What type of bag should we carry while walking around Paris? I plan to have a med size hobo bag, what should hubby bring? if he uses a bookbag, are we asking to be robbed? Def don't want to be the target of pickpocketing people......

thanks

You will probably be easy to detect as a tourist, anyway, depending on your clothing and things you are carrying (map, camera, guidebook) and when you speak. I don't think people will rob you because you have a bookbag, at least not for that reason. You will be more likely a target if you have things in your pocket or in something you are dangling down at your sides, and if you stand in a place that allows easy access and exti for them. Men love to hang around the metro doors, for some reason, and even put their arms over their heads, things like that which makes them prime targets. It's really dumb to stand right in front of the metro door with your wallet in your pocket, which I've seen a lot of men do (I've seen one of them pickpocketed from across the car, also, and the guy just grabbed his wall out as he ran out the door just before it shut, of course). The guy was real stupid, he was an American tourist talking real loud, had his arms above him for some reason I forget (maybe holding on to some bar or something), and was carrying his wallet in his pocket.

Whatever men use and he likes -- daypack, messenger bag, camera bag, etc.

There's a fairly massive divide on this board between people who don't do anything different when traveling in Europe and those who armorize themselves to the hilt with hidden pouches and safety-pinned underthings and straps and belts andso forth. I and my SO are in the former camp - we don't do anything any differently from when we're at home or anywhere else in the world. It depends on your level of comfort, I suppose.

Paris is actually a very secure city and you have less possibilities to be pickpocketed then in many other cities in Europe, unless you decide to go in the suburb or in some parts of the 18th and 17th district which are known to be druggies kingdoms which I definitely wouldn't suggest. So you can bring the bag you prefer and be sure that nothing would happen to you and you can travel by metro all the time up to midnight or 1,00 am with no problem. On the other side, as Paris is a city which is best visited by walking and can be walked all very easily, I would suggest you to bring something light which will not load you with too much weight or you will spend the next day in bed for being too tired...

I find a messenger bag handy for maps, guidebooks, umbrellas, bottle of water etc. I don't put anything in it I can't afford to lose.

Rob

I take my lightest handbag that zips up completely - nothing falls out and the bag is only as heavy as the stuff I put in it. My husband just carries his camera bag. It can fit a few things in addition to the camera.

Just don't walk around with a bag that does not close (you know, canvas tote bag type) and whatever bag you have do not put it on the floor out of sight when sitting down to eat or drink. I have a leather messenger type bag I use (forget the brand - picked it up a couple years ago at Filene's Basement) and recently acquired a Swiss (as in Army Knife) brand made from ripstop nylon type material. The thing I like about both is that they have zip pockets/compartments including in the flap (great for holding train passes, etc).
I am with StCirq about being sensibly prudent but not paranoid, and use these bags both at home and abroad.

For our two weeks I used a small tote--one that's somewhat larger than my usual purse but one that's probably smaller than the totes I see other people using regularly as daily handbags. It was large enough to fit a sweater, water, maps, etc., but totally looked like a normal leather purse, and had good zippered compartments. My DH took a small messenger bag that he used when we were going on day trips, but he often just did what he does at home--carried his wallet and keys in his front pocket and nothing else. So, I guess we're the type who figured we were in a big 1st world city and proceeded as if we were in NYC or any other familiar place, making minor accommodations just for days when we couldn't easily pop back to our apartment.

I agree to go with something secure and easy to carry. My bag at home is gigantic b/c I put all of my work items in it. Of course this is not practical for travel. So sometimes using the bag you use at home doesn't make any sense.

After checking out a few bags, I went with a Baggallini. It's extremely lightweight and secure. All of the little pockets and compartments keep everything organized. It's easy to carry across your body or over your shoulder.

I also ripped out the relevant pages of my guidebook to carry each day. Some might not like ripping up their books, but it sure made my bag much lighter.

>What kind of bags to carry while visiting Paris? <

The ones that say "Gucci", "Armani", "Bon Marche", "Printemps".

"I also ripped out the relevant pages of my guidebook to carry each day. Some might not like ripping up their books, but it sure made my bag much lighter."

glad to hear it, I do the same. Some guide books are really heavy -
tons of glossy photos , irrelevant information etc...
Also, I am in St.Cirq camp re. bags ; I just take the lightest bag in my "collection".

Oh good Danon - I felt a little guilty ripping my books up, but it was one of the best decisions I made in terms of keeping things light.

Another quick tip too is I made a Word doc of suggestions I copied from this site for each location. Then I would just carry that page around and have all of the restaurant and attraction info I needed.

I also rip up the guidebooks and bring the relevant pages. I got the idea from Rick Steves' site.

My passport, credit cards, and significant amounts of cash go into a moneybelt that hooks onto my belt or beltloop and then is worn under my pants. That way, if I get robbed or otherwise lose my bag, the important stuff is safe. I keep a bit of cash in my purse or backpack so I don't have to access the money belt all the time.

I take my Prada bag (which I bought at the Prada outlet near Florence in 2007 and have used every day since (trying to amortize my investment for the next 10 years, lol!). It is big enough to carry everything I need and although it doesn't have a zip closure, I make sure it's under my arm or held very close to me whenever I'm on the metro or in any crowded situation. I hope my nonchalant attitude makes me look more like a local (hahaha!)

Hubby and I just make sure to be aware of our surroundings, but we refuse to let paranoia interfere with our vacation, even in Paris.

Jo

I have a very lightweight Chico's little purse that I wear under my coat and then carry my Herve Chapellier bag over my shoulder to carry my purchases, books, some money, etc.

LV at home-LV all over Europe. But the one I carry in Europe has a shoulder strap that I wear across my chest. This is to keep me from laying it on a counter and leaving it and also might discourage a purse snatcher.

The wife carries a normal purse and I, if I carry anything, just use either a messenger bag, my camera backpack, or a really small camera bag. No need to do anything drastic.

Heck, I question the need for even something that closes. I mean, plenty of Parisians walk around with shopping bags, with those from high-end stores actively advertising that something expensive is inside... That being said, most bags you would bring would close, so probably not an issue.

I bring my regular leather purse that zips up. My husband doesn't bring any type of bag but he has a couple of shirts with deep pockets to carry passports.

I don't carry around guide books or water bottles but do carry a map. We generally read about what we will see before we set out for the day.