Wearing a money belt when traveling between cities doesn't mean I'm terrified of crime. I just know that even if only my passport is stolen, and then I'm delayed, miss my flight, and miss work that I would probably lose at least $1000, and I would rather not have that happen. That's my airfare and part of my accommodation for my next trip!

I read that 5% of travelers experience a crime - but the statistic wasn't fleshed out in any way, so I can't say whether that's accurate for what city, country, or whatever.

LoveItaly - I totally get what you're saying. It's my belief that people do stick out way more as potential targets when they take too many unneccessary precautions that they wouldn't even think of at home. I've seen huge "productions" as people struggle to deal with maps, sunglasses, hats, guidebooks and money in huge packs and/or supposedly "hidden" contraptions. They might as well be wearing a big sign that says "come and get me"!

And don't get me started on water bottles... I recall my friend running out into the middle of the busiest street in Athens, totally forgetting the speeding cars coming straight at her, to retrieve the precious bottle of special water that she'd dropped and that was rolling across the thoroughfare in front of the Parliament building.

Taggie, you and LoveItaly are right in saying that many American travelers have so much "fear of the unknown" that they pack up like a yak, carrying items for every convceivable emergency, when they don't do that at home. But I guess that overpacking is one way to feel in control. As people travel more, they get a sense of which items are truly necessary---and helpful---and which are best left at home. That comes from experience, which you two so obviously have, and is something that each individual must learn for himself or herself. My husband, who is fairly well traveled, still packs his tennis rackets on EVERY trip--business, pleasure, funerals---on the slimmest chance that he'll find someone to play! I, on the other hand, wouldn't dream of getting in the car or on a plane without my first-aid kit---even though I have NEVER used it! So, although experience has taught us to leave some things at home, we stubbornly and irrationally fly in the face of experience, too. Human nature?

Always bring a swimsuit, though. I've been disappointed a few times when I came across an unexpected pool. Plus you can wear it under your clothes if you fall behind on laundry. But tennis rackets - oh well, so long as he carries them!

Once a water bottle touches the ground, I don't think I want it back. Germ phobia, I suppose.

WillTravel, I never considered the bathing suit angle, but you are absolutely right---it doesn't weigh anything, and it COULD come in handy. Yes, DH carries own tennis rackets.

LoveItaly~ sure it was a lecture, but it was a REALLY good one! Thank you.

As another woman who has found a normal purse best for traveling, here's my wrap-up: Obviously you don't want to lose a passport or ATM/charge card because it would create a hassle (if a money belt is what works best for some, so be it). I've never had a problem using my regular at-home wallet & pocketbook. And yes there is room enough for a paper map, small water, disposable camera, tissues, lipstick, sunglasses - without looking any different than usual.

suze, I tend to travel "light" at home too. Many I know have their purses loaded with "stuff". I just carry a small wallet, small cosmetic case, cellphone, keys and tissue and sometimes a small notepad.

Which reminds me. When you are preparing to travel, say the day before, it is good to go through your wallet and remove anything you will NOT need while on your trip. Examples are: library card, Costco card, things along that order. Most don't think to do that and I have forgotten to from time to time. A cleaned out wallet just adds more "peace" so to speak to the travel experience.

Happy and safe travels everyone.

Good point. I use a totally different wallet for travel. With only a passport, cash and a card or two. Easier than cleaning out my everyday one!

I would post this message to m_kingdom.

Hmmm. Let's see...

I do not put my home address on anything like a tag for luggage or kids. The fewer people who know my house is unoccupied, the better. Your phone number (preferably cell) is all you need to disclose.

My own arrangement for valuables is this: I carry stuff that would be difficult or time-consuming to replace in a money belt (passports, licenses, tickets, ATM card). I do NOT trust hotel safes because I have no way of knowing how trustworthy everyone having access might be. I carry a credit card in one pants pocket, and a day's worth of cash and my transport and museum passes in another. Everything else (food, water, raincoat, camera, PDA, shopping) goes in a cross-chest bag that only comes off when I'm alone. My wallet doesn't travel.

If you wouldn't drink from a bottle that had fallen on the ground, let me ask you this: do you wash your hands before you eat from the bag of chips (but <i>after</i> you have handled the money you paid for it with)?

Lots of great suggestions here.

I've always felt that a fanny pack/belt bag is ideal for a day at an amusement park, and that's the only place.

I also use a Healthy Back pack. Another nice thing about it is the zipper is towards your body under your arm.

In my mind, it's unlikely that the typical tourist won't be easily spotted by a professional thief. As an example, this morning I was on the subway, taking my nieces to the Air and Space Museum in DC. It was really easy to spot the tourists just by the conversations.

As for my personal travel habits, the most stupid, unobservant, amateur thief in the world would know that I'm a tourist. If it's not the multile camera bodies and array of lenses that give me away, the large tripod does it every time. So, I never even try to disguise the fact that I'm a tourist. After more than 20 years of traveling I've never had anything stolen.

We just got back from a week in Paris. I have a quite sizable camera, and I also carried a guide book and a bottle of water everywhere (I was not about to pay 3-5 euros every time I wanted a sip of water!). I carried these in a shoulder purse (not even with a cross the body strap) that was zipped, and always tucked up under my elbow. On some days, my husband carried a regular student backpack with these items instead.

As for cash, credit cards and passport, I carried those in the interior pockets of my fleece jacket, which was zipped up.

We say very few fanny packs in Paris - thank goodness. They are ghastly!

As for what to carry - big cities are essentially all the same, so what you'd carry in NYC and DC will also work in European cities. We just acted like we act at home, careful, but no money belts.

Funny, thoughtful post, LoveItaly.

The only time I ever lost my stuff in europe (since student hostelling days anyway) was when I tucked my wallet into my small discreet camera bag &quot;to be careful&quot; -- and left the bag somewhere in the Gorges du Vverdon, never to be retrieved!

I guess if you really want protection against pickpockets you'd carry a &quot;dummy&quot; bag with unimportant stuff -- and stow your money and cards somewhere else on your person.......

Sorry..not to be rude or disrespectful...but do you all carry water around when you are at home in the USA? There is water in every potty stop place if you are truly parched, at no charge.

I will be trashed for this but all these adults sucking on water bottles mystify me. I've managed to live 68 years without carrying water . This seems to be a new phenominom (sp) in the last few years. I really think we are becoming an OVER hydrated nation.

I used to carry a bottle of water around with me, until it was pick-pocketed off me on the Paris Metro. Maybe the theif was saving me from being gauche.

MikeB - I'm sure not saying don't look like a tourist - that cannot be avoided! I'm saying try to appear like you have your act together, and don't be distracted by all the detritus you cart around - that just makes one a good target.

Robespierre - Good thing I don't eat chips.
I was less concerned about the bottle dropping on the ground and picking up some germs than I was about my friend being turned into strawberry jam.

And Jody - THANK YOU for pointing out the water business. It's become ridiculous! I am always being told by &quot;someone&quot; to drink water all the time, slather on sunscreen (well, I do do that because I like my pale skin) and not wear an underwire bra so my lymph nodes aren't obstructed. This from someone who smokes, BTW.

jody -- Yep, for the last several years I carry a bottle of water with me almost all of the time I'm at home. When I don't, I almost always regret it.

I simply can't understand how carrying around a bottle of water and responsibly recycling the plastic container might be offensive to anyone, whether as a tourist or not.

Whether you need to bring water probably depends on how much walking you do and how hot it is. I mentioned on another thread that I when traveling like to walk six miles before lunch and six miles after (more or less). Hard for me to do that in summer heat without water (and that's at home too if I happen to be walking), but it's fine if you can.