A_Brit_In_Ischia

This one seemed a novel answer to the problem...

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/136492921

All say aaaaah!

Peter

Heimdall

Does it bite pickpockets?

A_Brit_In_Ischia

No, but the CSIs can detect his DNA on those he gives a big wet lick to!

Peter

Pegontheroad

Not counting the time in 1965 when I had nothing to steal, I have been to Spain 4 times. On one of those trips, in a restaurant in la Boqueria, my sister's purse was stolen. On my most recent trip, a woman in my train to Montserrat tried to steal my purse.

Obviously, I/we look like clueless tourists. However, I'm not as dumb as I look. I keep big money and credit cards in my money belt, under my blouse/top. I carry a bag with a shouler strap, and I zip up all the zippers in the bag. In one of the inside zipped pockets I keep a small wallet with running-around money.

A_Brit_In_Ischia

If I might suggest a little pre-vacation reading....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Twist

Peter

PamEwing

Love, love, love my Pacsafe Citysafe 100 bag! Inside there's a padded pocket for a camera or cell phone, several zippered pockets for keeping a wallet and any other important documents, plenty of room for a small dictionary or guidebook, sunglasses, and I even fit in my Kindle. Handy outside pockets for keeping hand sanitizer or mints, but nothing that you want to risk losing. Best of all, there's a clip to latch the zipper to so that someone can't just pull the purse open on you. Best $40 I've ever spent to get peace of mind during my trip that a thief couldn't cut the bag off of my shoulder or cut the bag open because of the steel mesh.

Chelsey_Beese

Thank you everyone for your input! After reading everything, talking to some friends, and being somewhat of a traveler myself, I've decided to get a body pouch for the important things and a cute crossbody bag for the simple things I pick up, like maps or my camera. Thanks for the idea about reinforcing the strap! I'll definitely do that just to feel safer, and I'm getting a lock for the zipper!

justineparis

I use a regular messenger style lightweight nylon canvas type bag. It is lighter then any pacsafe bag i have seen so far.. they are heavier.. unless you are talking about some bag thats like wallet size. I like a bag I can get some stuff in.. My bag zips and has a flap that clicks shut over the zipper, and the inside pocket zips up too.

I have always wondered, if someone with a sharp knife comes up to you and slashes at your "slash proof" bag , what happens then, do they then jerk it off you, does the knife rebound and accidently stick you?


I haven't been to all the places on your list, but I think a slash proof bag is merely a gimmick, I have been to London, Paris, and Rome, multiple times for some of them, ( well dozens for Paris,) and I honestly believe one just has to be aware and careful. I do see people being really careless all the time. I actually saw a mans wallet FALL out of his back pocket while on a bike tour in Paris, I of course stopped him, and guess what , he put it BACK in his stupid back pocket. Some people deserve what happens to them..

Sassafrass

StCirq, "I think they're silly and advertize your paranoia, but I'm a happy-go-lucky soul who manages to get around Europe without incident."

Agree with you on this.

I always wonder what people are carrying around that is so valuable they need it in a "safe" bag. I've got a $5.00 umbrella, maybe a $20.00 guidebook, $1.00 note book and $2.00 pen, $5.00 hairbrush, map, chapstick, coughdrops, maybe a few Euros and a bottle of water. Might be annoyed, but wouldn't cry over anything lost. I'm not spending more for a container to protect my stuff than the stuff is worth. LOL

Passport and credit cards are under my shirt in a tiny flat pouch.

Ok, sometimes I do have a camera, either thrown into the bag or around my neck in it's own little pouch.

I usually take a regular shoulder strap purse or if I plan on carrying the camera around, a very small, super lightweight back pack (instead of the purse) that I sling over one shoulder most of the time and move to my front on a train or subway.

I am truly curious - not being snarky - except for an expensive camera, what do people carry around in a purse or daypack that is of such high value?

azzure

Sassafras - here's what I carry that necessitates a "safe" bag: one credit card, small digital camera, cell phone. It would be a major hassle to lose any of these. Like you, I carry my passport, larger amounts of cash and back-up credit cards in a money belt under my clothing.

I would hate to have to dig under my shirt for a credit card every time I have to use one. The credit card (and "walking around" cash) have to be readily accessible, but safe.

PamEwing

Talk about "silly", nothing "advertizes" "happy go lucky soul" tourist like pulling up your shirt to access your money belt evet time you need money and carrying your camera around your neck. No thanks, I prefer to blend in with the local.

justineparis

Pam,, one keeps some money in their purse, why would you need to go in your moneybelt. I keep about 40 euros in cash in my purse,, in a tiny change purse in an inside zipped pocket.

Locals do not wear "pac safe bags" ... tourists do. I wear a normal bag .

I do not use a credit card to buy an icecream or lunch,, I use cash.

PamEwing

I'll still be using the camera, credit card, cell phone, and cash that were in my Pacsafe bag long after your "normal bag" has been slashed open or off of you, but hey, whatever works for you Justine.

Sassafrass

Azzure, Thank you. Each of us have to take care of ourselves and belongings in a way that we are comfortable when we travel. I certainly respect that. We just carry things a little differently.

I'm guess I am pretty lax, figuring I am as safe in European cities as I am in US cities, so the only thing I really am very concerned with losing is passport.

DH and I never need to access the credit cards or passports and I don't think other people who use a money belt or pouch are always "pulling up their shirts".

I actually think the pac-safe bags look pretty neat, but I like using all different kinds of purses, depending on where we are traveling. I also figure my camera will soon be outdated, my cell phone is a cheap phone just for Europe, my credit card is replacable and insured, I don't carry much cash so it would soon be spent. Looks like all my stuff would be long gone anyway, even if I had a pac-safe bag. I refuse to spend my vacation worrying about too much. Definitely, I am a "happy-go-lucky tourist".

Justineparis, don't worry about it. I've lost track of how many times we've been to Europe. Hey, I lived there for three years. So, for over 35 years, none of my "normal" bags have ever been slashed off of me there.

It did happen once, just a string bag, was quietly snipped off in my own home town in the USA, after three weeks in Europe. So, the only time I've had a purse taken was right here at home - where I was safe. LOL

5alive

<Actually from living in South America for 30 years I've learned that the most important thing in a purse is the little zippered pocket inside the purse, that one nobody can get to it.>

Pookymimi's advice is exactly why when I was attacked by a Gypsy, all she got was my Kleenex and a map of the city. We were getting on at Ottaviano Metro stop after the Christmas day Papal audience, so pretty crowded. Somehow I ended with both of my younger kids one in each hand. I felt the press on my purse immediately, turned my body and pushed off the woman. She had managed to unzip the outer zipper of my purse, and grabbed small wallet with 10E and a single credit card but it was down low in the purse and under all my "junk."

Lots of people have good ideas here.

justineparis

Pam,, I have been visiting Paris for over 30 years now, alone sometimes, sometimes with friends, and alone with children . I have also visited London, Rome , Venice and Florence,, a mulitple times for some places,, but Paris,, literally hundred of days ,, and my purse have never been slashed.. nor have i ever been successfully pickpocketed.

Its more about being self aware, not wearing a safe. Do you really think locals wear safes?

kawh

I find them generally to be a little too heavy for my liking. I like a super-thin fabric. I also keep my little wallet on a leash (which i hide from the public... admittedly not a good look) which does two things:
1 keeps me from double-checking when i walk away from a transaction. "did i leave my wallet there?"
2 I know that if someone tries to grab it, I'll at least feel it tug-- or if someone (unlikely) slits the bottom, the wallet would just hang there.

I love having my wallet on a leash inside my purse when I travel. Very secure feeling.

PamEwing

Oh good grief Justine, as I said, whatever works for you. Do you even know what a Pacsafe purse looks like? It's a normal purse, not some square metal thing with buttons, lol.

LSky

Bring the purse you're comfortable with. Why by a purse that you wouldn't carry at home?

If it makes you feel better, wear a money belt. Problem solved

justineparis

Yes Pam, I know what a pacsafe bag looks like, and feels like,, having looked at some a few years ago.. Perhaps our definitions of normal are different. Each to his/her own. I just don't think people need to think they NEED such a bag,, they don't, but if it makes them comfortable( mentally I mean since I consider them heavy,, other then the tiny pouch size ones) then they should use it and enjoy their trip.