Money belt/hidden pocket
 

This is something I've always avoided. I keep my money...never too much...deep in my pants pocket, not in a wallet; my cards and passport are elsewhere.

However, everywhere I turn, I see recommendations to use a money belt or hidden wallet in Cuba since it is so much a cash and not a card economy.

I'm still not comfortable with the implications of the advice...but I would like advice on products. So far, what I've seen is mostly either belts with zippered compartments (I guess you have to unbelt to use it?) and hidden pockets or pouches to go inside clothes. I'd appreciate hearing people's experience with either type, and or some other recommendations!

Thanks!

>> (I guess you have to unbelt to use it?)<<

No -- you don't ever access it in public. A money belt is for holding the excess cash/cards/maybe passport that one isn't using that day. It is sort of a 'body safe' . . . not just a hidden extra pocket. If one were to access it in public . . . well that just defeats the purpose.

You'd continue to carry your walking around money and maybe one card in your pocket/wallet/whatever.

What janisj said!

I prefer a "holster" style passport pouch, but haven't seen one on the market for years. I don't like the ones that hang from one's neck because (a) I find the neck strap irritating and (b) I don't like having any part where anyone else could grab it. The best option may be one worn around the waist. There's also a style worn on the leg. ALL worn UNDER one's clothes and NEVER accessed in public.

What they said. I use this:

http://www.backpacktravelstore.com/L...p/grlkwmbb.htm

There's also one from the same people with two compartments, but I see no reason for the extra bulk. I wear it with the pouch at the back, but I'm female, might work differently for a male. On the rare occasions when I need to access it during the day (have to visit an ATM, for instance) I find a restroom.

I use one similar to this. Meant to be a neck pouch but I wear it around my waist and cinch up the toggle. It is much less bulky than traditional belt type and it lies neatly behind my trouser front picket so doesn't appear to add any bulk.

http://www.backpacktravelstore.com/B...hneckstash.htm

It also has the advantage of being cooler -- I find the traditional sort to be very warm. All that is around the waist is the narrow cord.

These days I rely on my Kiwi Cragghopper pants and shorts which have concealed zipped pockets inside the main front pockets. They have foiled several pick pocketing attempts. My wife also has a couple of "travel" skirts which have secret zipped pockets, enough for a couple of credit cards and

I also have something similar to this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Travel-Blue-...ds=belt+wallet

Loops over any belt and is arguably more discreet and easier to retrieve than a standard money belt, should you ever need to access it in public. The downside is that you need to wear something with a belt to use it.

I would never, ever, wear a neck pouch - simply dangerous.

When I was in Cuba 15 years ago I found ATM's without difficulty in the major cities (I remember one in the hotel in La Habana).

I have never worn a money belt or whatever other device.
I split my cc between my wife, my safe at the hotel and myself.

@pariswat - but did you have an American bank account? Europeans are not subject to the same travel and banking restrictions as US citizens.

I split my cash/cards in several spots. Actually the one I like best is in the shoe (wrapped in plastic) underneath a removable insert. A bit more goes under the arm, there are some pouches you can buy for that, but often I just wrap them in a bandana or a small zippered pouch. Works better if you wear a bra.

I don't like the round the waist money belts, or the neck pouches. But I do wear the waist belt underclothing when transferring, and also keep a spare credit card buried in the luggage.

I haven't been to Cuba but don't you still have to go on a tour if you are from the US? I would think you would not be carrying a lot of cash if most things are prepaid.

Hi
My exp is indeed from European side.
My bank accounts are with French and Belgian banks.

Thank you all for your responses and suggestions...

I've decided, for now, on one of the ones that has a loop for the belt, but the pouch goes inside the pants. The Eagle Creek one looks reasonable.

I should clarify...when I said about unbelting, I didn't mean in public; rather, I meant that because it required unbelting, I wasn't considering the zippered-cache-in-the-belt style.

"I've decided, for now, on one of the ones that has a loop for the belt, but the pouch goes inside the pants."

Then you are letting yourself open to people who are adept at clipping the belt loop.

"Then you are letting yourself open to people who are adept at clipping the belt loop." .
Not really. Firstly the loop would be covered by a shirt or tee shirt (unless of course you decide to tuck the same inside your pants. Secondly, the loop itself are barely noticeable. Finally the wallet is inside the pants so even if a pickpocket did cut the loop, the wallet would simply fall down the leg of the pants. If the pickpocket got that far, I think losing the wallet would be the least of ones problems..

If what I see with my own eyes is representative, men's shirts are all too frequently (really, seriously, ALL too frequently!) hiked above their belts by the bags they carry -- or for completely inexplicable reasons! -- making for an easy target. And if such a person stepped away from the fallen "wallet", not realizing it had slipped down and away, or -- more likely -- not looking for it as quickly as the thief, well then.... THAT's why the loop over the belt is a risk. But it's all a matter of one's comfort level...

KJA, some men just don't have any fashion, let alone travel sense! :-)

You make a valid point. Any money/belt wallet should of course be concealed.

As far as cutting belt loops is concerned, it is unlikely, but there are solutions:

http://www.pacsafe.com/coversafe-125...lt-wallet.html

This incorporates a slash proof loop consisting of steel wires inside the loop. But I stand by my previous comment that if someone did approach you with a knife, losing a wallet would be the least of one's problems!

As you say, it is all a matter of one's comfort level.

We were told that Cuba is a very safe when we were there. The penalties for committing any crime there are very harsh. Now that , if feom tne USA, you can use credit cards, US citizens don't have to take as much cash to convert to CUC. We used the hotel sade. There were security uards all over the hotel property.

@ crellston -- well said! Your solution should work for the <b>security</b> issue. ;-)