My place of employment requires those that carry handbags utilize company issued clear plastic handbags.

The ones from my employer are ugly and we used to be able to carry ones of our own choosing from other stores, some are very cute.

I was wondering if perhaps this would be a great idea for my Italy trip. The items I would carry, like guide books and such would probably be of no interest to thieves. Wouldn't this be better than carrying a shoulder bag that thieves might try to get into because they think valuables will be in it?

Then we can carry our valuables in our money belts and secret clothing pockets.

Has anyone done this?

Interesting idea but I'm not usre it will work..why? Just because a potential thief sees a guidebook through clear plastic doesn't mean they'll assume that is ALL that is inside..in fact they might assume you are doing this in order to conceal something else.

Those thieves on cycles that whiz by and grab your bag won't have time to LOOK through that clear plastic and won't bother, either.

Perhaps the only way to ward off thieves is to be carrying an AK-47 assault weapon in that clear plastic bag!!!

But perhaps other, more fashion conscious posters will give you a different viewpoint.

Bottom Line: DON'T give up the moneybelt.

Thanks TopMan for your input.

Hmmm. I really am trying to figure this one out. I don't relish the thought of carrying an umbrella, guide books, cigs, makeup, possible raincoat, etc. while out and about sightseeing.

I see your point of the thieves not really looking before snatching and thinking it's a ruse.

I know that the handbags at work sure can look gross with dirty tissues, tobacco flakes, etc. showing through. (And not just mine )

And I would never want to walk around Italy with THAT kind of mess showing.

I definetely would still use the money belt though.

By the way, I did buy a whole bunch of special travel clothes, the kinds with secret pockets and such. Has anyone had any problems with using the secret pockets instead of money belt?

Well, Ira keeps receommending that people use a safety pin to close their pockets which probably isn't a bad idea.

I think secret pockets are great as long as YOU remember where they are!!!!

I bet M_Kingdom and Patrick could give us some advice on this issue...I wonder how long it will take?

I hope it's before I go to work. Just what I need to start off what will be a day from hell at work.

You carry makeup when sightseeing? Guess I'm more low-maintenance than I thought!

I'm also not sure it would give you any benefit, and would probably not be very attractive, as you noted. I'd stick with a regular bag and use the money belt.

Karen

Louis Vuitton produced cleap plastic bags with a tint, a few seasons ago, however, they were a little tacky.

Or you could carry a huge hangbag, Thatcher-esque, and hit the potential thief.

People are paranoid about pickpockets, I've lived in London all my life, and travelled Europe extensively, and so far have not fallen victim to any such crime.

Ummmmm..I KNEW it wouldn't take long!

I always thought the reason Ms. Thatcher's handbags were so large was because unlike HM The Queen, Ms. Thatcher actually carried something in hers...and some have speculated one of those "things" was her husband, Dennis. Now I agree that carrying a person in a clear plastic handbag, whether is was manufactured in the jungles for Louis Vuitton or not, would be unsightly...not to mention all that makeup smeared on the sides.

PLMN,

I'm curious what type of employment you are involved in that would make this rule necessary?

Thanks!

Hi twina49,

I work in a retail high end department store.

There more concerned with employee theft than customer theft.

oops, they are (more concerned)not There.

Hi PLMN
I know that look, SAKS etc employess, walking through the store/mall to lunch, carrying their little plastic bags, I could tell how much makeup they carried, how many keys, etc.
I cannot see the appeal in that outdoors, traveling and in "public"..aside from the thought that no matter who makes it, plastic bags look cheap.
My advice, and I am a big Purse maven, is get one of the new bags that has the pockets on the outside. They are very popular right now .. I have one that I got in Paris at Longchamp. One pocket holds a Streetwise map, one extra glasses, etc. You still want your wallet/passport/etc hidden and tucked away.
I always carry a bag during the day that has a strap that goes across my chest, badolier style. I carry my money and passport in that bag in my wallet. In all the years we have traveled, we have never been pick pocketed nor have I had my purse stolen. They would have to steal me too, maybe that has deterred them?

If you really want clear plastic, they sell them in most dept stores for makeup, just pop one in your bag with the maps etc in it..
Good luck, let us know what you end up with

How insulting.

PLMN why don't you carry as stylish of a purselike daypack as you can find. This can hold your maps, sweater, etc. then keep little things you might need in your purse and your money/cards in your security belt.

I have done this for years and it works fine when I am staying in a hotel and out for the whole day.

And there is nothing wrong with carrying makeup, my goodness if you wear lipstick, mascara and toner at home by all means wear it on a vacation too, why not?

I have a purse the size of a brief case. While its soft leather, I understand that the handles are wire reinforced. It has 4 zippered compartments in it and 2 side "pockets" which are open. The handles are long enough to fit on my shoulder and firmly under my arm. In fact, where I live, lots of female attorneys use these.
I can't find anything, and heckydernitall, I don't think a pickpocket can either.
I did have a thought to color code the zippers...for myself... hmmmmmm
But it carries everything I want in it!

clear plastic handbags sound so 1960's - far out, baby!

I bought one of those photographer's vests for my Russia trip and will never be without it on a foreign trip again.

I also used an underarm pouch because I was incorrectly advised to bring lots of dollars in small bills. While that may good advice for those going outside Moscow and St. Petersburg, it basically became a pain in the butt to carry all the bills. Please note: In Moscow at least you could get rubles, dollars and euros out of ATM's; the gave you those choices as to how you wanted your money.

While the underarm pouch worn under clothing did require gyrations if I wanted to pay for something, it combined with the vest was really all I needed. I left the purse in the hotel room and never used it. The camera was hooked on to both the vest and a belt. I figured that if thieves were going to steal that, they would have to take me with it.

Clear plastic is great for getting thru airport security. All my cosmetic bags and coin purses are see-thru. I don't know it would deter a good thief or pickpocket though.

As far as hidden pockets, money belts, neck pouches, travel vests, zippers in your socks, etc. My word of caution is about moving your stuff around so much, rearranging all the time...

I've confused myself grabbing the wrong credit card when I wanted the ATM or forgetting where the heck I hid that extra $100 in my suitcase... I've made this mistake more times than anyone has ever tried to pickpocket me (which is never)!

Whatever method you use - pick one and stick too it. That's why I take my normal pocketbook. I have been carrying one since I was 12 and there's NO WAY I'm going to accidentally leave it behind. Believe it or not, more than once, I've seen people walk away leaving one piece of baggage behind (when they were loaded down for 3-4 different things) in an airport or train station.

Wow, what neat responses.

Hmmm. I think I will carry the black looks like almost a backpack but the strap goes across the shoulder/chest thing my husband received from the Sierra Club when my father purchased a subscription for my husband. It even has a cell phone case on the strap. (Is it okay to carry the cell phone that way or will that be picked?)

The valuables will go in my security pockets and money belt.

Although, Scarlett I am curious about the bags you are talking about. Do you happen to know of a web link that I could see what they look like?