Another traveler who agrees fanny packs mark you as a tourist. I found a great alternative to the stiff, hot neck pouch. Bought a great silk pouch at a craft fair. About 4"x4" with a soft nylon cord. It fits under the shirt without being seen and is soft and cool and long enough to tuck into the top of your pants. I also carry a shoulder bag, but it only contains things I can live w/o if they get stolen. Never have had a problem in 10 years of traveling Europe. Just be smart and keep your eyes open.

Very "cheesy" and typically American touristy. Do you wear them at home? I suggest carrying your items around as if you were home. A nice big purse or bag/backpack should be fine and I know some of us (not including me) can't help but look touristy but GOSH! You can still be comfortable and not look too overly comfortable...it's a personal choice I guess...but why it's a large percentage of American choice...I don't know...

I call it a waist pack. And what's the big deal. I have one that is flat, not moon shaped like some. It's not poufy. How do you spell that word anyway. And Sera, you and Rex ought to start your own know it all web site. Americans with waist packs and camcorders depressing? Why, because we see the world, record some of the most beautiful and celebrated art and architecture in the world, all while carrying around our money and passport in the most convenient way possible, or what we consider fashionable. You sound very snobby. I think it's great that we depressing American's are great adventurer's, and have the freedom to go to the places we would like to go to. I feel blessed. Maybe you should lighten up.

Why don't YOU learn to spell and punctuate?

I am slim, attractive, well traveled and considered a classy tourist. I never wear sneakers, other than to work out, cycle, etc nor do I wear sweats or "jogging" suits either when I travel or at home. Why does one dress badly when they travel? Or differently? A purse is just as likely to be stolen as a fanny/bum bag. For some of us who carry small purses regularly and bag can definitely carry alot more, including a camera. What is wrong with looking like a tourist, I am often one and have seen the world cuz of it. Looking like a tourist is not a bad thing, looking like an ugly American tourist is.

Nancy, you're totally missing the point about fanny packs or waist packs or whatever else you want to call them. We're trying to warn you away from them by telling you that they are the most likely bags/packs/whatever to be stolen!

<BR>Kathy,<BR><BR>And how is Stuart Smalley doing these days? Give him my regards.

Well personally I'm not a big fan of the 'fanny pacs' or whatever you might call them. But if they are more convenient, then why-the-heck-not use them. I think that it is better than doing the stuffing the bra routine. So until I go on my trip to Italy, and I have no other ideas. Then I'm going to buy the best looking pac that I can find.

I have an idea.... <BR> <BR>Keep your passport in the hotel safe and carry only enough money that you can afford to loose. <BR> <BR>For god sake someone should outlaw fanny pacs. They are a fashion "don't" in Europe. I also have traded my "backpack", which is also a sign of a traveling American, for a more continental "messenger bag".

Yes, it's just as easy to steal from a handbag, but fanny packs scream "Tourist!" and make you an easy target. The thieves don't even need a knife; you'd be surprised at how quick they are at unzipping it (even if in front) and pulling the contents out.

I do not own a fanny pack but a woman in a group I was traveling with a few weeks ago wore one. She got pickpocketed in the Prague metro. She wore it in front and someone unzipped it and lifted her wallet without her feeling a thing. Luckily, her passport didn't come out with the wallet. <BR>I bought a neck pouch where I now carry my passport and cash. I don't mind pulling it out to pay for things. Better that than have someone steal my stuff. I carry a regular handbag that I wear diagonally over my shoulder. My cash is kept in several separate areas so not everything will be lost should I get pickpocketed. It's not foolproof, but it's the best I've come up with so far.

I own a small fanny/bum pack, and there is one place I always wear it: to an amusement park. Easy to hop on and off rides with my tiny pack strapped on. For virtually everything else, there are better choices. <BR> <BR>(Kathy -- so glad you're slim, attractive and don't wear sweats at home.) <BR>

Travellers - please keep wearing your fanny packs! <BR>All too often the poor thief can be confused - is that shoulder bag really being worn by a tourist & anyway where exactly is the money? <BR>With a fanny pack we thieves know exactly who we are dealing with & exactly where to get the cash/passports first time! <BR>I find it a great timesaver, even better than those silly rucksacks you can uzip from behind, as you don't have to rummage. <BR>Also please keep stowing your valuables in the trunk when you park & make sure we see you doing it.This also saves a lot of time. <BR>And don't change the name - "fanny" also means "idiot" over here so again we know who we are dealing with.

To the xxx that responded to Nancy, since when do the poeple jotting down their ideas here have to watch their punctuation? Look out everyone, we now have the spelling and punctuation police as well as the fashion police!To the second xxx responder, you have not been to Italy lately. Everyone there wears a backpack. To lucky, is this irony, or are you wacked enough to get on this site and brag about ripping people off? Let me get this straight, a fanny/waist/whatever pack, sitting on your lower abdomen. An accomplished thief will take a knife, facing you, place the knife within an inch of spilling guts and slice open the bottom of the pack, removing the contents and taking off without this poor soul knowing. That could never happen with an overstuffed purse hanging at the side of the waist, or a backpack on your back? Also is this big news that certain words in some languages may mean something else entirely in another country? I'm beginning to see a nasty pattern here. People using this site for rediculous arguments. Who gives a crap if someone wears a fanny/waist/whatever pack. Andrea, wear what you want, be smart and aware. Have a great time. Yes people, there are overweight, loud Americans. Is anyone here going to try and say we have cornered the market? I have met rude asses, and big asses, everywhere in the world. Get over it.

One solution to the "fanny" pack problem, which has worked for me: I have a rather small, almost flat purse with a long strap. I wear it diagonally over my chest UNDER my coat or jacket. This way, hands are free, it is easily accessible, and you can also button/zip jacket closed over it. I concede that in a very hot climate this would not be ideal, unless your jacket or an over-shirt is lightweight. I find that the purse is sufficient for a small wallet or coin purse, the passport, as well as Kleenex and lip balm and a fold-up hairbrush. If you need to carry more than mentioned, I suggest wearing clothing with roomy pockets (or use the jacket pockets) for anything other than valuables. Purses of this sort can usually be found in luggage stores or sometimes you can use a child's purse--just steer away from the ones with Hello Kitty!

Hannah and Curious: <BR> <BR>Andrea: why do you rule out a shoulder bag? Think it's bulky and likely to fall off your shoulder or be swiped? <BR> <BR>Barbara's solution suggests part of the reason a shoulder bag is a better idea than a waist pack -- you can keep at least one arm around it or keep it pressed to yourself most of the time you are out. Waist-packs just hang out there. Also, the straps for shoulder bags are usually (or should be) hardier than those mesh, plastic-buckled things on waist-packs. If you wear a shoulder bag with a strong strap diagonally across from one shoulder to the other side of your body and keep your elbow against it, it's a much more difficult target. <BR> <BR>I took a small (ca. 6X9X2") rectangular multi-compartmented, zippered microfiber black bag, which was actually much handier for things than a bulgy waistpack, and I sometimes did what Barbara did, put it on under my raincoat or a sweater. Still could get at it, but harder for others. It was very versatile reay or evening wear. <BR> <BR>I saw someone else with something very similar but she had attached a small gold chain to the strap, which I suspect made it even less attractive to would-be snatchers. <BR> <BR>As to all the sqaubbling -- there are three issues: 1. how you look; 2. how you carry what you need; and 3. how vulnerable you are to snatchers, slashers, and pickpocketers. No matter which issue you choose, it's hard to see why a waistpack is superior to the alternatives. <BR> <BR> <BR>

My Zio in Italy was pickpocketed in Rome. They took his wallet out of his jacket pocket while he was on the crowded subway. I have been going to Italy all my life, growing up. I love it, but I love my home too. I am so sorry for the people here putting down American's, the way we act, dress. I think America is great. It is one thing to spend alot of time traveling, but we have it very good over here. I love the US. I dislike snobbery. I have seen recently very nice bags worn at the waist that are very flat, and they buckle in the front. I was thinking of getting one for my next trip, it would be great to have my hands free. I wish this site would do as so many others have, make people register, and block them out when they get crazy. Maybe that would not work, maybe just encouraging people to be nice, or don't bother. Why are so many people so ready to put other people down?

fanny pack?... even in USA you look stupid wearing one. <BR> <BR>Go to Macy's or Target get a flat cute over the shoulder purse. You can clutch it when people are around and it is not tacky. OR use your bra! The Italian guys will love that.

I'm a first time user of the forum.The title of this subject caught my attention because I agree that "fanny pacs" should not be worn for any reason.In fact they look stupid and serve no purpose except to label one self as a typical tourist.Then I read more subects on this site and realized most were not good travel info but about a bunch of losers howling jibberish to one another.You will be happy because I won't be back.

Could I just reinforce the point that it's not a good idea to make yourself attractive to a thief. Photocopy the ID page of your passport and don't carry a lot of money around with you. Take just enough cash and perhaps a travellor's cheque or ONE credit card (note the number you have to ring to cancel it if it gets stolen),in a small neat shoulder bag worn across your body. Leave most of your money and your passport in the safe in your hotel room. <BR>Having said that, Italy is a pretty law abiding country. They tend to import their criminals. <BR> <BR>