Poll: What do you carry in your daypack?
Aug 24th, 2005, 02:21 PM
#21
I have a new alternate purse that I've tried out the last couple trips.
It is small (7"x9"x2"
with two zippered pouches. The larger pouch fits sunglasses, passport, kleenex, brush, lipstick, folded up map. The smaller one holds a couple cards, bills, and change. It's small enough I just wear it all day even in restaurants or whatever.
It is small (7"x9"x2"
with two zippered pouches. The larger pouch fits sunglasses, passport, kleenex, brush, lipstick, folded up map. The smaller one holds a couple cards, bills, and change. It's small enough I just wear it all day even in restaurants or whatever.
Aug 24th, 2005, 02:24 PM
#22
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Hi suze, your purse sounds perfect. I have a great one that I have used the last years for travelling but to tell you the truth it is a bit to big. It is great for flying but not for carrying around all day. I need to go shopping!
Aug 24th, 2005, 03:50 PM
#23
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LoveItaly ~ A messenger bag is essentially a bit bigger than a purse, with one large pocket and a flap. Sometimes the flap will have extra pockets or compartments in it to hold items. The strap is adjustable, but is meant to be worn across the body. They can look either very ultilitarian or more like a bigger purse, depending on who makes them.
Aug 24th, 2005, 04:14 PM
#25
My little bag is brown leather, Fossil brand, can go either over shoulder or torso cross-ways. I bought it for a family Hawaii trip when I didn't want to carry my purse to the volcano(!) but wanted to have a few necessities along. It's now done a couple Europe trips successfully. I was surprise I could adapt to such a small bag.
Aug 24th, 2005, 08:21 PM
#28
I carry a small messenger bag but also sometimes use the "healthy back" bag, a tear-drop shaped microfiber bag that goes over one shoulder.
In the small black messenger bag which I use in cities or when I am on brief forays, I carry a small microfiber wallet (some cash, atm, credit card), passport, very small brush, a few tissues, either a tiny Purell bottle or a little bag of wipes, a digital camera, room key.
In the larger one, for all day trips, I'd tuck in the small messenger bag and add a windbreaker, sunscreen, bottle of water, and guidebook and have room for purchases.
On the last two trips this year (conference in Tuscany, business and fun trip to London and Paris), I didn't use a money belt. I did feel that the small messenger bag, with the strap worn across my body (and Prada label on the inside except at a nice restaurant), was nicely secure and certainly more convenient than the money belt, which I had used on previous European travel. But I don't wear a money belt in downtown San Francisco, so I didn't feel I'd need it in Paris. I don't dispute the wisdom of a money belt in many areas but I must say I didn't feel I needed it these past two trips.
In the small black messenger bag which I use in cities or when I am on brief forays, I carry a small microfiber wallet (some cash, atm, credit card), passport, very small brush, a few tissues, either a tiny Purell bottle or a little bag of wipes, a digital camera, room key.
In the larger one, for all day trips, I'd tuck in the small messenger bag and add a windbreaker, sunscreen, bottle of water, and guidebook and have room for purchases.
On the last two trips this year (conference in Tuscany, business and fun trip to London and Paris), I didn't use a money belt. I did feel that the small messenger bag, with the strap worn across my body (and Prada label on the inside except at a nice restaurant), was nicely secure and certainly more convenient than the money belt, which I had used on previous European travel. But I don't wear a money belt in downtown San Francisco, so I didn't feel I'd need it in Paris. I don't dispute the wisdom of a money belt in many areas but I must say I didn't feel I needed it these past two trips.
Aug 24th, 2005, 08:34 PM
#29
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Hi annw, you don't wear a money belt in SF and so do not wear one in Paris. That is well said IMHO and exactly how I feel. I know that people feel if they are in a foreign country and have items stolen it is more of a hassle and that is true. But my friends in Italy do not wear a money belt in Italy and they do not wear a money belt when they come here either. But we each have our own comfort level.
Aug 24th, 2005, 08:47 PM
#30
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annw and LoveItaly, your comments about not needing a moneybelt in San Francisco and therefore not needing one abroad amused me, because my son who lives in San Francisco near Haight and Baker taught me three things when I first came to visit him.
The first and most important was that I should never carry a purse in SF. I love to walk in that city, expecially from his neighborhood off Haight and from there downtown.
The second lesson he had to teach me was to speak softly when in public areas.
The third was to avoid eye contact with strangers.
Not bad advice, any of it, in my opinion, for big city traveling.
The first and most important was that I should never carry a purse in SF. I love to walk in that city, expecially from his neighborhood off Haight and from there downtown.
The second lesson he had to teach me was to speak softly when in public areas.
The third was to avoid eye contact with strangers.
Not bad advice, any of it, in my opinion, for big city traveling.
Aug 24th, 2005, 08:51 PM
#31
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OMG -- RUFUS -- you had me ROLLING.
Harrowgirl...thanks for this post. Out of all the things I'm still wondering about is whether to change my bag for this next trip. I found a Swiss bag at REI and think it's not big enough...but I don't like the idea of a backpack.
I'll read on...
Happy Travels
Jules
Harrowgirl...thanks for this post. Out of all the things I'm still wondering about is whether to change my bag for this next trip. I found a Swiss bag at REI and think it's not big enough...but I don't like the idea of a backpack.
I'll read on...
Happy Travels
Jules
Aug 24th, 2005, 08:52 PM
#32
Exactly, Loveitaly; people should do what they feel comfortable with; otherwise they will worry about their stuff and not enjoy the travel.
By the way I have been enjoying your posts on the various Forums.
By the way I have been enjoying your posts on the various Forums.
Aug 24th, 2005, 08:53 PM
#33
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Ann, I think the difference to me in wearing a moneybelt in Europe is not necessarily for my money...but my airline/train tickets and passport. If I lost everything in San Fran, I could call my aunt in Sacramento and she'd be down to help me out in 2 hours flat. I lose what's dear to me in Paris, and it's a big fat hassle to replace it all...so I don't gamble with carrying anything but a copy of my driver's license and my cash for the day in my purse, Prada or otherwise.
Jules
Jules
Aug 24th, 2005, 08:58 PM
#34
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Hi Mary_Fran, do you wear a money belt in SF or do you just put "stuff" in your pocket. Not sure what you meant.
Speaking softly, well my mother always told me to do that.
Not making eye contact with strangers. Well I don't with panhandlers and advise people travelling to SF not to.
SF does not intimidate me in the least, but have known SF all my life. In fact I have never been in a large city that has intimidated me. I get more uncomfortable sometimes out in the country where no one is around. Take care.
Speaking softly, well my mother always told me to do that.
Not making eye contact with strangers. Well I don't with panhandlers and advise people travelling to SF not to.
SF does not intimidate me in the least, but have known SF all my life. In fact I have never been in a large city that has intimidated me. I get more uncomfortable sometimes out in the country where no one is around. Take care.
Aug 24th, 2005, 09:02 PM
#35
Jules, good points; but what if you were in NYC and didn't have access to the auntie nearby? Would you use one then?
Don't you find that your passport and tickets get damp and wilted in the moneybelt? And do you have to flip the moneybelt out if you do need to use the identification? And do you ever leave the tickets etc. in hotel safe? (Not sure where you travel; I am speaking of European city travel presently).
I've been thinking about all this a lot b/c my husband who is usually fairly vigilant is giving up on the moneybelt completely separately from my experiences with the messenger bag (by the way it's a pre-owned ebay purchase so please don't get the impression it's a hot designer number) and my decisions not to use one on our trip to Venice and Lake Como this weekend.
Don't you find that your passport and tickets get damp and wilted in the moneybelt? And do you have to flip the moneybelt out if you do need to use the identification? And do you ever leave the tickets etc. in hotel safe? (Not sure where you travel; I am speaking of European city travel presently).
I've been thinking about all this a lot b/c my husband who is usually fairly vigilant is giving up on the moneybelt completely separately from my experiences with the messenger bag (by the way it's a pre-owned ebay purchase so please don't get the impression it's a hot designer number) and my decisions not to use one on our trip to Venice and Lake Como this weekend.
Aug 24th, 2005, 09:09 PM
#36
Hi Mary-Fran, I've lived near SF most of my life and have been going to "the city" since childhood; I always carry a purse in SF! Never a problem, but I usually go downtown, embarcadero, west of the city, etc. and don't spend that much time in the Haight and personally wouldn't spend time there alone at night. There are a couple more areas I'd avoid but they are generally not areas visitors would go or even end up by accident.
I agree about speaking softly; avoiding contact is mostly important with hostile or paranoid individuals, from my experience as a psychologist as well as someone who frequents the city.
All in all, I must say I feel quite safe in most of Paris, certainly walking at 10 p.m. in summer evening light along the Seine.
I agree about speaking softly; avoiding contact is mostly important with hostile or paranoid individuals, from my experience as a psychologist as well as someone who frequents the city.
All in all, I must say I feel quite safe in most of Paris, certainly walking at 10 p.m. in summer evening light along the Seine.
Aug 24th, 2005, 09:11 PM
#38
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I don't wear a money belt in SF, but just carry stuff in my pockets and hand-carry my camera.
I absolutely adore that city (San Francisco), and I seldom feel uncomfortable there. However, things can get a bit dodgy going through some of the neighborhoods between the Haight and downtown, especially for females traveling alone. My sister and I had a funny but spooky experience once in SF, walking toward downtown from the Haight, near that famous scene where the "painted ladies" are silhoueted against the sky with the Transamerica pyramid in the background. A young fellow was obviously stalking us, and no one else was around. We quickly sprinted away across the street, and if he'd followed us, we'd have screamed and bashed him with my sister's purse.
I'm not conservative in my behavior, and I'm not generally afraid. However, in any big city, I think carrying a purse is risky. I avoided it in NYC as well, although I never give it a thought in Seattle.
I absolutely adore that city (San Francisco), and I seldom feel uncomfortable there. However, things can get a bit dodgy going through some of the neighborhoods between the Haight and downtown, especially for females traveling alone. My sister and I had a funny but spooky experience once in SF, walking toward downtown from the Haight, near that famous scene where the "painted ladies" are silhoueted against the sky with the Transamerica pyramid in the background. A young fellow was obviously stalking us, and no one else was around. We quickly sprinted away across the street, and if he'd followed us, we'd have screamed and bashed him with my sister's purse.
I'm not conservative in my behavior, and I'm not generally afraid. However, in any big city, I think carrying a purse is risky. I avoided it in NYC as well, although I never give it a thought in Seattle.
Aug 24th, 2005, 09:22 PM
#39
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annw, I am enjoying your post too, and seems like we are "neighbors" so to speak. You sound like you handle SF like I do, I always have my purse with me. I do carry (sssh don't tell anyone) extra money in the zippered part of my purse along with an extra CC and ATM card. But that is because during the earthquake in 1906 the family story is that my ggrandfather had a lot of "hidden cash" and conseequently could buy what he need as the family camped out in GG Park.
In that you are a physcologist I am interested that you don't make eye contact with certain people either. I learned this as a child from my relatives. Even though SF use to be different and much safer there were still some strange people around.
Hope we can meet each other one of these days. Take good care.
In that you are a physcologist I am interested that you don't make eye contact with certain people either. I learned this as a child from my relatives. Even though SF use to be different and much safer there were still some strange people around.
Hope we can meet each other one of these days. Take good care.
Aug 24th, 2005, 09:25 PM
#40
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annw, just noticed (sometimes I am slow I guess) that you are going to Italy and will be in Venice and Lake Como. Have a beautiful trip!! Two beautiful areas. Think of me. Wish I could be there, but will have to wait until next year. Cin,cin.
