Personal Security
 

Is there anything better than a 'travel vest'?

Question...what do you mean by personal security? Attacks? Pickpockets?

Security sounds like you're expecting to be shot. If that's the case - I would pick another vacation destination.

If you mean how to avoid pickpockets - just keep a good watch and secure hold on your belongings, and don;t make any of the standard tourist mistakes (pulling out your wallet in the middle of a crowd, letting go of your purse or luggage - or packing onto already mobbed buses or trains).

Just to let you know that in Europe a "travel vest" lets EVERYONE know that you are a tourist.It announces you to the public as you are walking down the street not to mention that you look like you are trying to fly fish in the middle of a duomo.

Just to let you know that in Europe <i>everything about you</i> lets EVERYONE know that you are a tourist. It announces you to the public as you are walking down the street.

Get over not wanting to &quot;look like a tourist&quot; and enjoy the view.

Ropespierre-I respectfully said that in terms of security and being robbed,etc.To me, its like women with backpack purses hung over their shoulders and then being surprised to see they lost their wallets.
I am at the point in my life and flying career that I have seen all shapes,sizes and outfits-nothing surprises me what people wear these days.

after many warnings from my uber paranoid coworker, telling me not to even take my purse to europe at all, warning that my husband's over the shoulder laptop bag would be cut off from his body, that i should wear my passport around my neck under my shirt at all times, etc., i'm happy to report that i took my purse, he took his bag, and my passport remained in my purse and all was fine, no theft, no attempted thefts or muggings, etc.

just be aware of your belongings and your surroundings.

I am always more concerned about losing my money, passport, valuables, etc than about having them stolen. I wonder what the different proportions are of accidental loss and theft?

If your concern is pickpocketing and robbery, then it would be best to avoid the most touristy destinations and go to the vast number of other interesting sites in Europe where there is no such danger.

What IS a travel vest? In my invariably safe part of France we don't come across these.

I assume a travel vest is a bit like a photographers vest? Lots of pockets all over the place?
If so they are something you tend to see on gentlemen of a certain age, not necessarily tourists. They seem to mysteriously appear in mens wardrobes about the same time as hair starts vanishing from the tops of their heads and starts sprouting from their noses an ears :)

Seriously though, as a photographer (without vest) I see nothing wrong with them, though I'm not sure they are worn for security so much as convenience. I sometimes curse not having enough pockets for camera gear when I'm out, but I'd rather spend my money on other photogrpahy gear then on a vest.

I prefer this brand of travel vest http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagen:...e-p1000557.jpg

Security? Personal possesions. Safety? Personal health.
A travel vest need be no more than a simple waist coat worn under an outer jacket or coat. Its purpose is to eliminate the need for a purse or back pack. It will also free up both arms. Note now, travellers and such striding about with a set of keys in one hand and a pocket phone in the other.

lobo_mau you are very naughty :D

Yes, I am. My name says it all.

Is there anything better than a 'travel vest'?


Yes, eating a hot croissant while overlooking the sea.

Lobo
prefer this brand of travel vest http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagen:...e-p1000557.jpg

While this is preferable, it is such a bother at airport security. Taking off the mail, putting on the gauntlets. You know.

<i>...my passport remained in my purse and all was fine, no theft, no attempted thefts or muggings, etc.</i>

It's a crap shoot. You won. Congratulations.

A &quot;travel vest&quot;? What fresh yankee madness is this?

Raspberryberet:

As Robespierre says, it's a crap shoot. You won....this time.

I've been to Europe many times, in many ways. Most of the time I have returned home with all my possessions. However, in Amsterdam in about 1968, a travel stove was stolen from my car. Serves me right for leaving it where it could be seen.

About the same time, in Florence someone broke into my car and removed stuff from the trunk. Good thing they didn't know the car had a trunk in the front over the engine, as well as in the back. I can't remember what they got.

Afterward, many trips without incident. Then, in Barcelona in 2004 shortly after my sister gave me her credit card and passport to put in my money belt, her purse was stolen by a very slick thief posing as a waiter.

Since then I have lost or had stolen (not sure which) a wallet (eastern Europe) and a camera (Ireland).

The moral of this story is that if you're lucky and careful, you won't be robbed. However....

I agree with lobo_mau, top security brand since medieval times, providers of every king and queen !!

I've googled &quot;travel vest&quot; (blimey!).

I think you're more likely to be pestered by small children asking for your autograph thinking you're Elmer Fudd.

Why would you assume this is &quot;yankee madness&quot;??????

In any case, the beige/khaki vests with lots of pockets in them are very common on European tourists, that was the first (and probably only) place I've seen them. I first started seeing them -- maybe five years ago? I remember I'd never seen one before and then one summer about every other European man over the age of 45 or so was wearing one, when he was a tourist (yes, I can tell -- walking around tourists sites, basically). I can see these are useful for men who just don't carry purses so much, as when you are being a tourist, you have more stuff to carry around. I never thought of them as being something to foil pickpockets.

So...if I don't want my travel stove stolen, I should wear a travel vest??

Who knew?

Christina that's what I meant about men of a certain age wearing them. It is amzing in Holland how many older men suddenly start wearing the things. Luckily my OH can't see the point - he says they look like they should be going fishing.

If I saw anyone in London wearing a strange vest with bulging pockets all over it, my first thought would probably be 'suicide bomber'.

I've never seen one in the UK. Not even on a photographer. Still, I dare say, it'd do the trick - no-one would go anywhere near you!

I think safari gear should be saved for safaris.

Weird. What's a vest gonna do?

Good items for security:

Sword cane.

Colt .45

Blackwater Guard.

I carry a purse in Europe. Many European women also carry purses. We know from years of training how to hold a purse in the &quot;big city fashion&quot;. I don't think the fact that I've foiled one attempt and had no other incidents is a &quot;crapshoot&quot;. It must be a man thing to think that women are just lucky if they haven't had their purses pickpocketed.

Honestly - I'd love to hear from non-American women who read this post. Do you still carry a purse when you travel outside your home town?

<i>It must be a man thing...</i>

Interesting.

And then they voted.

Even George Cloonety is wearing one now!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7220701.stm

Will this yankee madness never end??

&gt;&gt;&gt;- I'd love to hear from non-American women who read this post. Do you still carry a purse when you travel outside your home town?&lt;

Yes, just like at home. And I have carried a normal purse (whatever purse has been my favourite at the time) on every continent except Australia. But if I ever get that far I will carry a purse also there.

I have read a lot of threads about personal safety do's and don't's while traveling in Europe and used them to our advantage, I think? We have been to Paris twice, Munich twice, Amsterdam, Salzburg, Zurich and Frankfurt plus small towns in those countries. Maybe it's because of the tips from other travelers or just plain dumb luck but... We have never had any safety issues while in Europe. We ride the metros and busses, walk the streets, go to the busy tourist sites day and night and have never had of any kind threat against us. My wife carries a purse with basis stuff in it and has never had anyone try to take it from her or get in it. The only thing that has happened to us was last Sept at the Eiffel tower and at Sacre Coeur black guys tried to tie string aroung my wife's wrist but we were hip to that scam and I just hold them to get lost! Here in Dallas in 2005 we was leaving Sammy's BBQ restaurant at 7:00 pm. A guy with a stun gun tried to rob us but as luck would have it a Police car pulled into the parking lot. The guy took off running. My advice to anyone traveling to Europe would be. Go and have fun. If you are worried about your safety after reading these threads..... stay home.

Hi Lobo,

Love the picture. Is that you inside?

Sure I carry a purse, here at home and when I travel everywhere. I love bags and purses , my friends say I'm not myself without it ! LOL
I don't like &quot;open&quot; bags or purses, I mean, I don't know how you call them in English...I mean the ones which don't have a zip or something to close it (like tote bags).

Actually I like to get a little &quot;psychic income&quot; with the boosters and pickpockets. I am in Rome a few times a year and use the Metro. When I am loaded down with a suitcase and brief case, always put a &quot;wallet in my back pocket that is just sticking out and just visable. Now my twisted mind....I keep a supply of cheap or used wallets and I fill them with artistic interpretations of hand drawn Euro notes. They are complete with direct references to the intellectual shortcomings of the thief, and rather pointed references to his/her sexual preferences, (on the farm). The &quot;lifter's&quot; mother does not escape notice and my opinion as well. I have had 3 successful takers of my dememted little ploy. The most recent in Oct 2007.....Oh well

Schuler, I'm not that photogenic :-)
I think it's the invisible man's picture.
To the others, I am starting to understand women's pursephilia, because since I bought a backpack, I carry it everywhere. Even when I don't have anything to carry, I pick up a couple of books I'm not going to read or something else just to justify the use of it.

<i>If I saw anyone in London wearing a strange vest with bulging pockets all over it, my first thought would probably be 'suicide bomber'.

I've never seen one in the UK. Not even on a photographer. Still, I dare say, it'd do the trick - no-one would go anywhere near you!</i>

LMAO!!

&gt;&gt;&gt;- I'd love to hear from non-American women who read this post. Do you still carry a purse when you travel outside your home town?&lt;

I rarely carry one, especially not in my home town. I hate them, they get in the way. Last time I carried one was at a wedding. And I left it in the church :&quot;&gt;