How to Protect Your Phone While Travelling: A Practical Guide

How to Protect Your Phone While Travelling: A Practical Guide

To protect your phone while travelling, you need to cover three things: the drop (a case with a raised lip and a strap), the theft (keep it on your body, never on a table) and the data (a locked screen, tracking switched on, and care on public Wi-Fi). Most trips go wrong in small moments: a phone slipping on a tiled hotel floor, lifted from a cafe table, or left in a checked bag with a power bank. This guide walks through each risk in the order you meet it, from packing to coming home.

TL;DR

• Fit a dual-layer case with a raised lip around the screen and camera, and add a strap or grip so the phone is never loose in your hand.
• Keep your phone on your body in a zipped pocket. Hotel safes and checked bags are not the place for it.
• Power banks and spare lithium batteries go in your cabin bag, never in checked luggage.
• Before you leave, set a strong lock, turn on Find My, and update your software. Avoid sensitive logins on public Wi-Fi.
• Pack a waterproof pouch if your trip involves beaches, boats or wet seasons.

Table of Contents

• Start with the case: what a travel phone case needs to do
• Stop drops before they happen: straps, grips and rings
• Keep it safe from theft in crowds and on public transport
• Hotel rooms, bags and the “safe” myth
• Flying with your phone, power bank and batteries
• Water, sand and weather
• Protect the data, not just the hardware
• Our perspective: protection you will actually keep on
• Protect the rest of your travel tech
• Get your phone trip-ready with MONTE
• A simple travel packing checklist
• FAQ
• Sources

Start with the case: what a travel phone case needs to do

A case you barely noticed at home gets a harder workout on the road. You use your phone for maps, boarding passes, translation and photos, so it is out of your pocket far more often, often one-handed, often on hard floors and in crowds. A travel case has a few jobs.

Drop protection that survives hard floors

Airport terminals, hotel bathrooms and stone streets are less forgiving than the carpet at home. Look for a case with two layers: a flexible inner layer that absorbs the shock and a rigid outer shell that spreads the impact and resists scuffs. That is the construction we use across our phone cases, made for iPhone, Samsung and Pixel models.

A raised lip around the screen and camera

When a phone lands face down, the screen touches the ground first. A raised edge keeps the glass slightly off a flat surface, and the same goes for the rear camera. The AARP notes that a raised lip around the screen and rear camera helps protect these fragile parts. If photography is a big part of your trip, our guide to protecting your phone camera lens without hurting photos covers how to do it without ruining your shots.

A screen protector as the second line

A case protects the edges and corners; the glass face still needs help. The same AARP guidance says tempered glass screen protectors can help prevent breaks. Fit one before you leave, not at the airport, so you can check for bubbles and dust at home.

Style still matters

People tend to stop using a case they find boring, and a phone without a case is the real risk. Pick something you will happily keep on for the whole trip. If you want to know how to make a case your own without losing protection, read how to personalise a phone case.

Stop drops before they happen: straps, grips and rings

Most cracked screens come from a phone leaving your hand: a wet palm at the beach, a jolt on a tram, a rushed photo at a railing. The best protection is making sure the phone cannot leave your hand in the first place.

RACV suggests using accessories such as wrist straps or lanyards to prevent accidental drops and snatch-and-run thefts.

Attaching a strap properly

A strap is only as strong as its anchor point. Some cases have a built-in loop or a hole for a cord. Others take a thin flat tab that sits between the case and the phone and threads through the charging-port opening, then you clip the strap to it. Whichever you use:

1. Fit the tab or loop with the case off the phone, then snap the case on firmly.
2. Give the strap a firm tug before you trust it with the phone.
3. Check that the cord or tab is not blocking the charging port, so your cable still seats fully.
4. Re-check the anchor every few days. Repeated tugging wears a tab and a loosening case is a drop waiting to happen.
5. Choose a length that lets you use the phone without it dangling at ground level.

A wrist strap is good for walking and taking photos. A crossbody strap is better in crowded places, because it is harder to snatch and leaves your hands free.

Keep it safe from theft in crowds and on public transport

Phone theft is mostly opportunistic. The aim is to be a harder target than the person next to you.

• Zipped pocket, close to your body. RACV advises keeping your phone in a secure, zipped pocket close to your body and not leaving it on cafe or restaurant tables where it can be grabbed.
• Front pockets over back pockets. A back pocket or an open tote is easy to reach without you noticing.
• Step away from the kerb. When you check a map, stand against a wall, not at the edge of the footpath where a passing bike can take it.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Navigation apps are useful, but keep your head up. Look at the map, then put the phone away.
• Hold it with both hands near doors. Public transport doors opening are a classic moment for snatch thefts.

A wallet case or card holder, with caveats

Carrying a card or two on the back of your phone cuts down what you carry, and a MagSafe wallet ($49) is a tidy way to do it with a compatible iPhone. Two cautions. First, a phone with all your cards on it means losing one item loses everything, so keep a backup card somewhere else. Second, take the cards out before wireless charging, and check that the holder works with your charging pad.

Hotel rooms, bags and the “safe” myth

It is tempting to leave your phone in the room safe when you go out. Smartraveller, the Australian Government’s travel advisory service, warns against assuming that hotel safes are secure, and recommends keeping electronic devices on your person instead of leaving them in checked luggage or hotel rooms.

In practice:

• Carry your phone, earbuds and any other key device with you when you leave the room.
• If you do have to leave a device behind, switch it off and make sure it is locked and tracked.
• Do not leave it charging unattended in a public place such as a hostel common room or a cafe.

Flying with your phone, power bank and batteries

Yes, you can take your phone on a plane. Airlines and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) set the rules, and the essentials are simple.

• Phones and devices: CASA says devices with batteries can go in checked or carry-on baggage if they are switched off completely and protected from damage, and from being switched on in flight. Your phone is better in your cabin bag anyway.
• Power banks and spare batteries: these must never go in checked luggage. CASA says to carry them in the cabin, where trained aircrew can manage issues quickly.
• Flight mode: during take-off and landing, follow the crew’s instructions, which generally mean switching to flight mode and stowing devices securely. CASA’s general operating and flight rules guidance sets out the regulatory framework, and your airline will give the specifics for your flight.

Also check your airline’s own limits on power bank capacity and number before you fly, as these differ between carriers.

Power bank habits that keep you safe

The ACCC’s product safety guide notes that power banks commonly use lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries, and advises buying from reputable suppliers and never charging them on flammable surfaces such as beds or carpet. The ACCC has also observed that most power bank incidents happen while a phone or other device is being charged, so people are often nearby when a failure occurs. On a trip, that means do not charge a power bank under a pillow overnight, and keep an eye on it in a hotel room.

Water, sand and weather

Modern phones often have a water-resistance rating, but that rating is not a promise for the life of the phone. RACV notes that even water-resistant phones can be vulnerable over time, and suggests a waterproof pouch for the beach or a wet climate.

A few practical habits:

• Put the phone in a waterproof pouch for boats, snorkelling trips, waterparks and monsoon-season travel.
• Keep it out of direct sun on a dashboard, a towel or a beach bag. Heat is hard on batteries.
• Shake sand out of charging ports and case edges, and wipe the case down with a damp cloth rather than rinsing the phone.
• Keep the phone in a zipped section of your day bag, away from sunscreen and drinks.

Protect the data, not just the hardware

A cracked screen can be fixed. A compromised bank login or lost photos are harder to undo. Do these before you leave.

Before you go

1. Lock it properly. Use a strong passcode or biometric lock, not a simple 1234.
2. Update your software. Install pending operating system and app updates at home on a reliable connection.
3. Turn on tracking. Enable Find My (iPhone) or Find My Device (Android) so you can locate, lock or wipe a lost phone.
4. Back up. Back up photos and contacts to the cloud or a computer before departure.
5. Turn on two-factor authentication for email and banking, and check how you will receive codes overseas if your SIM changes.

While you travel

Smartraveller advises you not to send secure information or sensitive personal data over unsecured Wi-Fi, and to consider a VPN on devices that access the internet. Where phone networks may be monitored, it suggests an encrypted VoIP service on your own device for sensitive calls rather than the local network.

Simple habits that follow from this:

• Use mobile data rather than airport or cafe Wi-Fi for banking.
• Switch off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi auto-join when you are not using them.
• Be sceptical of QR codes, unexpected texts and “free charging” cables or public USB ports. Carry your own cable and plug into a wall adaptor.

If it goes missing

Use Find My to mark the phone as lost and lock it, then contact your carrier to suspend the SIM, and change key passwords from another device. If it was stolen, report it to local police, which your insurer will usually require for a claim.

Our perspective: protection you will actually keep on

We design MONTE cases around a simple observation: the best protection is the kind people leave on. A plain, generic case gets swapped out the moment it looks tired or dull, and travel is when you can least afford to be caseless. That is why we make fashion-forward designs in limited runs and build every phone case with dual-layer drop protection, so the style and the protection arrive together rather than as a trade-off.

For travel specifically, our view is that you should think in layers. The case handles the fall. A strap, ring or grip stops many falls from happening. A screen protector looks after the glass, and your habits (zipped pockets, no phone on the table, cabin-bag power banks) handle theft and fire risks that no case can. We also think a trip is a good moment to match the rest of your carry: a case, an AirPods case and a wallet in the same colourway means fewer loose, unprotected items in your bag, and that is why we offer coordinated accessories and custom bundles.

— User

Protect the rest of your travel tech

Your phone is rarely the only device in your bag. A few quick matches:

• AirPods cases ($39) keep earbuds from getting scratched or lost at the bottom of a bag.
• AirPods Max cases ($49) suit over-ear headphones that take a beating on long-haul flights.
• iPad cases ($109) protect the tablet you use for films and boarding passes.
• Kindle cases ($69) are handy for beach and long-flight reading.
• MacBook cases ($99) cover a laptop in a backpack.

Get your phone trip-ready with MONTE

If your current case is worn, or you are travelling soon, a fresh one is the cheapest insurance in your packing list. Our phone cases start at $79 and come in limited-run designs for iPhone, Samsung and Pixel, with dual-layer drop protection. Add a phone strap at $29 or a ring holder at $19 and the phone stays in your hand where it belongs. You can also mix and match cases and accessories into a custom bundle on our site.

A simple travel packing checklist

FAQ

Can I put my phone in checked luggage?

CASA says devices with batteries can go in checked or carry-on baggage if they are switched off completely and protected from damage. In practice, keep your phone with you. Smartraveller also recommends keeping electronic devices on your person, not in checked luggage.

Can I leave my phone on during a flight?

You can carry it and use it in line with your airline’s rules. Expect to switch to flight mode and stow it securely during take-off and landing, and follow crew instructions. Power banks and spare batteries must always stay in your cabin baggage.

What is the best way to stop my phone being stolen overseas?

Keep it in a zipped pocket close to your body, and do not leave it on cafe tables. A strap or crossbody tether makes a snatch much harder. Turn on Find My before you leave so you can lock the phone if it does go.

Is a wallet case a good idea when travelling?

It can be, because it cuts down what you carry. Check that the cards are held securely and that the wallet works with your wireless charger, and take the cards out before charging. Keep one backup card elsewhere in case you lose the phone.

Sources

• Protecting your cyber security when travelling overseas, Smartraveller
• How to keep your smartphone safe when travelling, RACV
• What to Look For in a Case to Protect Your Cellphone, AARP
• Lithium batteries, Civil Aviation Safety Authority
• General operating and flight rules AMC/GM Part 91, CASA
• Power banks guide, ACCC Product Safety
• Power bank recalls on the rise, ACCC Product Safety

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• How to Personalise a Phone Case (and Still Protect Your Phone)
• How to Protect Your Phone Camera Lens (Without Hurting Photos)
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