I keep mine in my wallet in my pocket just like I do at home.

In my man-purse. It's European.

Seriously tho. I keep mine in my wallet in my pocket just like I do at home.

In a crowded situation (public transport or waiting in line) I'll move my wallet to my front pocket.

I carry a wallet, like I do at home. However I have noticed that a lot of men's pants now offer a zippered pocket inside the front right hand pocket. This is where I carry my wallet... or in an inside zippered jacket pocket.
It is less about the fear of being pick-pocketed in Europe than it is about the hassle of being relieved of these items while away from home.

We keep our wallets in pockets just like we do at home. My Dad used to put a thick rubber band around his wallet because he thought it would be more difficult to lose a wallet that had some traction as opposed to smooth leather which could slip out easily.

If you are on a guided tour you most likely will be together most of the time. Why not keep the cards in your bag?

However, if your husband is as nuts as mine, all suggestions will fall on deaf ears. Sorry & good luck.

Ditto J62. When I get off a train in Amsterdam I instinctively move my wallet from my rear pocket or jacket breast pocket to my left front pants pocket. My passport is always in my left front pocket. Wear slacks with deep pockets.

One more: in my wallet, as at home, but like J62, I move my wallet to my front pocket in crowds.

Hi robjame. I like the idea of a zippered front pocket ... I must look for that.

Anselm

I keep a small amount of paper cash (less than $20) and one of my several credit cards in my front pocket.

I leave everything else in the hotel safe.

I wouldn't recommend keeping credit cards anywhere near a magnetic money clip.

We spend 2 months in Europe every year - mostly France & Italy. While in public areas, I keep my wallet in my front picket, where I can feel it's presence more easily than in my back pocket. Last year on a crowded bus in Rome, I felt someone elses hand inside my front pocket - he only got a couple of knuckles in. This was the first time anyone ever tried.

About 5 years ago there was an ATM strike in France (and no cash available in banks either). We needed a couple of thousand Francs for Gite deposits and payments, plus spending money, so we took a money belt.

Stu Dudley

My husband always keeps his wallet in his front pants pocket, no matter where we are.

My OH also always carries his wallet in his front trouser pocket, no matter where we are.

I use an Eagle Creek belt pouch (I cut off the shoulder strap) which has a flap held my a clip and under the flap has a zippered pocket for my wallet with money and credit cards. It also has an outside zippered pocket on the loop side that can hold my passport, and has other pockets for my address book and pen. The flap itself has a zippered pocket that holds a small comb, a pocket knife, a Pak-Lite flashlight. It all sounds much larger than it is. It measures 6X6.5X2. I've traveled like that for years with no problems.

Hi Anselm - Tilley is one obvious choice in Canada... and now their pants don't all look like you are going on safari
However I have found this zippered security pocket as a feature in other high end lines as well.

I carry the cards in my wallet, usually in my front pocket. I use the front pocket not for safety, but because I found that sitting with my wallet in the back pocket was putting pressure on the sciatic nerve. Front pocket - no more sciatica.

This is a recent idea, I put my credit cards and driver's licence in a business card case and kept it in my front pocket. Less bulky and easy access. I did however, keep on slapping my backpocket to see if my wallet was there. But not too often as to avoid being arrested.

We have a small laminated list of all our credit/debit cards, with the number to call if they are lost or stolen, and who (wife or me) carries the card. We do not carry the same cards for obvious reasons. My wife keeps the laminated card below the liner in her shoe.

Stu Dudley

My hubby carries his wallet in his front pants pocket also. However, there have been a couple of posts on the Italy board about front pocket wallets being stolen.

Julie

My husband 'lost' his passport in Amsterdam when he kept it in his front pants pocket. Now he keeps it in a 'leg stash' style belt. (as do I).

He keeps one credit card and small amount of cash in a moneyclip in front pocket, with fat rubberband wrapped around it. I have an alternate card in my daybag, in a string wallet that I safety-pin to the inside of the daybag. I can pull it out but it's still attached.

Hi J,

I keep 1 CC amd some cash in a side pocket with a safety pin on it.

Everything else is in a travel wallet under my clothes.

I usually keep mine in my wallet in my front trouser pocket as I do here at home.

BTW...have you ever seen the look on someone with a purse across the front of their body after that purse has been snatched by someone riding by one a scooter or by someone who sliced the strap with a sharp knife?

I just carry my wallet in my front pocket or jacket pocket as I do at home, but I usually leave extra credit cards at the hotel. I carry my cash in a money clip in the other front pocket. I also leave items I will not need -- membership, library and metro cards etc -- at home. Never needed to take even these simple precautions.

I ALWAYS have my (small) wallet in my front left pocket, save rare occasions when it gets zipped into a jacket pocket. First off, sitting on a wallet puts your pelvis off kilter, then your back.

When on the road I often switch to an even smaller version of my wallet: barely bigger than the cards themselves, holds DL and a couple of cards and bus cards, and falls way down to the bottom of a pants pocket where it's hard to find. Also is so slim that it's not very visible in the pocket, so any pickpocket would first have to figure out where it is. (That said, pros will often see you take out your wallet in a shop, etc, and then just follow a ways before making the pinch, knowing exactly where to pinch. Ouch.)

When out for the day traveling abroad I DO use a "looped onto the belt, then flipped over the waistband inside the trousers" flat zipper pouch for extra cash if I'm going to need it or for passport (or copy) and possibly one of the cards, just in case. As wise advisors above have mentioned, leave everything you won't need at home, and take enough care that you won't have the hassle of replacing things you really need.

I also advise keeping a decent amount of case folded in a pocket so you just don't have to get out the wallet so often. Put it away and leave it alone!

I usually wear jeans and I carry my wallet in my front pocket. I have a difficult time getting it out, so I know a PP would be really tough.

Plus, I'm over 6' tall, weigh 200 lbs, have a big moustache and look half crazy, so I don't think many people want to play games. I also have "the look", kind of the "Clint Eastwood Squint" which scares my college students.



dave

Shifting a wallet from back to front pockets all of the time sounds like a pain.

I keep my passport, cash, and credit cards in my neck wallet. I've never worried about security and have never been a victim.

The question that jumps out at me from the original post is why are you each taking a complete set of cards? I can see taking maybe a Visa and an MC, in the event something went wrong with one account, but taking extra cards just adds to the hassle. And for the record, he's not nuts. He correctly figures he's never been robbed using the wallet in pants method in the 99.99% of the time he hasn't been traveling, so it's quite reasonable he won't be robbed on vacation, either.

My boyfriend kept his small wallet in his front pocket, and when we were in crowded places, like the bus or Naples train station, he flipped the wallet and pocket backward, so that it was folded over on itself inside the pocket. Seemed like a neat trick.

In my purse, right behind the coin compartment, like everybody.

One or of warning about those magnetic money clips. I use one all the time to keep my cash in my front pocket. Never have had an incident. One trip I had a brillient idea; I would just tuck my credit card in the money holder so it would be handy.

Of course, the magnet erased the information on the magnetic strip on the credit card. I still use the money clip, because it is so handy, but I carry my credit card in another pocket.

My husband has a small wallet-money clip that he carries in his front pocket too - at home or away.

To minimize damage if we are pickpocketted or purse-snatched, we each took an ATM card for seperate accounts, a credit card for the account we wanted to charge things to, and then we each had a back up card (different accounts). Back up cards in hidden pocket or hotel safe. When we got cash, we took out the max daily limit to minimize fees and each carried half.

If his wallet or my purse was stolen, we would still have access to cash and credit until the cards were replaced - we would be able to continue enjoying our trip with minimal loss or hassle.

J, you sound like intelligent people.

I'm not saying where I keep mine. For all we know, Jen57 might be a pickpocket conducting research.

It seems to me that using a back pocket or carrying high-value stuff in a bag is a very bad idea.

Thanks all for your input, it's most appreciated! We've been over to Italy just once and France several of times in the past with no problems. Except being, once on the Metro in Paris. We were dressed up and going to dinner and had to stand and hold onto to the railing as all the seats had been taken. We were facing each other and I see this guy's hand slide right under my husbands sportscoat! I grabbed his hand and just started yelling at him and then some local Parisians realized what had happened and tore into this scumbag as well. I know it's mostly common sense, pickpockets can happen anywhere. In all of our past travels, I'm usually the banker and am charge of the cards, passports, etc. Just looking over the new bag I purchased for this trip, there's so many zippers and compartments, anybody including myself will have a field day getting into it! As far as the husband goes, he plans on wearing shorts during the day which have zippers or velcro. Guess he'll just carry some Euro shoved in his zippered front pocket & I'll take care of the rest. The wallet with the magnetic money holder is being returned! Thanks all of you again~ P.S. Padraig, sorry but I'm not pickpocket conducting any research, how ridiculous!!! I'm just a traveler like you looking to have a safe and good time is all!

I always carry my wallet, including cards in my front pants pocket. I used to put a wide rubber band around it which makes it almost impossible for someone to get out of the pocket -- but that included me and was such a pain, I stopped doing that.

<<sorry but I'm not pickpocket conducting any research, how ridiculous!!! >>

The first line of defense is entrenched denial.

My beau keeps all his cards in his wallet. If wearing a jacket it's in the inside breast pocket. If not, in the front pants pocket.

daveesl,

Don't get too cocky. I pretty much fit your physical description, including the squinty look at high school students. That did not stop a team of pickpockets from going after me in Madrid. You have to remember that it is not one-on-one open combat. It's sniper and snatch. You don't know that anything happened until hours later when you look to see what time it is or reach for the wallet. I did survive the Madrid attack but only because of two things that happened earlier and fortunately had me on high alert.

Seriously tho...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oF97-XVLc-w

For all we know, Jen57 might be a pickpocket conducting research.

and/or writing a book titled "Pickpocketing 101."

bardo1, love it!!! Again everyone, thanks for your advice and input. Also to a couple of you, thanks for the good laughs, I need it!

bardo, too funny. A Murse?

I bascially employ the same method as Ira--cash and one CC in my front pocket, everything else in a travel wallet (neck variety for me, as I always wear button shirts). Haven't employed the safety pin, but that sounds like a good idea in Rome and some of the other pickpocket hotspots.

The problem with carrying a wallet in any pocket is that it can usually be spotted by pickpocets. I also don't like putting all my eggs in one basket. If someone gets the contents of my front pocket, I'll still have cash, a credit card, and my ATM card.

Well if I were into pickpocketing I think threads like this would be quite interesting and educational, lol!

Women and men with purses invite trouble. Trouser pockets are accessible to a skilled pickpocket. Magic shows often do a search and steal and the subject is unaware of what has happened. A travel vest with inner zippered vests may be secure. Another friend wears a pocket T-shirt, and shirt over it. His wallet is in the T-shirt. I carry a credit card in my buttoned shirt pocket. And I always (almost) check to see that I have it after using it. Before leaving the shop I put money/change into a wallet and the card into my shirt pocket. Hind sight..I left a restaurant in Katowice and begin organizing my money and such, four women surrounded me grabbed everything they could and disappeared.

Small wallet in front pocket with 1 cc and small amount of cash. The rest is either locked in the hotel safe or secreted upon my person

Either way they are hidden well away from Mrs Muck who has her cc confiscated whilst on holiday



Muck

Wallet. In my front pocket. As always (whether at home or away). Never used a money clip and don't want to.

Same here - DH takes his wallet, containing his single card, in his front trouser pocket as at home. We'll usually leave spare cards (i.e. mine) along with passports in the room safe.

Would you be feeling the need to take special devices if you were visiting a big city at home ?

>.. a purse across the front of their body after that purse has been snatched by someone riding by one a scooter ...<

How they do that? They have to pull the purse over the person's head.

>I left a restaurant in Katowice and begin organizing my money and such, four women surrounded me grabbed everything they could and disappeared.<

One shouldn't tempt people that way. You turned 4 perfectly good citizens into thieves.

"Would you be feeling the need to take special devices if you were visiting a big city at home ?"

Yes Caroline, its really weird we probably don't bother at 'home'also Mrs Muck is allowed CC here which is probably far more dangerous (and stupid) than having them on hols.




M

Despite all my warnings, my husband carried his credit card leather case in his pocket and was pick pocketed on the metro in Rome.

We were that close to divorce court.....

Hi Mucky - I was wondering about her 'only' being allowed a credit card at home

I think the best strategy is to make one's self a more difficult mark and to minimize damages if a theft occurs - to make it so that it is a minor blip in your travels, not a roadblock.

I do the same with home security. I take reasonable precautions so that my house is not an easy mark, but understand that if someone really wants to get in, they will. So I do things within my home to limit what a burgler can take.

A friend of mine once knew a guy that kept his money and credit cards in a ziploc bag pinned to his underwear. I have often wondered what cashiers thought when he went for his money or credit cards.

Ira, you mentioned you have a saftey pin with your cash..do you pin your money to the inside of your pocket?

I started using an arm wallet while jogging. Lightweight, holds a couple credit cards, some cash and a key or two; unobtrusive, readily available and always within line of vision. And easy to wash. Lots of people think its for carpal tunnel or some other type of first aid.
http://www.beltoutlet.com/armwalbyen.html
They have a leg wallet too which would hold more, but not be as convenient to retrieve for making purchases!

love it - its my favorite travel accessory.

"Ira, you mentioned you have a saftey pin with your cash..do you pin your money to the inside of your pocket?"

No. He uses it to stab anyone who tries to pick his pocket. LOL

On this trip, I'm going to carry everything in my backpack. Inside the backpack will be a...you guessed it...bear trap.

HAH - Now when those nasty pickpockets reach in to steal my valuables, NO MORE FINGERS!!!

So, you say "What if they just take the backpack?" I have that one covered too, I'm going to staple it to my neck. Finally, I'll cover the entire backpack in fiberglas resin, without the hardener. That'll get em.

I'm still working on how to pay for stuff, but hey, I can't figure out everything.



dave

bardo1: I've just spent at least a half hour with William Sledd. Now I'm hooked.

My husband thinks he is impervious to pickpockets. I am worried. But we do just as J Correa does, so no matter what, we ought to be ok.

He also says that because he is draped with heavy photography equipment he is more likely to be robbed of camera equipment than pickpocketed.

I hope he never is, but he is pretty stubborn.

I have a money belt and my husband has a leather wallet that has a loop that wraps around his belt and hangs inside pants. It has zippers on two sides. We both keep little money available, but have credit cards and other money hidden from others, but it is easy to get to.

All of you who insist on keeping your wallets in your pockets like you do at home, are being quite silly. You have never come up against the pickpockets as in Europe. The price you pay for this carelessness can be quite high. In paris, they were following my brother around like a pack of wolves. We had to beat them off. He insisted on keeping his wallet in his pocket. On the TGV train coming back to Paris from Nice, A thief closed the vestibule doors on my brothers top torso, as he was leaning over depositing the luggage. At the same time, the thief had his hands in my brothers back pockets. My sister-in-law saw what was going on and beat the thief off. He promptly got off the train. They must follow unsuspecting people on the train, steal from them and then jump off before the train ever leaves. Another time, in the Vatican book store which was very crowded, I had a wallet on a rope around my neck under my jacket. All I had in it was some angel tickets left over and a business card. The thief unzipped my wallet and got the used tickets out. He probably thought they were credit cards. When I felt something and looked down, he walked away saying scuzzi, scuzzi. Europe has the best pick pockets and smug Americans are no match for them.

I came up with a quite simple solution to foil the infamous pick pockets of Europe. I went to Wal-Mart and purchased an inexpensive cloth camera case and attached a velcro strap to the belt loop and can now attach it to my ankle. It is worn in a manner similiar to the way undercover police officers conceal their small back-up guns. Of course you cannot wear shorts with this setup, but then again many European tourist attraction frown upon wearing shorts anyway. Especially Italy.

In Europe or South America, I always carry my wallet in my front pocket following the advice of a detective. It's easy to come up behind a guy and slip a wallet out of his back pocket and I once saw a guy's back pocket in Philly get neatly sliced with a razor so the wallet fell out. If you are especially concerned, you can put the wallet in and give the front pocket a twist so it's not possible to slide a hand into your pocket easily. It is also important to be aware of those around you, don't be so distracted, make eye contact and not let people see where you have placed your valuables. Some people also use what is called a "rabbit garden" trick. To keep rabbits out of your garden, you plant a smaller garden with cheap rabbit favorites that is easier for the rabbit to get into and it stays out of your main garden. So use a smaller wallet with a small amount of cash (and maybe credit card with a small credit line) to pay for things so it attracts any attention and not your main wallet with your real cards. If you lose the "rabbit wallet" you haven't lost much.

"In Europe or South America, I always carry my wallet in my front pocket..."

So where do you carry your wallet in the US where...
"I once saw a guy's back pocket in Philly get neatly sliced with a razor..."

>> Europe has the best pick pockets and smug Americans are no match for them.<<

Funny - I've lived in Europe for 35 years and never had my pocket picked - I'm American, but hopefully not smug.

"Geen geld in de achtersack"
You learn that at a very young age

Both men and women should wear a waist moneybelt under their clothing. In it should be limited credit cards, ATM card, big bills of cash and passport. In your day bag or front pocket carry any "day money" you need. I do this while traveling abroad as well as in the United States. That way if the unfortunate happens, I've lost very little and my trip can go on. The best moneybelts? Try www.ricksteves.com
Have a good trip and relax!

To answer the original question. Men keep their ATM and credit card(s) wherever the wife or GF can't get to.

In December 1986 a friend and I were riding a car crowded with commuters in the London underground. I had my shoulder bag tucked under my arm. I thought the woman next to me was moving awfully close and pushing against me but perhaps someone was pushing her. Got off at a stop pretty soon so didn't think it was too bad a ride. A little later I picked up my purse to pay for dinner and discovered one side of it had been cut open. She must have done this, stuck her hand in and could not ket past my big ol' Nikon. Wrecked the bag but wallet and camera were secure.

Travelpat : "All of you who insist on keeping your wallets in your pockets like you do at home, are being quite silly. You have never come up against the pickpockets as in Europe."

So how would you apply that to all of those of us who have lived in Europe all our lives, taken dozens if not hundreds of holidays here and don't feel the need for moneybelts etc ? Maybe we're just more used to being careful. Or maybe it's because we don't drive everywhere at home ?

Caroline, don't give the game away. We Europeans survive because we are the pickpockets, all of us.

In a Zanzibar fishmarket, a man was coming from the opposite direction. He bumped into me and tried to shove his hand into my pocket but I felt it and shoved my elbow into his hand and I ran off. I keep a money belt under my clothing while traveling. In the hotel, I keep most of my money and passport in the hotel safe. I keep a small amount of daily money divided in my front pockets, either zipped or pinned. Split up your money so you don't loose it all. You can't be too careful. In Oman someone got into my zipped back pocket without my knowledge but I just had non-important papers in it. I think I'm going to print up cards that say "Shame on you" for them to pickpocket. They are pros!

I'll be the first to admit that a sport coat pocket or a back pants pocket are very vulnerable to a skilled pick pocket, but not my front pocket. it's all I can do to get my wallet out of there. I'll happily submit to a test from any of you who want to see if you can get your hand in my front pants pocket without my feeling it. Sounds like fun to me.

We just returned from a European cruise and visited several large cities with crowded shopping areas, etc. Our solution against pickpockets was to wear cargo pants with buttoned and zippered pockets. Your valuable documents and credit cards, cash, can go in the pockets of your pants. My purse contained only items that were expendable if stolen.

We never had a problem but we felt safer.