of locking your things up in a hotel room. Just keep it in your portable home! And it offers a sanctuary, a place to escape the madness of a crowded city, amusement park, or campgrounds. It’s better than staying in a hotel, because your RV is your RV. It’s home. Whether it’s a fifth wheel or travel trailer, RV travel is the best way to travel stress-free. But you already knew that…

Don’t have a home on wheels, yet? Stop by Howdy Ranch RV today and check out our New and Used fifth wheels and travel trailers. We proudly serve Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Laredo, Rockport, and McAllen.

8 Things People Lose on Vacation

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