Pick Pocket
 

After being warned many times about this happening, it did in the Paris Metro. These youngsters knew their business and where the money clip was placed. Thank goodness my husband had his passport and extra money in a protected belt. We carried more than the one credit card that was also taken, so only cost us a phone call (buy an International phone before leaving) to stop any charges on stolen card. Copy all cards so you have easy access to phone numbers.

So...where was the money clip?..

My roommate got pickpocketed on the Paris metro....it has never happened to me and I usually try to keep important documents on the inside of my clothes. It was winter, she was wearing a coat...and I think her passport,etc, was in her outer pocket. (She didn't have a driver's license, so she uses her passport as ID).

We spent all night in the police station....I was trying to translate for her, since she didn't speak french. Kind of ruined Paris for me. Too bad.

T.

I'm curious as to why people carry their passports with them as opposed to keeping them in their hotel rooms.

I always want to have my passport with me. In case of accident has phone numbers in it - in Berlin last year while i was waiting for an overnight train on the platform two Berlin police asked me to show it and they checked it. I believe you should always carry your passport with you.

I've said this before, but back in 1999 or 2000 I came up out of the Paris Metro into the middle of a large and rowdy demonstration. Police approached me and asked to see my passport. Once I showed them, they escorted me safely out of the way. I will never go anywhere without it now when I'm out of the country. In the event something more serious happens I'd rather it be in my money belt on my person than in my hotel room, and I tend to doubt a photocopy would have done me as good.

Has anybody on the board had experience with Tilley pants or anything similar with hidden Velcro pockets and such?

I keep my passport on me when I travel outside the US, also -- at least most of the time. It's just an important document I like to keep track of. I don't let people pickpocket me and don't do things like keeping important things in outside pockets while riding the metro. I've never been pickpocketed, it's not that hard to avoid.

I have not used the hidden pocket travel clothes, but think it's a good idea and perhaps more comfortable that a traditional money belt? I have read of people who sewed their own, or had their tailor install an extra security pocket in their normal clothing.

sharonf - I'd like to know where the money clip was too.

where was the money clip? ;-)