Myer

I wear two of them. Both are the type where the belt goes through a loop and they slide down the inside-front of my pants.

One of them contains passports, major cash and a second credit card and is not accessed during the day.

The other contains about $50 equivalent and a primary credit card. It is the second that I use during the day when making credit card purchases.

In my pockets I keep about $20 equivalent and absolutely nothing else other than street maps, etc.

I am not concerned about somebody seeing me take out the credit card, use it and then put it back in the pouch and slide it down the inside of my pants. There's no way to pickpocket it without me knowing it and it would have to me outright robbery, Even then, there's not much negotiable to take.

I change to this approach three years ago after depending on dumb luck for many years.

Xenos

I don't use a moneybelt at home and spend most of my lunchtimes walking around a busy city centre without any problems, so I see no reason to use one whilst on holiday. I never take my passport, tickets, etc out with me these days and have never had any need to do so since I started using ATMs to top up with cash.

If anyone thinks I'm being naive or lacking experience well, I've been travelling around Europe and Asia for most of my 52 years and just use the same common sense and caution on holiday that I use every day at home.

suze

annhig, that's simply incorrect. it is NOT meant to replace a wallet or purse. it is to keep the really important stuff safe when you are moving around (passport, credit cards, etc.). it is NOT meant to be accessed in public during the day. i'm afraid you are entirely missing the point and method of using one.

hellokittie

anyone ever use the type ll bean sells which is a leather belt with an inside zip?

Travelnut

can't put a passport in there...

mercy

I have two comments on the $$belt topic:
1) We were accosted on a Paris subway, with the trick of tossing credit cards,etc. between my husband's legs. There were two participants--one who stood close behind my spouse and tried to get in to his pockets ( he did not succeed); the 2nd knelt in front of my husband, seemingly to pick up the cards, but also running his hand up the legs, to check, we assumed, for a leg safe. We read about this scam on a Fodor's BB prior to one of our trip and could not believe it happened to us. We lost nothing and the guy on the floor got a sore head and shoulder from my folded umbrella. they jumped off the subway at the next stop.
2: We both wear the waist money belts--I use the plastic baggies to keep things dry, but have found that I also wrap the baggie in a man's handkerchief--it seems to keep the sides of the money belt dry, since plastic can get damp from perspiration.

Not using some type of $$ belt seems to be "tempting fate." It only takes one event to ruin a long-awaited trip--but this is just my opinion. Ciao!! mhm

GSteed

Is 'pickpocketing'a recognized and allowed profession? I have seen the same three bandits regularly in Krakow. Safety seems to be up in Warszawa: they have introduced cameras scanning the aisles.

annhig

Well - what are you carrying in your handbags [what you call purses] then? I only carry my purse [with money, credit cards, stamps] in mine, plus a pen, notebook, passport and tickets in mine.
so when I am exploring a city, and no longer need easy access to passport and tickets, and I don't want to carry my handbag, a moneybelt that a pickpocket or bagsnatcher can't get is ideal.
But where are you putting your ATM/credit cards - if they are somewhere you can't reach, like a leg-bag, what d o you do when you want to buy something?

amyb

Ann, I don't know how others operate, but in my pocketbook, is my bottle of water, map, travel guide and things like lip balm, hand cream, tissues. I also carry my cash for the day, less than $100, so at worst that's what I'd lose if my bag was taken. I take my ATM card out of the money belt at the hotel before I leave in the morning and on my way to get money, then once I get money I find a private place (restroom) to put it back in the money belt. I also usually know when I'm going to be doing power-shopping, so I'll take a credit card out that morning too if I think I'm going to need it. Again, at worst that's all I'd lose and I'm sure I have the collect number to call at the hotel in the event it's stolen too.

thursdaysd

amy - exactly what I do, except add a camera to the day bag. I'm not a shopper, and aside from some hotels and dinners I almost always pay cash. I try to find indoor ATMs. Airports and railway stations are good if you're alert - you can head straight for a restroom after you get the cash. Otherwise I look for banks with the ATM inside or in a separate "enclosure". Some places you have to use the ATM card to get into the enclosure. And unless I'm topping up for the last day or two in a country, I withdraw the max. I'm allowed so I don't have to do it often.

amyb

Ooops...forgot the camera! I withdraw the max and just put the excess in the money belt, so I am minimizing trips to the ATM anyway (and withdrawal fees, if any...but that's a story for another thread!)

Man, how intricately we strategically plan the money belt situation! ;-)

suze

What is in the handbag (purse, pocketbook) is what you need to get at during the day - one day's spending money, map, tissues, lipstick, comb, camera, whatever.

What is in the moneybelt is for long term safe keeping... passport, credit card, cash, like that.

If you do not want to carry a handbag, then I'd keep one day's money in a pocket that is easy to reach. Again point being that the money belt stays under your clothing, out-of-sight, is only accessed in private.

Lillium

Several years ago my husband and I were at a flea market in Palermo,Italy. It was so crowded that you were forced to move along with the crowd. I was separated from my husband and when I caught sight of him he seemed upset. When I managed to speak with him he told me that he felt he was being targeted by some pickpockets. He discreetly pointed one out to me. As we had to continue along with the crowd to an exit, it afforded me an opportunity to observe the action. I spotted four individuals involved. One teenager was pointing with his eyes to the pocket my husband carried his wallet in, the other two mid twenties were shadowing my husband and the fourth who appeared to be the head of the group was middle aged. All appeared to be non Italian. We found an exit in the tent and left, no harm done. Recently in Marseille, France while we walking along with another couple I was jostled from behind on my left side. I turned to look behind me. Why I turned to my right I do not know, but to my surprise I found a young lady beginning to unzip my pocket on my right side which contained my wallet. I also saw one of my friends being targeted by this young lady's accomplice. I yelled out and they quickly disappeared into the crowd. I know that these were not imagined events. We do not travel with much cash and we do not use any money belts or such but try to stay alert. In most cases vigilence is the best deterrent.

irishiningo

I guess I overdressed. I wore a moneybelt from Target around my waist, the pack to the rear, with a ziplock baggie in it to hold my passport, driver's license, backup credit card. I also had a neck pouch (no discomfort) with cash and main credit card and tube/boat tickets. Then I carried an across-the-chest bag for camera, phone, tissue, etc. Sounds like a lot but it was comfortable.

For your husband, I would recommend the waist moneybelt.

Anoukaimee

This summer (HOT!) I visited Rome, Florence and Siena. I had never been to Italy and was almost paranoid about being robbed in the famous 64 bus from St Peter to the city center which we took daily. NOTHING HAPPENED. My husband had a money belt and neck belt and felt totally silly. I carried my stuff in a small Gucci bag, tucked under my arm. I had a copy of my passport, the original was at the hotel safe.

I think nothing happened partly because I am spanish and passed for an italian. Pickpockets in Europe usually focus on the obvious looking foreigners. Also, our roman friend (owns a restaurant called La Rampa, behind the Spanish Steps) told us that Rome had become much safer than in previous years, they had implemented a "zero tolerance" law for thieves.

annhig

I've got round the "what do you do with the rest of it?" problem by delgating that to the rest of the party, who get to carry the day pack. I don't feel that I am likely to have anyone snatcht the money belt from my waist, so I felt comfortable using it in public.
we're about to go to south-west france - I'll use my handbag at night and a moneybelt in the day - I'm not too stressed about crime in toulouse; the situation might be different if we were gonig to Marseilles!

palmettoprincess

I haven't tried various money belts, but I do stay alert in the US and Europe by not listening to a mp3 player while walking. Also if I need to consult a map, I'll pop into a coffee shop rather than advertising my status on a street corner.

The most important safety tip is watch your alcohol consumption. A friend lost her purse while in a bar in Germany. Perhaps a money belt would have prevented the theft, but never the less she was a tempting target since her guard was down.

Melissa5

Thieves usually try to target someone who is acting like an easy target...it's only logical. So try not to be an easy target.

I had my purse stolen once, and it was in my own home-town. I was doing something dumb I still see many women doing. I placed my purse, containing cash, in my shopping cart and proceded to allow myself to become distracted by grocery shopping. Hello! I was being dumb and a thief spotted me. He stood near me and I got an odd prickly feeling like I was in danger for no reason at all. Then he asked me a question about baby food. (We were standing in a grocery store near the baby food.) After I answered his question, he walked away.

I watched him go down the aisle without any baby food. I thought that was odd...until I noticed he had my purse tucked under his arm! He got away with it.


Since then I always keep a much better eye on my valuables. Remember on vacation you are especially likely to be MORE distracted. Don't put all your valuables in one easy-to-access place and then forget to watch them!

Ladies, I see you shopping in grocery stores the same way I did...turning away from your purse which you have put in your cart. Don't do this!

caroline_edinburgh

I'm another one who doesn't see a need for any type of money belt. Would you think you needed one if visiting a big city in the US ?

"The reason you need a money belt when traveling and not when you live in the same places is partly because you're less likely to be driving, partly because you're more likely to be carrying your passport, and partly because replacing what's lost is so much more of a hassle."

1) I don't drive at home, 2) I don't carry my passport about on holiday - I put it in the hotel safe or hide it in the room, 3) I only take out with me what I need for the day - 1 day's money, one plastic card if need be, whatever other small necessities I need - tissues, mirror, etc. We recently spent a week in Naples where as always I wore a very small shoulderbag with necessities as above (the same as I do for going into town at home), & DH carried his wallet with one day's money in it.

Kate_W

I usually don't use a money belt when I'm travelling, except for brief periods when: (a) I'm travelling with all or most of my valuables (e.g. en route from airport to hotel, or vice-versa); (b) when the day's activities include particularly high pickpocket risk areas (e.g. the souk in Marrakech, Las Ramblas in Barcelona); and (c) sometimes, when I'm new to a city and haven't quite figured out the risk level yet. I use a neck pouch, but do not access it in public, keeping the day's cash in my purse.

One nifty trick I read about, which I will try sometime when I need it, is to create a secret wallet out of a handkerchief. You sew a pocket out of a piece of fabric like a handkerchief and safety pin it to the inside of full skirt (or possibly a shirt). You can pin it below waistband level, so it's less likely to feel hot and uncomfortable than inside-belt-type secret compartments.