Money Belt - Neck, Waist, or Leg?

Old Sep 1st, 2006, 09:19 AM
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Money Belt - Neck, Waist, or Leg?

Hi,

I went to pick up a money belt for my husband for our trip to Europe and noticed mainly 3 types: on a string around the neck, belt around the waist, or band around the leg.

My husband is thinking he'd prefer the leg one since it would be less noticable and more comfortable. However, I noticed it is held on only by 2 velcro straps and I'm worried that it could fall off without him noticing.

There was also one that clipped (not a belt) inside pants and I was thinking that might be safer.

I'm wondering if anyone who's had experience using any of these could offer their opinion?

Thanks!
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Old Sep 1st, 2006, 09:35 AM
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My son and I like the ones worn around the neck. They can be tucked inside your clothing if you wish, you always know it is right there,and very easy to take things out and replace them.
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Old Sep 1st, 2006, 09:38 AM
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My husband has one that is a pouch that hooks around his belt and then is carried inside his pants - ordered it from Magellin. Very convinient. He wears it in the front, basically right behind the front pocket of his pants. I have one that is a pouch on a string around the neck, which I don't really care for that much. I wear it bandolier style under my shirt, but it is still visible. The cord is pretty obvious too. With summer clothing, it just isn't practical.
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Old Sep 1st, 2006, 09:40 AM
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when I travel I use a belt/waist one, inside my trousers, and never had a problem.
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Old Sep 1st, 2006, 09:40 AM
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There's another style that works well for men who always wear belts -- a zippered pouch with a loop. Slide the loop onto the belt and then flip the pouch to the inside of the trousers.
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Old Sep 1st, 2006, 09:41 AM
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I used the neck bag on my first trip to the U.K., it lasted about a day then I tossed it (I removed the contents first!). The cord showed at the back of the neck and had this big knob on it - just screamed, I'm wearing a money bag! Plus no matter how I adjusted it you could see the outline of it on my front. Maybe for a man's physique it might not be so noticeable if it was cold enough to wear a heavy sweater. I've never used the leg belt nor has my hubby but I think your concerns about it stayung up might be valid, but you could put it under your socks, unless you're wearing sandals of course.
I've used the waist belt and found it to be very secure especially when you also pin it to the inside of your trousers. If there's any bulge showing it just makes one look a bit chubbier than one actually is.
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Old Sep 1st, 2006, 09:44 AM
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A neck wallet is my choice, I've been using them for years.
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Old Sep 1st, 2006, 09:46 AM
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I wear a money belt and I keep it around the waist, just under the belt of my pants.

My wife carries the one with a string around the neck, but with summer clothing, as J_Correa says, is not so practical, since it can easily be seen.
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Old Sep 1st, 2006, 09:46 AM
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I use a waist one. It's fine, I got used to it. The one caveat is if it's even remotely warm where you are and you're doing active things like climbing bell towers or to the tops of domes, the paper things in the money belt could get somewhat soggy!
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Old Sep 1st, 2006, 10:00 AM
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I used the waist one until my hubby started wearing a 'leg safe'. Then I bought one for me and I love it! So we both prefer the 'leg safe'. The velcro holds very well, no 'slippage'. Of course, it works for us b/c we travel in cool weather only and therefore wear pants/slacks/jeans, no shorts, skirts or dresses.

Note: on the small 'pocket' that has a loop to slide over the belt, then you tuck the pocket into your slacks.. be mindful of it when going thru security in the event you have to remove your belt - hubby had one of these and it fell off to the floor while he was dealing with being wanded, etc. Someone picked it up and gave it to him.
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Old Sep 1st, 2006, 10:12 AM
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I use a waist money belt, but with the pouch at the back, not the front. amyb - you need to wrap the contents in plastic! chatham - the whole point of a money belt or neck pouch is that noone else knows you're wearing it (which is why neck pouches aren't as good). You ALWAYS need to have it under your clothes, and you should try to never access it when people can see you (sometimes this isn't possible if you're using an ATM). Keep a day's worth of money outside the belt/pouch so you don't need to access it.
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Old Sep 1st, 2006, 11:00 AM
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Dad likes the waist money belt and Mom uses a neck pouch on a string.

For me I just carry a normal purse. (No, we are not traveling together.)
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Old Sep 1st, 2006, 11:05 AM
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We used money belts in the cities in Italy. It was my first time using a money belt. At first I caught myself making mistakes. There I was, standing right by the ATM machine, fiddling with my money belt, which was the kind worn around the waist, under your clothes. However I was taking it out in public...This defeats the whole purpose of a money belt!

After a while I realized I would need to place the cash I needed to have handy someplace easier for me to get at...I ended up choosing to wear a purse with the strap going cross-wise across my body. No one tried to take the purse. If they had gotten it, they would only have gotten some lipstick and a small amount of cash, no credit cards.

Inside the money belt I placed other things, and learned to go someplace private, like the ladies room, when I needed to access the "secret" money belt.

Trust me, if you are trying to take out a money belt that is under your clothes, and you are doing it in public, your attention is no longer on your surroundings...if somebody wanted to rob you, this would be a good time!

Among the worse things you can do is put anything valuable in a big bulging backpack. A museum guard told me he always sees pickpockets trying to access people's backpacks in crowds. He told me to wear my backpack on the front of me while I was in the museum. (by the way there wasn't anything important in the backpack...just maps and snacks...But some people do put important things in their backpack.

So the answer about which money belt to buy is...I think the waist money belt is the safest one, worn under the clothes, but you have to have someplace else to put the cash you are going to need soon. My daughter and I were alone once on the Spanish steps at night (I mean alone with a crowd of strangers!) A pickpocket, posing as a flower seller, actually patted us down looking for our money while trying to sell us a single flower! If we had been wearing the neck pouch I think he would have taken it. However at that time I had very little money with me and it was all in the waist pouch under my clothes where he couldn't get it...My daughter and I had to slap his hand away and walk away yelling "NO!) and find my husband who was nearby. The man wouldn't leave us alone until my husband and son, who are 6 feet tall, told him to leave.

I should add we were in Italy for 2 weeks and didn't get anything taken from us. That was the only scary incident.

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Old Sep 1st, 2006, 11:56 AM
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You really don't need a money belt for Europe IMO.
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Old Sep 1st, 2006, 12:08 PM
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Well, 2tired, I'd say you need a money belt in Europe more than you do in Asia. The only time I've been pickpocketed in months of travel on both continents was in Rome. I only lost one day's cash & an expiring bus pass, because that's all that was in my wallet, in a small zippered bag clamped under my arm. Partly my fault - it was bus 64 & I allowed myself to be distracted, but I was very glad that was all I lost.

The reason you need a money belt when traveling and not when you live in the same places is partly because you're less likely to be driving, partly because you're more likely to be carrying your passport, and partly because replacing what's lost is so much more of a hassle.
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Old Sep 1st, 2006, 12:13 PM
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I have used all three and tossed the neck bag - hate the feel of the string around my neck. I still use the belt or the leg wallet or sometimes both. The leg wallet is probably the safest since the thief would have to be on hands and knees to get to it, so I will use it for my passport and critical IDs and such. I also have a belt pouch that I use at times for convenience. It is great for reciepts and although not as safe as the belt or leg wallet, it is better than a pocket. Mine is a tough leather that will not cut easily.
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Old Sep 1st, 2006, 12:21 PM
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i don't agree that the whole point of using a money-belt is to ensure no-one knows you have it. IMO it needs to be easily accessible, else there is no point in having it, as it is meant to replace carrying a wallet or purse - so you need to be able get at the things you would normally in them.
I used a moneybelt around my waist for the first time in Rome - it made me feel a lot more secure than using a handbag, and I had no trouble taking money or ATM or credit cards out of it - I don't think that it's very likely that someone is going to whip it from round my waist!
I do keep some change in a pocket though, to save getting it out all the time.
A leg- bag would i suppose be useful for things you didn't need ???
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Old Sep 1st, 2006, 12:25 PM
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My husband & I both wear money belts. We place money & passports inside ziplock baggies and then place them into the money belts. This helps to keep the items from getting soggy.
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Old Sep 1st, 2006, 12:27 PM
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annhig, no, the money belt is in addition to a wallet or purse. You put the money you need for one day in the wallet, and everything else in the money belt (passport, ATM card, credit card(s), airline/rail tickets, money, important numbers, etc.). If your hotel has a safe, and it looks safe, you can choose to leave your money belt there, I mostly stay in places that don't have safes.
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Old Sep 1st, 2006, 12:39 PM
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Have you ever tried a safari jacket? I have travelled with mine for many years, without problems. (Knock on wood!)It has some 20 pockets, some with zippers, some with velcro, some just plain. The only problem I have with mine at times is that I forget in which pocket I have put things. But this assures me that a pickpocket probably has the same problem.

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