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Any tips on keeping your personal items safe while swimming? I keep hearing that one shouldn't leave anything in the rental car, and I'm wondering about having car keys, towels, a little bit of cash, etc. sitting on the beach.

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About 99.9 percent of the time your towels and personal clothes will be no proble. If you're only concerned about keys, phone and small amount of cash, pick up one of the small plastic waterproof cases and wear it in the water. Not a big deal at all. If you're talking cameras and bunches of other 'stuff' so many of us bring to the beach, do yourself a favor and don't. Case closed. No worries. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />


Respectfully,

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We use one of these https://www.vacationvault.com/ - loop it onto our chairs - makes it very hard for someone to run down the beach carrying our chairs!!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />


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Please check out this thread


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I use one of these: www.kyssbags.com

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Kiss bag is great. Holds a lot and is a beach bag too. Also works as a carry on. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

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We purchased and use a beach vault that connects to the beach chairs. http://www.vacationvault.com/
It is big enough to hold my car keys, watch, wallet, cell phones and a small camera.


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If my wife and I can't have our kindle / ipad on the beach to read all day then its not much of a vacation for us. Don't like being held hostage by what ifs and .05% chances of something happening.

So that being said, does the vacation vault have enough room for an ipad and kindle?

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https://theaquavault.com/?gclid=CIqA65m58cQCFRaTfgodq1wA7g

This product was on Shark Tank last week or so. This can be a good viable way to keep possessions safe while at the beach.

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No, the Vacation Vault will not hold an iPad or a Kindle. The Kyss bag would work for those though.

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My approach may sound too simple and low tech for many, but, we take a beach bag that zips or snaps closed. We then tie a simple string (really a very small rope) around the bags straps and to our beach chair.

Yes it is true that anyone can untie and run away, but, there are lots of people on the beach. You make friends with your beach mates. No one is going to stop, untie, inspect your bag and then run away with it. The simple fact that there is something to slow down a potential thief is usually good enough.

Next I have a CO hat that has a small zipper pocket. It is just big enough for my drivers lience, reduced copy of passport , credit card and a few dollars. If your keep track of your hat, no worry about stuff disappearing. The beach bag now only has keys, stuff and a reader or two.

Simple, inexpensive and effective in most cases + I have never Seen anyone running down the beach with a beach bag dragging a chair!
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

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My approach may sound to simple and low tech for many, but, we take a beach bag that zips or snaps closed. We then tie a simple string (really a very small rope) around the bag and to our beach chair.

Yes it is true that anyone can untie an run away, but, there are lots of people on the beach. You make friends with your beach mates. No one is going to stop, untie, inspect your bag and then run away with it. The simple fact that there is something to slow down a potential thief is usually good enough.

Next I have a CO hat that has a small zipper pocket. It is just big enough for my drivers lience, reduced copy of passport , credit card and a few dollars. If you keep track of your hat, no worry about stuff disappearing. The beach bag now only has keys, stuff and a reader or two.

Simple, inexpensive and effective in most cases + I have never seen anyone running down the beach with a beach bag dragging a chair! ( in SXM or any other beach that we have visited.)

Try the simple approach and " no worries" just be happy!
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Quote
Bobinmobile said:
My approach may sound to simple and low tech for many, but, we take a beach bag that zips or snaps closed. We then tie a simple string (really a very small rope) around the bag and to our beach chair.

Yes it is true that anyone can untie an run away, but, there are lots of people on the beach. You make friends with your beach mates. No one is going to stop, untie, inspect your bag and then run away with it. The simple fact that there is something to slow down a potential thief is usually good enough.

Next I have a CO hat that has a small zipper pocket. It is just big enough for my drivers lience, reduced copy of passport , credit card and a few dollars. If you keep track of your hat, no worry about stuff disappearing. The beach bag now only has keys, stuff and a reader or two.

Simple, inexpensive and effective in most cases + I have never seen anyone running down the beach with a beach bag dragging a chair! ( in SXM or any other beach that we have visited.)

Try the simple approach and " no worries" just be happy!
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />


Honestly the simple approach works pretty well. Basically, you just need to keep things out of easy sight. My husband and I do have a bag that locks to the chairs but usually we just loop the locking strap without locking it. Most thieves are looking for a quick grab. They aren't going to waste time going through a bag to find something.
we've never really "made friends" with the people next to us on the beach chairs. But I like to think that if someone saw a potential thief digging through a bag clearly not theirs, someone would say something.

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SXMScubaman said:
Kiss bag is great. Holds a lot and is a beach bag too. Also works as a carry on. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />


<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> We bought one before our last trip, and it was worth every penny. Excellent quality, looks good, and securely attaches to anything that you can wrap the chain around.

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Honestly, I bought a chain and combo lock and it works just as good as a Kyss bag, it is also a lot less expensive. We don't bring much to the beach, plus we read the good old fashioned hard cover books, therefore we don't have a Kindle or IPad. As far as a phone we are on vacation and don't carry one with us when we are at the beach. I think you can figure out a less expensive way to keep your valuables safe. I never had a problem for 14 years.

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If that is all you take to the beach no wonder. For people that take teck valuables its best to take the best precautions.

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Even though I don't use my phone on the beach, I do have it with me when I'm in the car in case of emergency. Since I would never leave anything in my car, I take it with me. And the iPod is a necessity to block out the possible rude, loud people near me. I don't need to use it often, but when I do, and it's a godsend.

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I never even thought of bringing my phone for an emergency, thanks Kaye!! I will be bringing it with me on this trip

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gracie105 said:
I never even thought of bringing my phone for an emergency, thanks Kaye!! I will be bringing it with me on this trip


???? Sarcasm ?????

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Happy to help.

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i almost "lost" my flip-flops on Orient Beach last December...my wife and i had left our flip-flops by our chairs near Pedro's while we hung out at the Perch...when we came back, my wife's were still there, but mine were gone <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Shocked.gif" alt="" />...as i walked barefoot behind Pedro's going back to our car, we noticed a "local" sitting at a bench/table with some friends with my flip-flops tucked under his leg...we approached him and he said he thought "someone had left them behind" <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />


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Sarcasm? Why would you say that? There was absolutely no sarcasm in my response at all. I never thought of taking my phone for emergencies.

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Gracie,

Don't feel bad - I never did either and if it hadn't been for the fact our car was vandalized in a beach parking lot quite a few trips back, I probably still wouldn't take my cell phone to the beach either. I go on vacation to get away from phones, but that incident did teach me a valuable lesson.

And I didn't read any sarcasm in your response either........ <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />


Respectfully,

pat



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I purchased a kyss bag but to be honest it is way to heavy so I didn't bring it. We have never been too concerned of anyone taking our stuff. If you are on a popular beach most people look out for each other. We spent a week on Orient and Baie Rouge and felt completely safe. I live in Florida and would be more concerned here. Have fun and relax

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Has anyone bought a Kyss bag recently? Seems they have a 3-4 week lag time in shipping from time of order, which sadly is beyond my trip. Just wondering if anyone had a recent experience thanks.

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We've had our Kyss bag for years, and it has served us well. We never take our phone to the beach - if there were an emergency at home, we couldn't leave immediately, anyway. I also prefer a real book, but my wife uses a Kindle & she has to keep tabs on it.


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Thanks Pat...I appreciate that very much. I am not that kind of person I would not be sarcastic, Kaye gave me good advice. I have been lucky not to have been vandalized, but I will be more in tune starting this trip. I hope the thieves didn't get anything of value when you were robbed. Thanks again for the kind words

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Quote
gd1147 said:
Has anyone bought a Kyss bag recently? Seems they have a 3-4 week lag time in shipping from time of order, which sadly is beyond my trip. Just wondering if anyone had a recent experience thanks.


We purchased the medium size bag for a trip to Mexico last month. They were very accommodating in shipping it to us in time for our trip. I would contact them before ordering and see if they can meet your shipping needs.

We were happy with our purchase. We took a snorkeling trip in Akumal Bay and chained our bag to shelving while we were in the water. Worked perfectly smile

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Hello GaKaye, I think the Kindle Voyage will fit in the VV. Based on the dimensions on Amazon, it is 7.5" L X 7"W. My wife's Kindle Voyage is 6.4"L X 4.5"L. Unless I'm mistaken, I think it would work. Her older Kindle version is definitely too large.

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You could be right. I have the Kindle Paperwhite, and it doesn't fit.

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Gracie,

Just to clarify, our car was all locked up as was the sage advice at the time but there was absolutely nothing left in it ergo nothing taken. The sad part was the creeps who damaged our car got nothing from us but their actions served to cause financial harm to the rental agency not to mention lost time and aggravation. Today, at his advice, when we go to the beach we still leave nothing in the trunk or the car itself and we leave the doors unlocked and the windows down a bit, hopefully to discourage the damage that was done that one time.

We've been pretty lucky in experiencing only one incident in all our many years of visiting and our countless trips over those years. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />


Respectfully,

pat



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We never take our phone to the beach - if there were an emergency at home, we couldn't leave immediately, anyway.


While this is true, emergencies do happen on the island also. As pat stated, having a car damaged/vandalized while at the beach prompted the need to use the phone.


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gd1147 said:
Has anyone bought a Kyss bag recently? Seems they have a 3-4 week lag time in shipping from time of order, which sadly is beyond my trip. Just wondering if anyone had a recent experience thanks.


I did buy one for my granddaughter recently and the wait was 3-4 weeks. I did have her name put on it and that may have taken extra time. I would call them.

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..or something as mundane as a flat tire. Often it seems that island rental cars have either no spare tire or no jack..


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Exactly! I bring a phone with me whenever we get into the car, just in case. The first thing I do when I pick up my rental phone (which Sharon delivers to my rental car, BTW), is program the rental agency phone number into my phone.

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Jerseyshore said:
I purchased a kyss bag but to be honest it is way to heavy so I didn't bring it. We have never been too concerned of anyone taking our stuff. If you are on a popular beach most people look out for each other. We spent a week on Orient and Baie Rouge and felt completely safe. I live in Florida and would be more concerned here. Have fun and relax

I bought a Kyss bag a couple months ago to take with us in a few weeks, and you are right - it is quite heavy. I've been doing fairly well the past 30 years or so - just taking my books and some $$'s which I put in a waterproof pouch and attach to my hubby's bathing suit pocket, but now with the "devices" I felt maybe a Kyss bag was the way to go. I love my Kindle and it sure saves me dragging all those books with me. I like to read the latest releases so I was usually taking hard covers with me. I can read up to 6 books in a week, so half our luggage was books!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> I generally left them behind for others to read as they were basically brand new. Now, with the kindle; it's so much easier. Of course, my local library misses their monthly book donations.

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I like reading REAL books. Guess I'm just behind the times in so many ways! I don't get the time to read except when I'm on vacation, so I go to the local thrift store and buy paperbacks and I can still always find new stuff there. Then if I'm staying at Beachside, I just leave them there..


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Carol,

Like you I'm an avid reader, at pool, beach and balcony, and I generally plow through five or six books over a two week island stay.

I used to load my carry-on with four or five good sized books every trip, until the time DH went to place the carry-on in the overhead bin on the plane for me. He complained about the weight of the bag and suggested I might be importing bricks in it and asked, "Why?" <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> As I was unpacking I put all five books in a pile and lifted them myself and I couldn't believe the extra weight of the books . Since them I'm sold on my kindle, mine being one of the original earliest versions. I appreciate how handy it is, particularly for traveling. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />


Respectfully,

pat



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Pat,
I too can manage to read 6-8 books on vacation. I used to bring them in my luggage and the use of a kindle has saved my back a lot of wear and tear. I love reading right on the beach and the kindle is the way to go. If I finish one book, I don't have to wait until I get back to our condo to get another one, I just open it up on the kindle.
We use the Kyss bag and it seems to work fine keeping our stuff safe on the beach.



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I bought my husband a kindle e-reader for his birthday. He's fighting me on using it, but it takes him a week to get through one book; so I may bend and bring a "real" book with us.
Faeowyn - do you have the larger Kyss bag? Do you find it heavy?

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