twiggers

Traveling 10 days in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. I am looking for a day pack (preferably a backpack style) that is compact...something I won't have to check when I go into museums. Also, looking for something that is tamper-proof (i.e., can't be slashed/pockets can't be casually opened by a pickpocketer).

Also, I always hear/read that a money belt is a MUST when traveling. Does anyone have any good recommendations?

I am female (in case that makes a difference).

Thank you

bratsandbeer

PacSafe is a good one. They have a variety of products.
http://www.pacsafe.com/www/index.php...uct_status=New

I have a money belt with 2 sections - both of which have a zipper closing. I put my passport in a small plastic ziplock bag or snack sized plastic bag so it doesn't get damp from the body. Also, put my money in another plastic snack sized bag. My credit cards & ATM card go in the money belt too. They stay there the entire trip unless I need to use them.

I take out enough money just for the day. If I need to go into my money belt I find a restroom to do that. Cautious - maybe - but I do feel safer. Have never been pickpocketed but have a scam or two tried on me.

twiggers

Thanks you brats! Do you by chance have a link to the money belt that you use?

bratsandbeer

twiggers - no, I have had it so long I don't remember where I got it. It is one that goes around the waist. You can search online for money belt. Here are a couple that are about the same as mine.

http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/ca...ntId=124&id=32

http://www.magellans.com/store/Safet...tsSV605R?Args=

november_moon

I can't stand wearing a money belt. Extra bulk around the mid-section? No thanks. People say you get used to it, but I just can't. Plus, they are harder to hide under summer clothes. So I take my chances. My husband does have a sort of a pocket that can attach to his belt and rides inside his pants behind his front pocket. If we have to carry a bunch of cash, he wears it. Otherwise we take the divide-and-conquer approach. We each carry ATM and credit cards for different accounts and don't carry much cash. We leave back up cards and cash at the hotel in the safe. If someone pickpockets one of us, then they'll get away with a little bit, but we wont be out of business.

thursdaysd

I, on the other hand, always wear a money belt, especially as my hotels seldom have safes! I wear it with the pouch at the back, which is much more comfortable. I used to buy from Rick Steves, but his belts have gotten bulkier, and my current one is from Lewis N Clark - http://www.lewisnclark.com/index.php...roducts_id=203

I do agree that money belts aren't compatible with really skimpy summer clothes, but I do my hot weather travel in south east Asia, where I'm cooler, and more respectful of local customs, if I cover up. When I get back from a long trip I feel undressed without my belt!

bratsandbeer

thursdaysd I checked out the one on Lewis N Clark. It has the one zipper compartment and I prefer two, however, this one looks big enough and deep enough to handle it all nicely.

If you have lost a paasport, credit card or cash, you will find out how important it is to use a money belt. There is a posting going now about a person who had their purse stolen and the passport was in it. I never carry anything valuable in my purse except for a small amount of cash needed for the day, water bottle, sweater if needed etc.

I don't trust hotel safes either. I may be overly cautious but it is easier than ending up with valuables stolen.

Travelnut

We travel in cool weather so always wearing long pants. We've switched from the waist security belts to the calf pouches. Very comfortable.
Like this:
http://www.corporatetravelsafety.com...llet-p-91.html

I don't use a daypack/backpack for daily wanderings, prefer the cross-body style so I can keep it in front of me.

Iowa_Redhead

I ordered a Pacsafe purse ( http://www.pacsafe.com/www/index.php...n=detail&id=25 )and it's exactly what I wanted. It's slightly smaller than the messenger bag that I used to use (not a bad thing) and it has great compartments and pockets. I like that it has various security features (clip closed zippers, hook to a table or chair leg, etc) that I can choose to use or not depending on where I am.

If you use a money belt, do remember to put it under your clothes and LEAVE it there. That defeats most of the purpose. I always laugh at the people who put all of their money in a money belt and have to get into it for every purchase. Put your days worth of money and one credit card and/or ATM card in a purse or daypack and leave your extra stash in your money belt. If you need to access it during the day, do like bratsandbeer and go into a bathroom or dressing room to do so. Also, even with a money belt it's a good idea to make a photo copy of your passport and put it in a safe location apart from your real one. Many people scan their passport and email it to themselves on an email account that can be accessed from anywhere.

I haven't used a money belt in the past, but I've also been extremely lucky and possibly naive. For me it entirely depends on how and where you're traveling. In London, I wasn't worried about not having a secure bag. In Rome, I am. For an upcoming trip to China I will absolutely use a money belt but I'm also planning on taking an overnight train.

Good luck and have fun!

Neuman605

I am a divide & conquer on my own person. I use a Bra pocket for some cash, an eagle creek webbed belt for additional cash and a zippered pocket that hangs from the belt inside my clothes for passport, ect. Knock on wood, so far 40 countries later, no problems.

spcfa

Neuman605, I've been thinking about a bra pocket. Where did you get yours and is it comfortable?

thursdaysd

bratsandbeer - they also make one with two zippers - I prefer just one as it's less bulky. Now my plane tickets are e-tickets I have less stuff to put in it. I always wrap the contents in plastic.

november_moon

I can see the calf safe being reasonably comfortable. I just can't get used to a moneybelt. I have tried wearing it in the small of my back, but that doesn't work well. Maybe if I were taller - I don't know. But if the moneybelt rides along the flat of my back and not over my butt, the top of the zippered compartment is definitely above the top of my pants. I don't wear particularly skimpy clothing, but unless I am wearing a tunic, I can see the outline of the moneybelt through cotton summer pants. Sort of defeats the purpose. I think they just work better for bigger people.

twiggers

Thank you so much everyone! This gives me lots of different options.

I thought about a messenger bag vs. backpack, but I'm not 100% sure. Although I do want something that I won't have to check at museums.

Neuman605

spcfa,
I have had it for years, can't remember for sure where i got it but think it was some luggage type store, possibly a Samsonite Outlet Store?? As for comfort i don't even know that it is there, it is soft silk type material with a plastic snap closure.

bratsandbeer

Travelnut That leg "belt" looks great. Does it stay on the leg or keep falling down to the ankle?

bratsandbeer

Iowa_Redhead I don't have a Pacsafe purse but my niece bought one for our last trip and she liked it. It can't be sliced with a knife.

The scanning in of the passport is a great idea. I am planning on doing that before I leave in September. Thanks!

I lost a credit card in Costco due to my own stupidity last week. I didn't want to take time to put it back in my purse so stuck it in my pants pocket to give to the check out gal. When I got to the checkout it was gone. I walked through the store and didn't see it. It was not turned in. I got on my cell phone and called immediately and cancelled it - no wrong charges were made on it. American Express had a temporary card to me by 10 am the next day. What more can you ask for??? So it is not always that someone will pick pocket you although it happens everyday - you can do something stupid like I did. Having the money belt makes me more aware of taking care of my valuables.

hetismij

Twiggers - what do you use at home? Why do you think you need anything different when travelling to 4 very civilised countries?
I've never yet used a money belt, or a hotel safe for that matter, either in Europe or the US (or Tanzania for that matter). And yes I leave my passport in the room, along with a laptop and in the evening quite often my photographic gear - which is worth a lot of money.
I use very little cash when travelling anyway, paying by CC or debit card when possible - and yes lots of shops in Europe will accept a debit card with a Maestro symbol on it.

Some museums will not allow backpacks of any sort, nor bags bigger than a small handbag.

twiggers

Hetis: Well, I use a purse for everyday...but I want something more comfortable for shlepping around all day. When I've been traveling within the US I'll often use one of those drawstring backpacks....but they seem easy to cut/slice open.

I've traveled to Europe twice before and didn't use anything special....I was just conscious of making sure my money was in an inside pocket of the backpack.

I just hear so many horror stories on here of people being pick pocketed, etc.

thursdaysd

"what do you use at home? Why do you think you need anything different when travelling to 4 very civilised countries?" - when I'm at home I don't schlep around a water bottle, a camera, a map plus guidebook, an umbrella... etc. etc. (aside from the fact that at home I drive everywhere and when I'm traveling I walk and take public transport). None of that stuff comes close to fitting in the purse I use at home. When I travel I use a small backpack as a day bag.

Nor, when I'm at home, do I carry around my passport, plane/train tickets, extra credit/ATM cards, extra cash - all of which go in my money belt. I have been pickpocketed, once (in Rome) - the lucky thief got one day's cash and an expiring bus pass.