Carrying a smartphone

Old Mar 9th, 2015, 08:12 AM
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Carrying a smartphone

We've decided to bring my newish smartphone on an upcoming trip to Spain. Previously we just used a cheap European phone and changed out the SIM cards. But my smartphone will do navigation (don't need a GPS), take better photos than my camera, contact the Internet, etc. as well as be a phone. So it has many functions in a small package.

But not that small a package. Don't think it will fit in any pockets and that's not safe. It could go into my handbag but I'm a little worried about that. Especially in my right-after-arrival jet lagged buzz. We wear money belts, me around the waist, my husband around his neck. But the phone is too big and/or too rigid to put in either of those.

So my question is how and where do you carry your smartphone?
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Old Mar 9th, 2015, 08:52 AM
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Maybe you need a smaller phone? My LG fits in my pockets, although I mostly carry it in my day pack. When it's in my pocket I tend to keep a hand on it.
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Old Mar 9th, 2015, 12:33 PM
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I've seen (and bought one, but gave it up) phone-bags that you can hang around your neck. They have a zipper or a button to keep it closed. Then you can keep it under your shirt. Of course, this makes it difficult to access the phone quickly when it rings.

Some people also wear a phone-holder on their wrist. I've never tried that, but it looks a bit clumsy and probably works best for someone with big arms. It would look silly on me, I think.
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Old Mar 10th, 2015, 12:41 AM
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I carry my Lumia 920, which is anything but small, in my normal crossbody bag, along with my bank passes and money.
My passport goes in there as well.
The bag is only slightly bigger than the phone but holds everything I need. It will fit in the carry on bag too if it has to.

I think you are being over cautious.
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Old Mar 10th, 2015, 06:45 AM
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Maybe you're right about being overly cautious, hetismij2. The phone is new and not our standard travel accessory. And scary reports about pickpockets in Barcelona and Madrid. I'll just have to be extra careful those first couple of jet-lagged days, especially on public transportation.

And, further thought, I'll stitch a smaller pocket for my phone so it won't be so loosely held.
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Old Mar 10th, 2015, 08:58 AM
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Is your phone insured?
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Old Mar 10th, 2015, 12:43 PM
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Buy a PacSac handbag, if you are worried about the strap being cut.
Using it as a GPS means you will be holding it a lot. That is when you are most at risk, and just after when you put it away.

Make sure you download maps to your phone before leaving home so you are not using data for the map when navigating.
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Old Mar 10th, 2015, 10:41 PM
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So my question is how and where do you carry your smartphone?

In my pocket. Galaxy S4.
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Old Mar 13th, 2015, 03:18 AM
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That's a great tip Hetismij2. The Roaming charges and be horrid.
Just make sure you have it insured. I understand that it's a bit of a worry, but you shouldn't let fear hold you back from enjoying your holiday.
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Old Mar 13th, 2015, 04:54 AM
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No need for roaming charges. I have a month to month deal with T-Mobile which gives me unlimited low speed data in 120 countries. Also unlimited texts and 20 cent a minute calls. Or you could pick up a local SIM.
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Old Mar 13th, 2015, 05:51 AM
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Thanks for all the replies. We, too, have the T-mobile plan. Looks good.

hetismij2, I was more worried about pickpocketing, not about my strap being cut. Is that a problem in Spain?
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Old Mar 14th, 2015, 01:18 PM
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we just put our phones in our jacket, pants, purse, backpack when we travel and we have never had a problem except for the time it was in my blouse upper pocket and i leaned over the toilet and it fell it!!! Not pretty!! We have AT&T and upgrade our phone service for the time we are overseas.
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Old Mar 15th, 2015, 01:19 AM
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hetismij2, I was more worried about pickpocketing, not about my strap being cut. Is that a problem in Spain?

Barcelona? Absolutely.

Minimize your risk of being a victim by making yourself the least appealing mark out there.
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Old Mar 15th, 2015, 04:55 AM
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I just saw a friend's new iPhone. The thing is more a small tablet than a phone! If yours is that size no wonder it won't fit in a pocket. I'll stick with my old LG that does.
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Old Mar 16th, 2015, 11:07 AM
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Just as a precaution, you might want to back up all of your photos, contacts, calendar items, etc from the phone before your trip. That way if the phone is stolen all you've really lost is the phone (and any photos you haven't updated yet). It's that old caveat that if you're prepared for something to go wrong, it won't.


I have an android so I don't know about the iPhone equivalent but I can set my phone up to backup photos automatically and immediately to Dropbox. If your iphone can be set to backup photos, I would suggest doing that on a daily basis (hotel wifi?) so that if something does happen to your phone then you only lose that days photos at the most instead of everything from the trip.
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Old Mar 19th, 2015, 02:34 AM
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I will suggest you to keep it in mobile bag with zipper and button and carry it on around your neck. It will be best idea for you.
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Old Mar 20th, 2015, 09:01 AM
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As someone suggested above, I like PacSafe, because of its theft-proof features and lots of pockets for tucking things in, such as passports and cell phones. I still wear a money belt.
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Old Mar 20th, 2015, 05:07 PM
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Thanks to all who replied.

johnsteve, a bag around the neck may work for a man but not for me. Especially since I'm short-waisted.

I worry a bit about those bags with reinforced straps. If someone tried to cut it and drag it off my body, I might get injured.

Not the worst of problems. Having just read maitaitom's trip report.
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Old Mar 30th, 2015, 02:48 PM
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I just leave mine in my handbag like I would at home and have thankfully never had any problems.

Well it was stolen once but that was my fault, I fell asleep on a bus in Mexico with my phone sitting next to me on the spare seat, so whoever it was just would have walked past and grabbed it
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