Using the hotel safe for passport and other valuable sounds good until you find out that small hotels don't have hotel safes and even if they do, it is of no use on the day of travel.<BR><BR>Then you will have to use a money belt. I also use a shirt with zippered hidden pocket when I travel. It is uncomfortable but sure beats having passports and CC stolen and is much easier to whip out my passport than from a money belt when crossing into non EU country.

It is a shame that we go to Rome and Firenze to experience the beauty and wonderful ambiance and have to be fighting off gypsies. I have seen the local police look the other way when gypsies were harassing an elderly woman and reaching for her bags. Another tourist and I scared them away. <BR>Be wary of hotel safes in smaller hotels, too. Friends were told that there was no record of them putting anything in the safe that morning, and they were left without their camera. The manager just shook his head and held up his hands and that was that.

I had my 1st Gypsy encounter on my last trip to Italy (3rd trip for me). It was the last day on a public bus. 2 young ladies with infants that just seemed strange to me. They 'eyed' me and I 'eyed' them right back. They got off the bus at the next stop. I don't really see pickpockets as a major problem. Just be alert and sensible.

Just a quick note about backpacks. The one that I have has a verticle zipper that is on the back side- the side that rests against my back. This is the perfect spot for my wallet and camera. Everything else in my bag is "losable" - books, journal, picnic ustensils, etc. I would highly suggest looking for a backpack with this feature as I think it is a "wallet saver!" haha!

Well, don't be smug. You may have been eyed this time and you may be the victim the next time. They are a problem.

Watch out in Pisa. Group of gypsy kids (with the help of their mother) got my wallet and our passports but we chased them down and got them back. They surrounded me and grabbed my arms and then helped themselves. Just be alert.

Beware in Dublin, Ireland.<BR>I did not beleive this myself.<BR><BR>The Temple Bar area, one evening about 5pm.<BR>Surrounded by dirty gypsies.<BR>They pushed me and punched me but managed to get nothing from me.<BR>Another tourist, from Japan, was not so lucky.<BR>she lost everything.<BR><BR>A local pub owner told us this happens nearly every day but yet the country keeps allowing bosnians in.<BR>A shame.<BR>

Are all Bosnians gypsies or are all gypsies Bosnians?? What is this group of people really, refugees from war-torn or scheming opportunists?

as for the backpacks, you can also get a little combo lock to help secure stuff.

I got picked at the Stuttgart Airport.<BR><BR>When I bent down to retrieve my bag from the conveyor, I was bumped very hard by a woman with a crying infant. I took a moment to make sure she and the child were OK and this was when the thief was able to get further away.<BR>Fortunately, another American traveler witnessed the whole thing and grabbed the woman who robbed me.<BR>She was very dirty and unkempt and she cursed even at the police. <BR>I felt sorry for her but that makes it no right to steal.<BR>