i was wondering where i could get a money belt and how much does it hold? my husband and i are going in oct. to italy for about 16 days. i know all about whatever you pack , take out half, but i am just wondering what anyone thinks. we are staying at a villa so i will have use of a washing machine. my husband wears jeans, so i will bring a pair of those plus two pairs of dress pants. how about 6 shirts and then he can rewear and/or wash. i will have him wear a light weight jacket in case. dress shoes and comfortable ones to walk which he will wear on the trip over. now for me, i was going to bring a pair of black pants, a second pair and maybe a third, or a dress or skirt(not both). i am thinking of a white tee, white blouse, black and white blouse, black cardigan and a lightweight beige pullover sweater. i will have two pairs of comfortable shoes with one being also used for nightime. i am not into scarves and i will bring little jewerly.on the trip over, i also will wear a blazer or lightweight jacket. what do you think??

Hi Ang.
You can order a moneybelt at Rick Steves' website. They hold plenty of cash, passports, cards and some coins.

I am assuming that you are going to Italy. It may still be hot in October so I would opt for the short dress / skirt option instead of more pants. Doubt you will need a blazer. Light jacket for the evening should suffice.

Ang, you don't say where you live, but AAA travel stores have a couple different styles of money belts you can buy. Any store that sells travel accessories should have some, also (they are usually on a rack near the luggage dept.).

I wouldn't want to guess about your husband, but your planned wardrobe sounds pretty good -- 3 pair of pants, a skirt and some blouses/Ts. In my experience, skirts are more versatile when traveling than a dress if you have a couple tops you can wear with the one you take. Your shoes sound awfully skimpy to me for 16 days, but I have a shoe fetish and could never go for 16 days with only a couple pair of shoes and don't wear daytime walking shoes at night or with a skirt. I have worn a somewhat nice pair of sandals with both pants in daytime and a skirt at night, but they weren't real heavy duty walking sandals, so I only wore them on days when I wasn't going to be walking a whole lot. I like your black/white/beige color combo.

I always take walking shoes (usually sandals in warm weather) and dressier walking shoes (again sandals) for nightime forays. Just be sure they are comfortable and broken-in. (I like sandals because you don't need socks and there are fewer places to rub against your feet.)

Your wardrobe ideas are pretty sound - six shirts for him might be a little excessive since you'll have a washer.

As for the money belt - I don't know where you live but in most cities they are sold in department stores, luggage shops, outlet malls, travel shops, AAA, REI and lots of other places. There is really no reason you'd have to order one mail order.

You can order several styles of money belts and pouches at travelsmith.com, the Travel Smith catalog website.

Since you are staying at a villa (I'm assuming the same place your entire trip?) I'd be a tiny bit more generous in packing. For yourself, I'd add another pair of knit pants or capri, a couple more cotton knit tops, maybe even shorts for around the house, and a third pair of shoes (sandals?). I never wear scarves and jewelry either, so that part's easy.

For the Mr one more pair of pants and two more shirts.

Also may be something to sleep & lounge in (it's a nice luxury to have something fresh and clean you've saved for bedtime, lightweight robe, long cotton shirt, whatever).

I think this is the *first* time I've encouraged someone to pack MORE stuff, but believe it or not I have made the mistake of traveling just a little TOO light a couple trips.

All luggage stores have them. My mother had the best solution, stuff it in your bra! Always carry a COPY of your passport picture and address on you and lock up the original in the hotel. Most hotels ask to keep your passport on check in-temporarily- for INFO: (are you wanted by the police anywhere, if you get in trouble-who are you,???? etc.) Let them store it if there is no safe in the room!

And watch out for the pickpockets. I had my wallet lifted by a lady carry a baby in Naples. Many gypsies arrount Italy.....they are expert as distracting you.

Hi Ang:

I picked up mine at WalMart (in the liggage area & <$10). I easily had 50+ bills, the airline tickets (lose, without the 'envelope') and passports. Also, its a good idea to wrap whatever is in it in ziplock type bags to keet it dry (I used seperate ones for the different 'types' of cash, airline tickets & passports).

Also, rather than taking 'wads' of cash, its a good ides to make use of ATMs and if your hotel room has an in-room safe make use of it for stuff rather than carrying it in the money belt.

Z

http://www.magellans.com/shopping/pr...ProductID=2486

i live in rhode island and i was thinking the weather, as far as i remember on my last stay in italy, was about the same as the east coast. so, ladies, i wasnt thinking about sandals, but you all say i should?? i have a pair of shoe boots, very stylish and comfortable and i was going to buy some other pair of a shoe that would be nice looking and comfortable-- maybe i will just throw in another pair of sandal. i am just being frugal because i have read so many posts that they say a 22 inch bag is enough! i dont know if i can do that, but i did want to pare it down. as far as holding valuables, i always use the safe if there is one in my room. i will be staying at the villa for half of my time and the other half at a couple different hotels.

We were in Rome, Naples and Amalfi Coast for two weeks in late October 2002. I wore sandals every single day. I also wore skirts most days because they're cooler (as in temp not fashion). Whatever shoes you bring (even for nighttime), just make sure they are comfortable enough to walk long distances.

I think your husband will be too warm in jeans, but that's up to him. My husband prefers wrinkle-free cotton or microfiber pants.

Regarding packing, if it doesn't all fit in my 22-inch roller bag and small shoulder bag, I take things out. I'd rather be "under-packed." You can always buy something you find you need.

no, actually I wasn't necessarily saying you should take sandals in October to Italy. I was just giving an explanation of about the only kind of shoe I might find versatile enough for daytime walking around and wearing with a skirt. In cooler weather, I might take a somewhat nice looking pair of loafers for such a purpose. Not real casual loafers but more like loafer/flats or more closed pair of Fisherman-type or T-strap casual shoess (which aren't real bare sandals).

Something I have done for years is to take what I call dispo-clothes. Those are things you were going to jettison anyway (Salvation Army, Goodwill, whatever). Wear them and leave them behind. Don't waste time on laundry. Take your old socks and undies and toss. Especially useful in parts of world where 1)EVERYONE smokes and ruins your wardrobe no matter what you take, and 2) souvenir shopping is a high priority (tossed clothes frees up space to pack more goodies). Trust me, this works. A lightweight raincoat with a hood and lots of pockets is useful (I have an ancient hip-length London Fog that goes everywhere I go.) But whatever you do, please try not to look like a Yank - jeans, sneakers, fanny packs all give you away! Buy a baseball cap for local soccer team for hubby to wear throughout the visit - amazed by number folks who will ask for directions thinking you are from that area!

For ang... I know I posted above to add a few things, but I still mean to get it in a 22" suitcase! Yes, I know you can (said most kindly)... My method is weeks before the trip start hanging up the pieces I'm thinking about somewhere separate. Then add and take away as you think about them. Don't take anything brand-new, and make sure everything fits and is clean and mended.

The two times I was way underpacked I was using only one small duffle bag. My 22" is just right for 2-3 week trips.

Oh yes plus one *large* pocketbook or daybag, carryon, of some sort.

Another kind of "money belt", if you simply want to stash cash, is a men's style that looks like a regular belt but has an interior side zipper. Good for bills only, not documents. But an interesting emergency method for funds.

just a quick reply---ebags.com has any number of money belts- my husband likes the ones that strap by Velcro to his calf--

You can get a money belt at Staples, much cheaper.O

suze-- just to reiterate-- is the 22inch bag for checking in or can i carry it on? my husband and i would each bring one, right?? i was originally planning on this piece of canvas luggage that i have (to check) and a tote to carry on.I will bring a collapsable duffle for purchases.

ang~ That depends how much your 22" roller suitcase weighs. Most airlines do not only go by size anymore, but weight as well. So the 22" (packed full) that I used to take onboard, now must be checked thru (this was British Air last summer). I'm not sure exact weight, you can check with your airlines. The clerk simply lifted my bag & said I had to check it in (it WAS heavy ~haha~ although the appropriate size).

It's no big deal, but nice to know ahead of time when you're packing if you'll check it or not.

So my thought is 1 rolling suitcase per person, checked in. And 1 tote per person, carried on.

But if you already own a canvas bag that would work well for you, maybe just use that? No biggie.

I've only recently "graduated" from a medium size duffle bag with shoulder strap, to the 22" with wheels (love those wheels).

Personally, I usually wait and see if I really need the extra duffle bag, and then pick up something cheap on the trip, nice souvenier too. But now I'm getting into miniscule details that really don't matter too much. But I do have a nice collection of totes (Eiffle Tower, canals of Venice, etc!).