After reading the various posts about pick-pockets and thieves, I was wondering it it's wise to carry a handbag - and to sling it cross-wise over a shoulder to rest on the hip on the opposite side? <BR> <BR>I will carry a moneybelt. But this is more for change and things? Or would it be better to jsut stuff the coins and notes into the front jeans pocket? <BR> <BR>I don't really want to carry all of it in my moneybelt and I will have my passport/tickets/big notes in there and I'd like to keep that hidden from the time I leave my room to the time I return to it. <BR> <BR>How did everyone handle their money while in Europe? We will be spending some time in Amsterdam and almost 2 weeks in Italy. Will also be going to Prague and towns/cities in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

We have been to Europe twice and have been fortunate to avoid pickpockets and purse snatchers. (This included Rome, paris, Munich, Brugge, Amsterdam, Lucern, and many other small cities). We have used money belts, but I have carried a shoulder strap bag which usually has sun screen, tissues, spot removers, camera, comb cosmetics, etc. Credit cards, money and passports are elsewhere. Rome was visibly the highest risk. I cannot speak for Eastern Europe, which we will be trying this fall. An element of avoidance is to always have awareness of the people around you and not allow distractions, as well as the nature of the location. For as many positive stories however, there are negative stories. For my own experience, I will continue to carry the bag without the credit cards etc. in it.

<BR>Amanda, I'm comfortable carrying a small bag across the shoulder like you mentioned. The kind of bag is called a "close to you bag" and I've seen it advertised in travel clothing catalogs. I also have shoulder problems (on the side I used to carry my purses etc.) and bought a wide strap for cameras and switched it with the regular purse strap. Has really helped me. I used to wear the fanny packs, but they look sloppier (on me anyway, if I'm wearing a dress or skirt it seems) besides looking "touristy". I've also carried a regular purse. I just take the normal precautions one would while traveling and have never had any problems. However, Amsterdam is probably one of the main cities to be extra careful in! You can find a lot of varying opinions on this forum. And it's always better to be safe than sorry. Have a great trip.

Greetings - <BR> <BR>Pretty much agree with above. I used to wear fanny packs but haven't for a long time. They are targets and look very, very sloppy. <BR> <BR>The purse I use is microfibre so it's easy to clean. Water rolls off of it. The strap goes short for a normal purse length and can adjust long to be "slung" across the front of my body. This method seems to work well for me. <BR> <BR>Also, as Mary Ann says, don't carry anything real valuable in your purse. I carry makeup, brush, extra film, batteries, etc. Credit cards and "large wads" of cash are in my ankle pouch. <BR> <BR

I agree that it's better to be safe than sorry. The more important an item is to you, the more securely it should be carried. If your hotel has a safe, it's convenient to leave your passport (carry a photocopy with you), airline tickets, extra plastic, and any cash you don't need for the day, there. Then, any large bills and your credit cards are best secured in a pouch under your clothing. Doesn't need to be the large "travel store" type. You can make yourself a tiny one just large enough for your essentials. I have a small "business card case" which holds a credit card, ATM card, debit card, and some cash. I had the shoe repairman insert a rivet in the corner and slip a ribbon through it and tuck it under my clothing. I made myself a similar one out of fabric for hot weather trips. Or, a jacket with an inside zipper pocket is a good place to stash valuables. As for a shoulder bag, it's best to carry only items in this that can easily be replaced. In my observation, the thieves are very practiced at their "art". They can tell by body language where folks have their valuables (think "protecting"). And, they seem to be able to easily recognize folks who defy caution. They also go after what's easily accessible. So, just make sure anything important to you isn't.

Mary-Ann ...I'm a little disturbed by your comment that you were 'fortunate to avoid pickpockets and purse snatchers' whilst in Europe. <BR> <BR>That, to me, sounds like an insinuation that Europe is teeming with them and the majority of us hang about on street corners waiting for naive Americans to walk by. <BR> <BR>I really hope you didn't mean that.

Pickpocketing is a real problem in a number of locales, Particularly those places where tourists congregate to see the popular sites. As I reread her post she listed a number of places with a known problem in this regard. <BR> <BR>So Tony, if taking umbrage is your sport, you picked the wrong inning. Just because you are a "man of the world", doesn't mean everyone on this board has youer same wisdom and experience. Better to share it than to get your knickers [or kilt] all in a twist. If this is the way you will be posting, feel free to wander off again, but if you do, quietly please. <BR>

Toni, I am sure that wasn't the implication. I think its just that tourists, no matter where they are in the world, look like tourists. Therefore they attract attention of the wrong type. My fiance was pickpocketed in Barcelona. Fortunately it was nothing more than an incovenience (i.e. nothing of real value). But it happened not because we were in Europe, it happened because we looked like tourists, and had been "on the road" so long, we felt a false sense of security. Just like would happen to anyone without their wits fully about them in the tourist spots in New Zealand! <BR>

I think the point is that the regular tourist locations in any place are magnets for thieves. Tourists present a vulnerable target because (1) they usually have on them something worth taking, (2) they are often vulnerable, <BR>and (3) they are only at any location for a few days and don't always know how to or want to get involved with a police investigation. And thieves do hang out along the major tourist pathways. <BR>That strip from the Louvre to the Champs Elysee is not known as Credit Suisse for nothing. <BR>And I see nothing in the message that implies that Europeans do nothing but prey on tourists. Reading that implication into the question is an attempt to pick a fight just to be surly. <BR>But certaintly in the USA we have our own problems with Miami, DC, and other places. In Miami, tourists were picked on in some high profile cases. Robbers could spot them by the car tag numbers. <BR>Even though familiar with Atlanta, I try to follow one rule: never stop for a light too closely to the car in front of you so that you have room to move, and keep the doors locked. And certain parts of town we have learned to never visit. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Getting back to the issue of carrying a purse or not, I never carry a purse in a big city. When I was in my 20's and wore jeans everywhere, I would carry my money in my front pockets. Now I wear a Travel pouch safety pinned to the inside front of my pants or jeans.I keep a credit card there too and my passport. I carry a light nylon back pack or tote in black that I can fold up and stuff in my pocket (it's that lightweight-sold in travel stores). In the bag is my lipstick, purchases bought during the day, tissues, etc. All items that I wouldn't mind if grabbed from me. I have seen a lot of pickpockets and ripp offs in the past 15 years of my world wide travel(including New York here Tony!)Personally it hasn't happened to me but I use precaution. I would be careful of the little bags with the long straps that you put over the shoulder, because thieves can cut the straps and run off with your bag. Hope this helps.

S.Fowler (Sally is it?), Mary-Anne said her itinerary INCLUDED those cities , it wasn't confined to them. An addition to that , I have never heard of the infamous 'scippiatori' of Lucerne or Bruges. <BR> <BR>The start of the posting reads like Europe is some macro sized Bogota or Caracas or wherever and that you will be FORTUNATE to leave Europe without having some sort of brush with us criminals. <BR> <BR>I wouldn't argue with the rest of it, it makes sense etc .. but the start could have been written in an clearer manner which wouldn't misconstrue. <BR> <BR>And while we're about it, you can knock off all that kilt crap - that's racist and uncalled for.

How about Haggis-in-a-Tube (tm) jokes? References to cabers?

<BR>Good Morning Tony, since Mary Ann's msg is on the Europe board, I think it was appropriate and there's nothing for anyone to take offense with. If you go to the USA board, you'll find practically every one of us American contributors has answered a similar question, or addressed the problem of pickpockets etc.in different posts about our various cities, not just NY or Miami. I've also given some words of caution for certain areas in my own Seattle. And if memory serves, I believe we all gave you words of same type of advice about certain areas or cities here too last year when you were inquiring about traveling across the USA. <BR>Happy traveling to all

Martha: haggis-in-a-tube references are fine by me. <BR> <BR>Cheryl...morning to you .....the point, MY point, is that Europe isn't any worse than anywhere else on this planet - there are pockets of pickpockets (as it were) everywhere - Just as my mate Bob Brown says BUT it's fairly sad to see people sweating about whether to wear a bulletproof vest or just a suit of armour when coming to Europe. Quite apart from the fact that it will mean you paying excess luggage charges (before you get upset that's a joke)...oh look never mind.... tell me, what do you do in an American city? Really? well why don't you do the same here? <BR> <BR>You have to make the effort, people.

Yes it's Sally. <BR>Racist? <BR>I apologize if my reference to kilts offended. But my apology is only for a cultural stereotype, not racism. Your concern for linguistic precision should make you aware of the difference. I sentence you to lunching on Burger King "crossandwiches" for the next month. <BR> <BR>As for your comments re: the opening of Mary Ann's post. We're not all as precise as we'd like, particularly if we are in a hurry at work etc... or the computer is acting up. If I recall correctly a contributing factor in your departure was that "people" were setting too many rules. Must we all now be aware of this new requirement that we write to suit you? <BR> <BR>About the main question. We have had many discussions of this before. My brain is blocking the words that would help in a search. <BR> <BR>I carry an over-the-body purse. My "valuables" such as credit cards, large amounts of cash, driver's license, air tickets, passport are either in my moneybelt [I use the kind that hangs from a belt], in the hotel safe if I feel okay about that, or in the case of the air ticket locked in our suitase. I alays have copies of tickets and passports in several places. In the over-the-body bag are running money, toiletries etc... for the day, a map and perhaps my camera. [It's an olympus stylus so goes anywhere.] My purse is old, brown and small so not very appetizing and I NEVER wear a pink crinkly running suit <BR>

Tony, I understand your frustration when interpreting travelers' concerns with being victims of crime as an insult to Europe and Europeans. At the same time, insulting our Latin American neighbors by saying "macro size Bogota or Caracas" IS clearly racist and uncalled for.

<BR>Hi Amanda, <BR>I agree with all of the above posts. I, too usually carry a small handbag with small change, comb etc. I wear a money belt with m travellers cheques, airline ticket etc. One of the things you said makes a lot of sense and I can't stress how improtant it is. You said that you wanted to keep your money belt hidden from the time you leave your room until the time you return. YES Yes Yes!! I have seen so many women struggling in public to get at their money belts and think they are being very foolish. Keep it hidden! <BR>Lee

I never used a money belt anywhere until last year when we went to Amsterdam and then to Central America. (I always thought that if locals could walk around with purses why shouldn't I?) It's maybe just a sign of the times to be more cautious everywhere. I think from now on I'll find it worth the peace of mind not to have to worry about money, passport, etc. So I do as others suggest here - carry a purse usually but leave the valuables out. <BR>

A thief doesn't know if your purse contains valuables or junk, they will take their chances. A few years back, we were in Mexico city (I know this is the Europe forum) and took the Metro from our hotel to the Grand Prix venue. When we got back to our room we found her leather purse had been slit, very cleanly, and only the inner liner protected the contents. An incision like this one could only have been done with an extremely sharp instrument, almost like a scalpel, which gave rise to the thought what if she, my wife, had noticed and put up a fight, then what? Moral, carry only what you need in your pockets, and leave the rest of your stuff at the hotel.

Richard, I'm intrigued by the thought of pockets that could hold the stuff I put in my purse--guidebook, tissues, camera. I think I'd end up looking like a Weeble, and I don't know how I'd sit down. The purse offers ease of access to its carrier and, alas, to others (thieves, ne'er-do-wells, Scotsmen). There's nothing wrong with carrying one; just remember that whe you put something in it, you're gambling that it'll still be ther eat the end of the day. Don't bet more than you can afford to lose.