Mimi, your story is so funny. My father used to have a Rotweiller that did the same thing--come up to give you licks then steal the sandwich you were eating. He would be halfway down the block before you could react.

I have a beautiful Carnet de Voyage from the Louis Vuitton in Nice. The watercolors are so beautiful. I love the sketches of the doormen at Hotel de Crillon.

The only difference between carrying a purse, LV or otherwise, with valuables inside or otherwise, on vacation vs. every day at home, is the price - in money and time - that you pay if it gets stolen or pickpocketed. At home, you probably have more valuables in your purse (mostly all those things that it would be a total hassle to replace, but not necessarily of monetary value), but you're at home, and it's easier (though still a hassle) to replace your things. On vacation, if your passport, money, etc. gets stolen, you lose vacation time and it's a bigger hassle to replace whatever is stolen. (Also, of course, it's unlikely that you customarily carry around your passport at home.)

That's how I view security and valuables on my vacations. Not will they be stolen any more than at home, but, the cost to me (timewise) if they are and what I have to do to replace them.

Why are you carry around your valuables and passport in Paris anyway? Put that stuff in your hotel safe. When I travel around (and I have been everywhere from London to Sri Lanka to Angkor Wat to Buenos Aires) I only carry what I absolutely need-ATM card, one credit card, some cash. Everything else goes into the safe.

What do you need with your driver's license and passport at the Louvre, guv?

Blimey

You need some form of government ID if you are getting an audiophone, because you have to leave it as a deposit.

I always carry a purse wherever I go except this last trip to Bretagne my husband convinced me to carry a mini backpack so that I could take my paints when I went on walks. The thing gave me such a backache nor could I find anything in it! I am so glad that I bought the Red Longchamps Ligne Roseau handbag while going through Paris, held the paints quite nicely!

In terms of actually purse-snatching, such as that practiced in big cities off the back of a motorcycle, the #1 targets are Asian tourists, who are the most likely to be loaded with cash.

Asian or not, never dangle your handbag on the curbside.

or hook it on the back of your chair in a restaurant!

Hi, jazz -

Just got back from Madrid, where I failed to follow my own advice, and during the day, used a money belt, around my waist, mostly because my shoulder is suffering from having a handbag on it all the time!

I put notes in the money belt, [the easily accessible zip-up bit at the front], credit cards in my back jeans pocket, and change in a pocket. Passport left in the room safe in hotel.

This was very liberating - also DH ended up having to decide what to do with the guide book, map, bottle of water, rather than me.

The only snag would have been using the credit card in a shop, as when I went buy something with it, my passport was reuqired as extra security. luckily though, this was on the last day, when we had checked out of teh hotel and therefore had all our docs on us.

Madrid certainly felt very safe - lots of police [possibly because of current terrorist trial], good street lighting, and nice people. Didn't try the metro though - we prefered to walk.

Good luck in Paris!

regards, Ann

LV must be very passe is Paris.
There seems to be a LV store around every corner.

I do not know if this is true but I was told that if you have a fake LV bag and are leaving the CDG airport the security or police will take it away from you.
Any truth to this???

No, they will take it away if you ARRIVE with one. And the fine is something like 5 or 10 times the value of the AUTHENTIC item. And they have the price list.

I wouldn't take it. Your on vacation in a place your not familiar with why would you want to attract attention???

Since LV is a french brand, I do not see why carrying your bag would brand you as a tourist...however, do not worry. Apparently only 1 % of LV bags in the world are genuine, so you are not going to stand out as a rich tourist. Most LV (most fakes) are seen in the metro by 15 year old girls.

" Your on vacation in a place your not familiar with why would you want to attract attention???"

Really, why would a LV bag attract attention? An everyday sight (fake or real), but like Anoukaimee just said, lately they have been a fad of 15- year-olds. Often combined with Burberry. But it is OK for older, too.

If the OP is really worried, why not put something small but solid in your LV bag so you can use it as a weapon in an emergency? I believe the conventional choice was a solid glass ashtray.

Echoing what many have said, I doubt if anyone would even notice if you had a LV shoulder bag, they are an every day sight! It is hardly a sign of wealth (or taste in my opinion!)

Whatever you decide, when you come back, would you reply here with your experience? Thanks

I live in Paris and LV is EVERYWHERE. Check out the flagship store on the Champs-Elysées (great view from the top floor) and beware of the Chinese mafia outside who ask you first if you speak English and then to go and buy a bag for them. I saw them attacking a woman once when the deal went wrong..

Why can't they just go in and buy their own bags?

Because Vuitton is important enough to flout the free trade laws -- they refuse to sell to the Chinese middlemen, because the LV wares cost 3 times more in China, so they make it as difficult as possible for resellers to get their hands on the goods.
This said, you can make a quick 50 euros by accepting to buy for them.