Protecting Jewelry on Vacation

Vacations should be a time of relaxation. But a missing wedding ring or anniversary necklace can cause unnecessary stress during your time away. Even if you have homeowners insurance that provides personal property coverage, receiving monetary compensation for a stolen piece of jewelry isn’t the same as getting your jewelry back. Take these steps to secure your jewelry so you can focus on enjoying your vacation.

Ways to Prevent Jewelry Loss or Theft on Vacation

Leave it at home. Instead of bringing your valuables with you on vacation, consider leaving them at home in a secure location. If you’re concerned about burglars while you’re away, have a friend or family member check on your house — or better yet, house-sit. This way, you don’t have to worry about keeping track of your jewelry while you’re enjoying your relaxation time.

Check the jewelry at the front desk. Some hotels have a safe at the front desk that is monitored by staff. Storing your jewelry here when you don’t need it is a great way to keep it safe, and it also usually means the hotel is liable should your valuables go missing. Be sure to get a receipt for the items you store there in case something happens to them.

Use the safe in your room. While hotel room safes might not be the most secure — hotel employees generally have access to them without needing the code — they’re better than leaving your valuables out in the open. Before leaving your room for the day, lock up your jewelry and don’t forget the code.

Use the do not disturb sign. There’s no reason not to trust cleaning staff at a hotel, but if you’re uncomfortable with the idea of anyone being around your things while you’re away, put the do not disturb sign on your door.

Lock your luggage. Get TSA-approved locks for your luggage so you can secure it in transit and while it remains in your room. An added bonus of storing your goods in your luggage is that you’re less likely to leave them behind when the vacation is over.

Take photos. This is less a preventative measure and more a proactive one. If you take pictures of the jewelry you brought with you, in the locations you stored it, you can use them later if you need to file a claim.

What to Do If Jewelry Goes Missing

Call the front desk or AirBnB host. If you realize your jewelry is missing after leaving your accommodations, call the front desk or host and ask if they can look for it. It might be that you just left it behind in the hotel safe or on a bedside table.

File a police report. If the jewelry can’t be found, contact the local police through their non-emergency number and file a police report. This is a very important document to have when filing an insurance claim for your valuables.

Contact your insurer. File your claim as soon as possible, including as much evidence as you have, like photographs, receipts or appraisals showing the value of your jewelry. The sooner you file, the sooner your insurance company can get the claims process rolling.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Jewelry Theft or Loss?

Homeowners insurance generally covers theft through personal property coverage. For valuables like jewelry, there are generally limits to what the coverage will pay in the event an item is stolen, so connect with your agent (Opens in a new tab) to understand what that limit is. If the total value of your jewelry is higher than your liability limit, you should consider adding more coverage or scheduling your valuables.

No one wants to worry about their belongings while they’re out exploring a new city. So protect your valuables while you’re on vacation to help make your holiday an enjoyable one.