My husband and I are going to Madrid, Paris, & Rome,Venice, & Florence. We hear so many stories of pickpocketting. We have money belts to wear inside our clothing,but we also want to wear a backpack for water bottle, cameras, etc. What do you think?

If you are planning to take a backpack as a daypack, the only safe way to carry it is in front, like a baby pack. That way no one will cut it open from behind and take your valuables. An over the shoulder pack that rests in front of you is another good choice. Anything that you can't live without should be in your money belt. Certainly don't leave anything in your pockets and beware of your situation in darker places like churches and some museums. This may sound paranoid, but I've seen too many people get pick-pocketed or robbed. Better to be safe than sorry. Have fun!

You're definitely on the right track. So long as you keep your valuables (Passport, credit cards, cash, etc.) in your under the clothing pouch, you should be fine. Pickpockets have an incredible capability for knowing where your valuables are on your person (probably your body language - think "protecting" - gives you away). We've never heard of anyone being assaulted for their pouch. They go after only what is easily accessible, and if your stuff isn't - they'll go for someone else's. Fanny packs and back packs are fine for snacks, water, tour guides, maps and so forth. It's good to leave all your best jewelry at home.

Thanks so much for the great info Carolyn and Donna. I still have a question . What about bringing a video camera? Can we keep it in the backpack? Any suggestions you might have would be appreciated.

Nope, would not recommend storing your video camera in a backpack. Just too risky. Someone is liable to see you put it away and follow you. A photographer friend of ours who travels all over the world recommends carrying a camera or video camera in something that does not look like a case for it - and certainly not something with an emblem - SONY, for example. Eagle makes a terrific convertable shoulder/waist bag which is roomy enough for a video camera. You can find this at the Magellen's website or most stores that sell luggage. You should probably keep it in front of you at all times. And, NEVER put it down - on a table at an outdoor cafe, for example. Not even with the strap around your ankle or the leg of a chair. Actually, on the various travel boards I've visited, most say they wouldn't bother with the video camera on a second trip. Generally, there is so much traffic and so many other tourists in the way (not to mention tour busses), it's nearly impossible to get good shots. On our first trip, we took my husband's Minolta with all the lenses and other accessories. Even with a car, it was a lot to drag around. After that, I got a pocket sized automatic everything with a zoom Riccoh. When we gather up the film and have it developed, we can't tell which photos were taken with which camera when we've had both along. I always look for terrific postcards (taken apparently just after sunrise when no one is around) to mix with my own photos in the album. Usually, at the international airports, you can use up your leftover currency on inexpensive but fabulous books full of photos and reasonably priced videos.

I totally agree with Donna except for the part about fanny packs. They are the worst kind of bag to carry on your person. Even if you carry no valuables in it, just having it makes you a target. This is only because they are so easy to steal. It's just not an experience you want to go through even if the robber gets away with nothing. Take anything else but one of those. Plus, they make you look like a dorky tourist. Trust me!!!

Dear Carolyn and Donna:
Thanks for the tips! Thanks for the tips on laundry too ( I'm the one with the underwear & socks question) I'm still laughing!!!
I never really worried about security when I lived in Rome. Grant it that was 23 years ago, I dressed like a Roman and blended in. The only 2 concerns back then were 1-the "scipattore" which was the passenger on a moped who would rip off shoulder bags (ALWAYS keep a shoulder bag on the building side and not the street side) and 2- the "gypsies" with their begging & thieving toddlers.
Dorky tourist??? (LOL) How dorky can one look with a backpack worn as a babypack. You're right though, better safe than sorry.
Do we _have_ to carry our passports, plane tickets (concealed) at all times? If there are safes in the rooms of the hotel, isn't that enough?
I'm asking about Italy because I know we won't have those concerns in Switzerland.
Looking forward to your amusing replies!

Dear Carolyn and Donna:
Thanks for the tips! Thanks for the tips on laundry too ( I'm the one with the underwear & socks question) I'm still laughing!!!
I never really worried about security when I lived in Rome. Grant it that was 23 years ago, I dressed like a Roman and blended in. The only 2 concerns back then were 1-the "scipattore" which was the passenger on a moped who would rip off shoulder bags (ALWAYS keep a shoulder bag on the building side and not the street side) and 2- the "gypsies" with their begging & thieving toddlers.
Dorky tourist??? (LOL) How dorky can one look with a backpack worn as a babypack. You're right though, better safe than sorry.
Do we _have_ to carry our passports, plane tickets (concealed) at all times? If there are safes in the rooms of the hotel, isn't that enough?
I'm asking about Italy because I know we won't have those concerns in Switzerland.
Looking forward to your amusing replies!

All suggestions you have received are right on the money. However, may I suggest that you DO NOT wear sneakers while in Europe. Europeans wear sneakers only to the gym, sneakers will give you away as a tourist immediately. Get a pair of comfortable walking shoes. When in Paris last fall, I lived in my Bass Bucs.

Recommend that you not be presumptious regarding Switzerland! A couple we know were standing on a corner in Zurich waiting to cross the street when the strap of her shoulder bag was grabbed by a fellow on a bicycle dragging her right along until she released the bag. Inside were their passports, airline tickets, all her cash and credit cars, and more. Most countries require that you carry ID at all times, but a photocopy of your passport is sufficient. If your hotel has in-room or front desk safes, it's probably best to leave your original passport and airline tickets there. We always make several photocopies of our passports and airline tickets and tuck them in a tour guide, in our luggage, and so forth. We really like our convertable Eagle bag. It's black and oblong and looks like a plain tote bag. While it can be strapped around your waist, it is not one of those "fanny packs". And, the compartments are terrific. I disagree that such a bag makes anyone looks like a dorky tourist (although there are many other styles which definitely do). When at a "tourist attraction", it won't matter, and elsewhere it looks like a nice shoulder bag. And, again, what makes anyone a target is anything which is easily accessible. You have to carry your stuff in something! The most important thing is to just carry your valuables as wisely as possible and be alert to anyone in or about to pass through your "personal space".

Recommend that you not be presumptious regarding Switzerland! A couple we know were standing on a corner in Zurich waiting to cross the street when the strap of her shoulder bag (which she was wearing in the recommended "bandolier-style") was grabbed by a fellow on a bicycle dragging her right along until she released the bag. Inside were their passports, airline tickets, all her cash and credit cars, and more. Most countries require that you carry ID at all times, but a photocopy of your passport is sufficient. If your hotel has in-room or front desk safes, it's probably best to leave your original passport and airline tickets there. We always make several photocopies of our passports and airline tickets and tuck them in a tour guide, in our luggage, and so forth. We really like our convertable Eagle bag. It's black and oblong and looks like a plain tote bag. While it can be strapped around your waist, it is not one of those "fanny packs". And, the compartments are terrific. I disagree that such a bag makes anyone looks like a dorky tourist (although there are many other styles which definitely do). When at a "tourist attraction", it won't matter, and elsewhere it looks like a nice shoulder bag. And, again, what makes anyone a target is anything which is easily accessible. You have to carry your stuff in something! The most important thing is to just carry your valuables as wisely as possible and be alert to anyone in or about to pass through your "personal space".

Okay, fanny packs and white sneakers are an obvious "tourist" outfit, and should probably be avoided... anything else one should know about appearance in Italy? I'm going to Rome, Venice, Florence, Verona, and want to blend in as much as possible. Also, is there any real threat regarding food and beverages while there, ie, "montezuma's revenge" - type illnesses. I plan to drink only bottled water, but how about food?
THANKS FOR ANY INFO!

Re clothing - whatever you do, DON'T wear those leisure suits made of nylon. They scream tourist, as do caps.

At the Vatican and a number of other churches, women should have their shoulders covered. Even if you are wearing a dress, you will not get into S. Pietro with bare shoulders. No one should were shorts in church, and will be stopped in the Vatican. Do not wear light colored clothing in cities with a lot of diesel cars and buses. If you do, be careful where you sit as the soot on your seat will mark you as a tourist as much as a Pioneer Seed Corn hat. As a help for compact cameras, take a bean bag (I find 4x6" to be about right) to act as an unobtrusive portable 'tripod'. Set you camera on timer, position it on the beanbag, stand over it until it is about to shoot, step back, click, pick it up.

I'm glad you liked my word - dorky. I couldn't think of anything more appropriate. My point was that a fanny pack screams stupid, inexperienced tourist. (therefore an easy target) You may think the backpack would look funny, but it screams, experienced, smart tourist. Seeing as you are going to look like a tourist no matter what you do (you'll still be taking pictures and looking at maps occasionally), you may as well look confident and with it. Another option you may like (as I did) is going to Florence and buying a really nice leather shoulder bag. In the market things are inexpensive and high quality!! Use finding a good bag a good excuse to go shopping!!!