Ok-so I am going to Germany next week and have purchased a silk money pouch which is tied arond the neck. I ONLY put my passport, bills and credit cards in there..no coins...MUST I remove it when going through security at the airport? My passport will be with my ticket in my hand. I hate taking anything with money off at security--what do you do?

Once at my destination,I also lock my passport , unneeded documents and money in a safe in my hotel room or in my locked luggage at the hotel once I have unpacked my clothes. I will carry a copy of my passport on me once I arrive however.

I don't ever wear my money belt in airports or at least in my departure airports. I put it on either upon arrival or after I get to my hotel. Before then it is in my handbag or carry on.

It is for security when you are walking around/touring - not for holding your valuables while going through security.

Well, I do wear my money belt through airports, having taken my passport and the relevant ticket(s) out first - why not? I'll be wearing it for the rest of the trip, and there's plenty of confusion and distractions in airports. I often secure it with a safety pin, but the zippers are plastic not metal, and I've never had it set the detectors off.

You totally missed my point--of course I know what the purpose of the money belt is--I wanted to know if you COULD wear it through security without detection? I hate to lose any cash by putting that in the plastic tub--there are thieves on the other end of security at airports too. I want to keep my credit cards safe and my cash as well even at security if possible.

I would stash the money belt in my purse and send it through the detector. Seems like the best idea to me.

I do exactly as seaurchin says.

I've worn my moneybelt through security with no problem.

There is no metal in the moneybelts - the zippers are plastic. Wear with confidence.

knmusic wanted to know about my getting hit by pickpockets in a Paris metro station.

It was late morning, and we were in a deserted smaller metro station where there is not an agent's booth. My husband went through the turnstile first, and I went to follow him. All of a sudden, 2 guys appeared from nowhere. You know how you have to put your ticket in and then it pops up? One of them apparently did something so I was stuck in the turnstile and it wouldn't release. The other made a big show of trying to help unjam the thing, and I was out a couple seconds later. It wasn't until we'd walked about 30 feet that I realized my purse was unzipped. It was a healthy back bag purse with a zipper that is actually under your arm, so these guys were good. But, fortunately for me, the purse has several interior zippered pockets and pouches, and my wallet (with not much money in it because the bulk of our cash was under my husband's clothes in his money belt) was stuck way down in the bottom of one of the pockets. We always carefully monitor our belongings and keep a tight grip when in places such as subways and buses that can be prone to pickpockets. But, the speed with which this happened caught us totally off guard, and we didn't even realize what was going on. I later heard that this is a fairly common scam in the metro stations.

I had an airport security person go through my purse and wallet. She paid particular attention to the cash. I do not know why she was checking the cash, but I do use a money belt for most cash at airports now.

I had a security guard at CDG hand check me and make me take off my money belt and put it in the plastic tub. Needless to say, I thought my valuables would be gone. Thank goodness they weren't. I am a mature woman traveller so I did not expect this.

Jane - how did he know you were wearing a money belt? I've been hand checked, but it certainly wasn't thorough enough to discover my money belt!

It was a woman security guard and she ran her hands all over my body. How embarrassing. And when she found the belt she asked "What's this?" I told her it was for my money and credit card safety. She immediately shouted, "take it off". And then she put it through the X-ray machine,again. Paris was really stringent with security, they checked us three times before we boarded. That at least made me feel safe.

Art_Vandelay: I think your remark about me thinking that Amsterdam is among the same category as Baghdad or Johannesburg is an extremely arrogant and inaccurate one.

Afraid or not, I will look like a tourist by the mere fact that I will have a suitcase and duffle bag with me. Scared? I wouldn't put it quite like that. I'm extremely cautious. I'm very aware that I will not be in a country I've ever traveled in before. I'm someone who has done my homework and, like it or not, there has been plenty of advice given about pickpockets in Amsterdam and very little of it forming a difference between a tourist and someone from the area who happens to be using the train. If a money belt is worn properly and used appropriately, it shouldn't "scream" anything. It should be something discreet that only you and your underwear know about. I will hardly be saying "pickpocket, come and get me" with two money belts and several other security devices which will be used when necessary. Money belts are sold frequently and I'm betting the buyers are not just stupid Americans.

julies: Thanks for explaining what happened to you in the train station. I have a better visual of it now.

That same thing happened to a Parisian friend of mine who has lived there for 20+ years. She was followed through the turnstile so closely it jammed then the guy tried to "help" move the turnstile while in reality was helping himself to her wallet in her unzipped purse which she had just opened to get out her carte orange. Needless to say she always carries it in her pocket now.

And since I don't wear a money belt at home I don't wear one on trips. I just use my regular purse. I dress the way I normally do, don't make any changes to my style. Although I do regret those high-heeled boots walking 8 hours in Paris one day in 1997.

jane - thanks for the info - that sounds like a really bad day! And Paris, too. Maybe I need to look into crossing the Atlantic by boat next time - I mostly ride trains once I get to Europe.

I think it's already been answered, but for our OP you don't access a money belt. It's entire purpose is keeping things secure and out-of-site.

Carry the money you need for one day in your pocket or wallet or whatever, in a normal fashion.

I have never heard of cash going missing at an airport security check. Is this something you think happens? Or has ever happened to you or anyone you know?