Never use a money belt, secret compartment in my cothes, fanny pack or any other silliness. Just use a travel purse (Sportsac) that's expandable to hold unbrella, guidebook, sweater, small camera etc as well as usual purse stuff. It weighs nothing, is waterproof and has numerous small pockets.

I wear it bandolier style across my shoulder (havey fabric strap) and make sure the pocket with the money, credit card, ATM and passport etc is inside facing my body. (Other credit cards and ATM card is locked inside the suitcase in my hotel.

Have never had any trouble with pickpockets, thieves or con artists in 60+ trips to europe. But - I'm a native New Yorker - and don;t wear tourist costume. Also I'm used to watching everyone/thing around me at all times, not stopping to look at maps or guidebooks in crowded areas, not looking confused or lost - and walking around as if I owned the world. (To tell you the truth I think it's the latter that is the most protection.)

We have been lucky and never had anything taken. Part of the reason I think is that I just carry a purse over my shoulder. The bandolier bag strapped across your body that you grip so tight is a dead giveaway that you are visiting and might have some valuables.
I'm not saying you should be careless but I think some of these just scream "American tourist with good stuff inside!!!!"

Wrong. It screams "I live in a big city!" I agree with the poster who doesn't do anything different abroad than she does in her own big city at home.

I agree. We live in NYC and are just used to being aware and cautious in crowds (Times Square, etc.). Have never used a money belt abroad, just common sense. Not that there's anything wrond with doing so at all - I have one and may bring it this time around since I'm staying in an apartment for the first time and may feel more comfortable carrying passports along with me rather than leaving them behind.

Same thing I use at home - a fairly large leather purse with lots of interior pockets that fits snugly under my arm when I loop it over my head.

I like to carry a small backpack. Also, I've used Travelon items from QVC. There are many sizes and types. Check them out! ;)

There <u>must</u> be a market for a backpack/purse with a Kevlar&reg; inner shield and Krell Metal&trade; cables in the straps that can <i>only be opened</i> by a Princess who knows the spells Gandalf put on it when it was manufactured (by the Niebelungen?)

I'm intrigued by the woman who wears a money belt down under her dress - she must have to pull her dress up to above waist level to get any money out!

Just get a small handbag(purse) with a little strap that goes over your shoulder and the bag is clamped sort of under your armpit.

I wasn't even going to respond to this since it's been done to death - and most of you are so sure of yourselves. I've never been pickpocked either and I go to Europe twice a year. My house has never burned down either but I still have fire insurance on it. If you want to take the chance that your passport and credit cards will be stolen and are willing to use up a day or two of your vacation to get them replaced then that's fine. But I would rather have the slight inconvenince of wearing a money belt than go through that hassel.

To jpg who specifically asked about summer travel and money belts - I use the kind that snaps around your waist - does not require you to be wearing a regular belt. You cannot see it even through very lightweight dresses. It may seem like it would be hot but I really don't even notice it after the first few minutes, my peace of mind takes presidence over a mildly uncomfortable waist. I can wear it under dresses because I don't access it during the day - it holds just the passport and the extra credit card and ATM card. In my purse I carry the day's cash, a copy of the passport (people occassionally need to see it when making purchases, etc) and one credit card. If that were to be stolen (or lost) it would require one phone call to cancel that one credit card - and my vacation would proceed five minutes later.

Nona - the point about a money belt worn under your clothes is that it's for stuff you don't need to access during the day but would hate to have to replace - passport, airline ticket, credit card, ATM card, any money not needed for that day. If you have a hotel safe, you lock it in the safe. If you need to access an ATM, or expect to make a credit card purchase, you take the card out before you leave &quot;home&quot;, and then find a toilet where you can put it, and the cash, back in your money belt. Works under a dress or pants. Clamping a bag under your arm is not safe - I had a wallet stolen in Rome using that principle (but only lost one day's money and an expired bus pass, the rest was in my money belt in the hotel safe).

Just curious, for those who have rented apartments, do you leave passports etc. in the apartment or take them with you each day in a money belt? Not sure what I'm going to do.

We rent apartments all of the time and we never leave our passports there.

I would rather be over cautious and less sorry.

We always wear moneybelts and they go with us.

This is just what makes us comfortable.