got1tiel

i read many suggestions to hide valuables under clothing against pick pocketers in Paris but how do this in summer?
I mean how do you conceal money/camera and a mobile phone under a t shirts and a pair of shorts? the chest money belts i saw could only hold a wad of bills.A waiste belt says from miles away that you are a tourist.I was toying with the idea of a plastic bag or a mcdonalds paper bag to hold my camera etc.

Sam

m_kingdom2

Stop being so neurotic - you're no more likely to get mugged in Paris than you are in London. If you're careful and don't flash cash around in the streets nothing will happen to you! I live in London, have never been the victim of this sort of crime. Cameras are not nearly as valuable as watches. If it's a 1000GBP plus camera, then have it insured, if not then don't worry!

suze

I know people differ on this, but I never use extraordinary precautions when traveling in European cities. And I have not heard that Paris has a particular pickpocket problem except maybe on a crowded Metro.

I can see using a money belt, let's say for a 6-month trek camping out & staying at youth hostels... but for normal touring and a decent hotel in Paris, I don't see the point.

Carry your money, phone, and camera as you would at home. I (female) use my normal wallet and good leather pocketbook. For a man, a "messenger bag" style bag should work fine. Keep your money for the day in your front pocket.

I'm pretty confident people who live in Paris do not get done up in under the clothing contraptions each morning!

jg1234

does the phrase "body cavity search" give you any ideas on where you can hide your stuff?

m_kingdom2

Do you have to be quite so vulgar?

nocinonut

I like the idea of a "man purse" such as mentioned above. Purchase a nice sturdy leather messenger bag if you have alot to carry. I wouldnt use a McDonalds bag it would be too easy to lose or drop.

My husband uses a leather bag for his camera and wallet, it is similar to a messenger bag but not flat.

katie_scarlett

The men in my family carry "Adventure Totes" when they go on vacation...same thing as a man purse, just a more creative title!

WillTravel

This is what we did, although others may disagree.

When traveling from destination to destination, we wore money belts (they hung a little below the waist) and a loose shirt on top. This holds passports, credit cards, etc.

Once we were at our destination, we locked up the passports and unneeded credit cards in the safe (either at the front desk or the hotel in-room safe). My son stuffed his Visa and ATM card way down in his backpack and just had cash in his pocket as he went around. If he went to a further off destination, like Versailles, he took out the money belt again and put the Visa, ATM card, and a little cash in that, just so he wouldn't be stranded if he lost what he had in his pockets. Otherwise, he could just walk back to the hotel if he lost the cash and Carte Orange in his pockets. I had a black travel bag which I wore over the opposite shoulder, and I kept the Visa, ATM card, Carte Orange, and some cash in there. I also figured I could walk back if the worst happened, or otherwise wear a money belt (like if going to Montmartre).

You can't conceal your camera and mobile phone very well, so I wouldn't even try. I kept my digital camera in my travel bag. The way it was held against my body with the clasp facing inwards and then with multiple zippers after that, it would have been tough for a pickpocketer to get it.

The money belts are to be worn under your clothes so shouldn't be visible if your outer clothing is loose. But I wouldn't wear them except in the situations mentioned, or if I didn't have a safe for the passport, etc.

cls2paris

Not sure if you are a man or woman. I carry a purse made by Hobo that straps across the body, has a zippered pouch in front and a zippered wallet like part in the back. My camera and a few other things fit in the front pouch and everything else in the back. I don't carry a lot of cash and there are pockets for cards and cash and a zippered one in the middle for coins. I kept my passport in the back also. I have used this on 2 trips to Paris and one recently to Switzerland and it has worked pretty well. I've also used a bigger bag by Eagle Creek, I think it is about 8x10" and holds a water bottle, camera, guide book, umbrellas, whatever you need. This would probably work for a man or woman. I have never encountered a pickpocket. Just keep your hand on your bag in crowded places, don't hang it over the back or place it under a chair and don't walk around with it unzipped. All things I would do in any big city.

hanl

I personally don't see much point in wearing one of those money belts under your clothes when sightseeing in Paris. I was in Paris the other weekend, and there was a tourist opposite me on the metro platform who was wearing a T-shirt (not particularly close fitting) but it was totally obvious that she had a money pouch underneath, as you could see the outline of it quite clearly. Talk about advertising your insecurities!

It's better (and less conspicuous) to have a bag with a strap across your body - just keep any accessible pockets on the bag facing inwards, and keep one hand over the zipper when in busy places/on the metro/etc.

If you really want to play it safe, you could invest in one of those normal looking canvas belts (i.e. the type that hold your trousers up) with a hidden zip pocket on the inside. We used one when we were travelling in South Africa - we kept a bit of spare cash, emergency phone numbers and insurance policy number in it - just enough for peace of mind.

suze

Clothing with hidden or zippered pockets is one more option. Cargo pants/shorts could certainly hold a small cell and digital camera. Also mail order places like Travelsmith have lots of clothing for men and women with inner pockets, zippered pockets, etc. They have the belt mentioned above that looks normal but has an inner-facing zipper to stash some emergency cash.

everittp

We're constantly hearing over news broadcasts etc. that passports are very valuable on the black market. In Frankfort airport, my friend had hers stolen while she was preparing to put it back in her money belt! She'd put it down on a little ledge for a moment to unzip and in that fraction of time someone took it.
In Buenos Aires, one of our pary had his pocket cut out. Wallet with cards etc. gone.
In Montreal friends walking home from movie were jostled at a stop light. Her purse strap cut.
I was surrounded crossing a Wal-Mart parking lot in San Antonio by kids who wanted money. Happily an off duty security guard saw what was happening and drove up.
Thieves are everywhere. Always have been. I use prudent precautions, buy insurance, leave copies of passport, air tickets etc.with family at home, and in safes, but I travel a lot and alone. I figure that I am just as likely to lose to a thief at home as away.

Underhill

One possibility would be to leave the mobile phone at the hotel--do you really need to lug it around?

lesliec1

Ha! It was probably me that Hanl saw on the Paris train platform with an undisguiseable neck wallet! They are really a pain, and I go on at length about them in my trip report that I have posted on this site. My son did fine with his moneybelt style wallet. It fit under his shorts and was easy enough to access when necessary, and you couldn't tell he was wearing it. I saw women wearing those, too, but only if they were wearing elastic-waist skirts and untucked blouses. The absolute best solution IMHO is travel clothes with lots of hidden zipper pockets. Not only is your stuff secure, but your hands are free to hold your camera and gelato. Only drawback is that too much change makes your pants feel like they are falling down. Those 2 euro coins weigh an awful lot!

Travelnut

Hey, Underhill - didn't you see the post where the couple's phone was stolen from their hotel room..?

cigalechanta

I say a bag across the shoulder held in front , bandolier style, holds, maps, camera, film, maps, passport, money. I do have a small french leather flat wallet with a leather string to be worn around the neck, I use it for money, passport only when out to dine. I carry an extra large linen bag I bought in Provence to put my regular shouder bag in and small perchases when we are at the airport.

Scarlett

Hi Katie Scarlett! Love the name

I agree with cigale. I carry a regular bag, that I would at home, with the strap across my chest. All the women in Paris also carry purses and they carry them the way any smart city girl would!
In my bag I can fit our small digital camera and a wallet that is made to hold passports.
I carry some money and one credit card, so does my husband.
Maps and notes and Kleenex, what more do you need?
Now, since you are talking about carrying your camera in a paper or plastic bag, I am thinking you must be a man.
How does this sound? -carry your wallet with money and one credit card in a pocket that zips if you can, or in the front of your pants. Carry your phone in a pocket and your camera around your neck.

Why does this sound so simple to me?

Is it because women pack their suitcases too full but men don't know where to put their stuff ? LOL

suze

The idea of wearing under-clothing money belt... it is not meant to be accessed during the day or in public. More a long term solution for valuables. Your daily cash should be easily reached in a pocket, coin purse, etc.

WillTravel

That's right about the under-the-clothes money belt. The main reason to use it is so that if you lose your daily cash (stored in a purse or pocket or whatever), you will have some means of getting back to your hotel again or making a phone call or whatever.

Scarlett

A tiny bit off the subject maybe but how many people have actually Lost their money on a trip? Either from misplacing it or having it stolen?

I am curious if this is something that really does happen often or it it is one of those things people worry will happen therefore so much concern about protecting oneself.
Thanks~